PoliceLink

Holy smokes ! Turkey Day is almost here. And I had an idea.

Since PL covers every corner of the U.S. and some places outside of America, this thread could be a place to make food suggestions for Thanksgiving.

Put in a suggestion here and let's see if someone will try it. If you have a favorite recipe, briefly include how to prepare it.

Here's a couple from me: Cook your turkey upsidedown....breastside down. If you're not concerned about 'presentation', cooking a turkey breast down really keeps that white meat juicy. We've done it for years and it's never failed us.

Spiral-cut honey baked ham. You gotta see if it's available in your area but this has also been a hit.

Now, we also make a middle eastern dish called harissa. It's cooked-down bulgar wheat and a capone (roasting chicken). It is slow cooked way over 12 hours. It looks a little like oatmeal when it's deboned and mixed all together. Served with freshly roasted and ground coriander, salt and butter.

Whether it is very simple or has a twist to it, post it here.

So, what have you got in your kitchen, your family tradition or your area that is something someone here might say, "Hey, I think I'll try that !"

Great idea Sarge!

If you cook turkey in the oven use oven bags work great!  Simply prep oven bag and bird according to directions, the meat comes out juicy all the time.  If your family cooks ham, cook it in an oven bag and add a can of 7up - not sure what it does but it carmelizes and it will make your ham really juicy.   Tip for your gravy - save the juices from the oven bag for your gravy enhances that flavor versus water.  Have a happy turkey day!!

Over the years the family has always loved my deep fried turkey but this year will have to pass for just a great oven baked one,  but I do make a great salad also you take Cole slaw mix how much is up to you then you put in salad shrimp and crab then comes the sauce take Mayo or salad Dressing whatever you like About 3/4 of a Jar then you take vinegar about 1/4 cup then sugar about 1 !/2 cups it is really to your taste  pour over and mix well there it is enjoy oh yes one more important thing it is very important to drink 4 or 5 beers while doing this because the in-laws show up just about then

TheSarge says ...

Anyone have any luck BBQ'ing a turkey...? I have never tried it.

Suggestions...?

You can BBQ a turkey?

YUM!

TheSarge says ...

Anyone have any luck BBQ'ing a turkey...? I have never tried it.

Suggestions...?

If your grill is large enough, the beer in the butt grill stand works well.  lol!  Strange but true.  My neighbor has used one the last few years.

My suggestion is eat at the relatives house or better yet....TheSarge's place

bill9823 says ...

My suggestion is eat at the relatives house or better yet....TheSarge's place

Ha. That's a good one.

TheSarge says ...

Thanks to Pedal for the chicken recipe via pm. I appreciate it. Also, gonna try it soon...

No problem

My family usually doesn't make any fancy dishes, we just go to my sister's. This year since mom and I are working Thanksgiving (her) and Christmas(me) we may not do anything. I might go up to work and have dinner with my co-workers.

This isn't a twist or anything, but I put about a stick of cut up butter underneath the skin of my turkey, salt & pepper  then wrap it all in aluminum foil.  Then just baste it every hour or so & it's very very juicy.  A little something different for deviled eggs is use some spicy mustard in with the regular.  Gives them a little zip. 

Hey Sarge.. just a question about cooking that turkey breast side down...

Do you stuff the turkey? I know its not PC anymore but we still stuff ours and I wondered if it would work upside down...

TheSarge says ...

Yes indeed ! Works just dandy. Both ends. My bride, her mom, grandma and those long past grandmas (and Grandpa's, too!) didn't get all knotted up over scares regarding germs. Heck, we're all walking germs ! They just did things right and they turned out right. So does Mrs. Sarge. I am sure yours will turn out just perfect. Just do it right !

Makes me think of the playgrounds I have seen lately. Look like a bunch of overstuffed and oversized Fisher-Price toys. Y'all ever ride a teeter-totter? Ever fall off a swing? Ever slide down a steel twisty slide ... and then try to climb back up it the way you came down? How about those carosells that you pushed round and round and then jumped on? Now THOSE were fun. And they all came with learning tools called bumps and bruises.

Sorry about that.....mini-rant about misguided and phoney paranoia ....

We stuff both ends too!! I have been alive 39 years and cant EVER remember anyone getting sick because we stuffed the Thanksgiving bird!! Thanks for the advice.. my Grandma passed away this past April and Thanksgiving is going to be at our house this year. (Miss you Gram!!) We all need a change... I think I will definitely try cooking the main event upside down!!!

Ohh I remember that playground equipment!! What fun that round and round used to be to jump on AND off of!!!

For those who are looking for time-savers... Instant Sweet Potatoes in a box!  lol

BRINE THAT BIRD!  Overnight if you can, but at least 6 hours.  Gets some flavor, and packs in moisture.  Your bird won't be dry. 

Never heard of glazing with 7-Up, but I have used Coke or Dr. Pepper (good for ham and pork shoulder too).  DON'T use diet soda, you need the sugars in the real thing for the carmelization. 

If you are not worried about presentation, try jointing and boneing the bird before you cook it.  Lay the parts out on a baking dish of dressing if you like.  Makes life easier.  Save the wing tips, back, neck, etc. to make stock. 

Toss your sweet potatoes into the oven wrapped in foil.  Serve whole or half with butter, salt, pepper and brown sugar. 

Broccoli salad - cut the broc into florettes, slice a little red onion very thin, mix in a bowl. .  Fry up some bacon, set aside, drain most of the grease out of the pan, deglaze with your favorite vinegar, add honey and mustard (do NOT use the standard yellow mustard for this, it just plain doesn't work, use one of the gourmet mustareds like Sierra Nevada) , stir to combine.  Pour over the broc & onions.  Add a handful of raisins.  You can vary the taste of this quite a bit depending on what vinegar, honey and mustard you use. Crumble the bacon over the salad.

For a tasty salad dressing all you need is olive oil, fresh lime juice, salt and pepper.  The lime juice emulsifies well with the olive oil (and lemon juice doesn't for some reason). 

Carrots and port - slice the carrots into disks or cubes, saute in butter, add a touch of salt, some black pepper, a touch of nutmeg.  When the carrots start to brown, add some brown sugar, stir until melted.  When the sugar/butter mix starts to bubble, add a few ounces of good port.  Turn the heat up and reduce to a glaze. 

Give yourself a treat,  have the buffet on millionairs row at Churchhill Downs,  that is one huge spread to take in and you get to watch the ponies run and sip some of Kentucky's finest.  Enjoy a great day with family and friends.