Thanksgiving 2008: Yes We Did

[plumtreeblossom]

It was another wonderful Thanksgiving for beowabbit and me, our 3rd year hosting, this time trying out hosting at his house in Quincy. It worked out well -- there was elbow room and a smaller group this time. Our fare was as traditional as traditional gets, which we love, right down to the green bean casserole ("Just like grandma's, only more so."). What made it really special was the great company of friends, and it was wonderful spending the evening with an ailing but brave mrpet and his lovely lady_anemone (who had hosted their own Thanksgiving pie brunch earlier that day), and our non-LJ friends Joshua and Stephanie (assimilation to the LJBorg in progress). Our guests brought glorious pies of many varieties, and dessert was a feast in itself. And there was lady_anemone's homemade pickled garlic! beowabbit is probably nomming some right now.

I love roasting turkeys. Those on my f'list two Thanksgivings ago will remember my stressed out help-me posts fretting my maiden voyage into turkey-roasting, but I'm more confident about it now and I enjoy the hours when I can peek in on its progress. Before that first turkey two years ago I read too many OMFG SALMONELLA websites that caused me to demure from roasting with stuffing inside the bird, but this year I went ahead and half-stuffed it, and I should have put in more because that was the stuffing that got hoovered, rather than the extra stuffing that had never met a turkey cavity. This was the first year (in my life!) that I actually took a taste of the stuffing that had roasted inside the guest of honor. Okay, now I get it. I see no reason why I should only roast a turkey once a year. A day of turkey roasting in the throes of bitter March would be just the thing...

beowabbit and I packed up the leftovers, had sweetie time, and were to bed by midnight. We spent a mellow Black Friday morning noshing pie and cornbread, and not shopping. Perfect Thanksgiving. :-)

Comments

[deceptiverose.livejournal.com]

My mom read those same articles this year and was really scared that her turkey wasn't done so she ended up over cooking it. The good thing was that Erik and I were hosting and my mom was bringing the extra turkey. So it was okay. Our fried turkey came out great.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

I've never had fried turkey. A lot of people say its great, though!

[silverlibre.livejournal.com]

There are really only two things you need to consider: 1) Don’t stuff the turkey before you are ready to roast it, because it takes too long for the stuffing to chill in the bird in the fridge, therefore it’s a perfect site for bacteria to develop.

2) Be sure the turkey is completely thawed when (just before roasting) you stuff it, so that the stuffing will heat up properly. If that doesn’t happen, you have warm raw stuffing (argh) instead of hot baked stuffing (yum).

Sounds like you were on top of both those situations. I just roasted a breast and a couple of thighs. The dressing, in a separate dish, wasn’t quite what it would have been in a bird, but ka9sqb and I could only find one person – and were lucky at that – who didn’t have a family commitment for T-day, so no point in cooking the 20 lb. turkey. We had all the rest of it, though, right down to the pumpkin pie and the German apple pie, and it was great.

Black Friday – civilized as it isn’t, and seemingly especially so this year – was a good day to stay home. We are going to Springfield to shop this morning. Unfortunately, one of our very favorites there – World Market – is no more.

[plumtreeblossom.livejournal.com]

Yep, I waited until right before roasting to stuff the bird. It really came out delicious! Jay made delicious sweet potatoes and mashed potatoes. So glad you and Don and a lovely time too, and that we all avoided Black Friday!

[beowabbit]

Hi! I somehow missed this post of plumtreeblossom's first time around; catching up now (at her house).

We are going to Springfield to shop this morning.

How was that? You know, I must have been to Springfield at some point in my youth, but I can't remember a thing about it if so.

Warm happy hugs and much love!