Starting to Prep for Thanksgiving Again

[Libertarian01]

I just did my initial run to Three Rivers Co - Op and Fresh Thyme.

Very unhappy that TRCO did not have their heavy cream. It is tremendously easy to buy Heavy Whipping Cream, but not Heavy Cream. The whipping part is an additive that can muck things up.

Also concerned about finding Tarragon. Only one (1) box at Fresh Thyme. I'll hit Krogers & Trader Joe's later on.

I'll buy most of the meat on Wednesday. I don't like for a chance of it spoiling, even in just a few days. I did pick up 2# of frozen shrimp today. Frozen will be Okay until Wednesday.

Here will be my menu for this year.

Intro:

Shrimp & Chicken Gumbo
Black Bread
Spinach salad w/ raspberry vinaigrette dressing

Sides:

Macaroni & Cheese w/ five (5) cheeses
Sauteed asparagus
Fondant potatoes

Main Course:

Chicken w/ Tarragon sauce (Again. It was loved last year)
Irish Guinness Sheppard's Pie (made the original way w/ lamb meat)

Desserts:

Peanut Butter cookies
Flan
Clafoutis (the original way w/ cherries IF I can find them, otherwise blueberries & strawberries)
Apple Butter Spice Cake

Most of the desserts will be cooked on Wednesday, along w/ the gumbo. The gumbo will take too bloody much work to even try to do it on Thursday. Since the desserts need to chill they'll be fine.

I'll prep the gumbo tomorrow afternoon or evening, along with the peanut butter dough. The dough needs to refrigerate before going in. Wednesday I'll buy the meat, cook all the desserts, prep all the ingredients for the food, and make the dough for the black bread. The black bread will be the first to go into the oven Thursday morning so it is fresh.

Overall things should go smoother than in the past, but we shall see. The gumbo worries me even though I cooked it once in school and did great, but that was a couple years ago.

God Bless chaffing dishes!

I hope everyone has a happy and wonderful Thanksgiving and gets stuffed!

Regards,

Doug

 

[femurphy77]

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

 

[Libertarian01]

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

Well...

At least you love guns!

 

[rhamersley]

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

Our plans.........

 

[gregkl]

Everything I read states that heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the same; 36% fat.

Is this not accurate? What are the differences and how does it affect making whipping cream to top pies?

 

[KG1]

We're just doing turkey pot pies.

 

[KittySlayer]

Saturday I sharpened all my(*) kitchen knives as I abhor dull knives. Also sharpened my travel knife because invariably being the knife guy I get nominated to carve at the inlaws and my butter knives are sharper than their kitchen knives.

(*) My wife thinks sharp knives are not safe so I leave her crappy knives alone. Must have learned it from her parents as the whole clan has dull knives in every kitchen.

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

Going for the fancy name brand stuff.

 

[spencer rifle]

So , Doug, are you inviting all us NEIN INGOers to your place? It appears you have plenty to share...

 

[DoggyDaddy]

I went to Fresh Thyme for the first time today. Mainly went to get my herbs for my turkey and the basting sauce for it (Rosemary, thyme, sage and oregano), but looked around a little and wound up picking up 3 lbs. of thick sliced peppered bacon ($4.99/lb - 30 cents/lb less than Kroger brand packaged bacon), some sliced roast beef ($1/lb. less than Kroger deli price) for sammiches the next couple of days. I was NOT impressed with their beer prices though. Picked up a 30-pack of Busch Light for DoggyMama (I know, I know). Didn't see a price on the shelf, but figured I'd save myself a trip to Kroger and that it couldn't be that much more. I was wrong! $24.99! It's $18.99 at Kroger.

 

[gregkl]

My wife is in Colorado helping my son and his family get moved in so no Thanksgiving so to speak this year. I will pick up my mom from the assisted living place and bring her over. She doesn't want me to do a big meal for her and would like a nice steak. So that is what I'll make her; steak, carrots and mashed potatoes with pumpkin pie for dessert.

My pumpkin pies and mashed potatoes are really good! And the steak and carrots will hold their own also.

It will be a nice, relaxed time and a good dinner for my mom. Life is good. At 93, who knows if I'll have another Thanksgiving with her.

 

[indyblue]

Saturday I sharpened all my(*) kitchen knives as I abhor dull knives. Also sharpened my travel knife because invariably being the knife guy I get nominated to carve at the inlaws and my butter knives are sharper than their kitchen knives.

(*) My wife thinks sharp knives are not safe so I leave her crappy knives alone. Must have learned it from her parents as the whole clan has dull knives in every kitchen.



Going for the fancy name brand stuff.

I usually end up sharpening the knives in friends/family's kitchens for them.

How do you get through a crispy skin with a dull knife?

She needs to know that actually dull knives are more dangerous. I sharp one will do what you expect it to do and a dull one will slip or cut off course unexpectedly and takes much more effort than necessary to begin a cut.

Knife Safety in the kitchen- why are dull knives dangerous - KITCHEN ITEMZ

Knife safety in the kitchen is always an important concern. A dull knife is more dangerous to the kitchen than a sharp knife.

kitchenitemz.com

 

[DoggyDaddy]

My wife is in Colorado helping my son and his family get moved in so no Thanksgiving so to speak this year. I will pick up my mom from the assisted living place and bring her over. She doesn't want me to do a big meal for her and would like a nice steak. So that is what I'll make her; steak, carrots and mashed potatoes with pumpkin pie for dessert.

My pumpkin pies and mashed potatoes are really good! And the steak and carrots will hold their own also.

It will be a nice, relaxed time and a good dinner for my mom. Life is good. At 93, who knows if I'll have another Thanksgiving with her.

My mom is 99 (will turn 100 in April, God willing) and in assisted living, so we won't get to spend Thanksgiving with her this year. She can't really travel very easily these days. Glad you're getting to spend time with yours!

 

[gregkl]

My mom is 99 (will turn 100 in April, God willing) and in assisted living, so we won't get to spend Thanksgiving with her this year. She can't really travel very easily these days. Glad you're getting to spend time with yours!

Fortunately she is local so I can go pick her up. I have to use my wife's car due to my SUV being too high for her to climb into. Even though it's just a Rav4 company car.

 

[chocktaw2]

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

Hell, buy a lb of bacon, costs more than a whole turkey.

 

[wagyu52]

I’ve got my turkeys in their brine till Wednesday, all 50 lbs of them

 

[tim87tr]

Kroger has heavy cream and have their own dairy farms. Best we've found for morning coffee and cooking needs.

 

[Bugzilla]

I go all out; Oscar Meyer bologna for Thanksgiving!

And no pineapple? Oh the inhumanity!

 

[WebSnyper]

Turkeys are defrosting… test fired the fryer burner to make sure it was good to go.

 

[Libertarian01]

Everything I read states that heavy cream and heavy whipping cream are the same; 36% fat.

Is this not accurate? What are the differences and how does it affect making whipping cream to top pies?

Here is some helpful information on cream(s) in general.

Cream Types and Definitions

What is cream- Are you confused about the different types of cream available? Let us help you with this guide of cream types and definitions. Cream is a dairy

whatscookingamerica.net

On top of this here is the information on "cream" v/s "whipping cream."

Heavy creams with the fewest additives - Toxinless

Ingredient data for 18 heavy creams with recommendations for the top 9 purest products.

www.toxinless.com

In almost every American grocery store they carry "heavy whipping cream." In most cases this is fine. I will use heavy whipping cream more often than not.

However, on Thanksgiving, I get stinky. I want everything to be as pure, natural, and original as possible. Don't ask me why, I don't know. If I were to guess I think it's the one meal per year that I cook that I want as organic as possible. Plus, when I go to make my own butter (which I have done) it will be far better without the additives in "whipping" cream.

From the first article you can see where different countries, particularly the United States and United Kingdom have different tastes and variations on cream, clotted cream, and so forth. I've made my own crem fraiche before. Not hard.

For topping on a pie honestly heavy whipping cream would be better than heavy cream. Those additives will make it hold form better and longer than regular cream. Sometimes I'll add sugar to heavy cream and whip it to add to a bowl of strawberries. Wonderful.

I hope this helps answer the question.

Regards,

Doug

 

[JettaKnight]

Macaroni & Cheese w/ five (5) cheeses

Five cheeses?!
You mad man!


Doug, I'm always glad to see your menus.



My sis was in last weekend, so we had an early dinner, but the in-laws are in on Thursday, so no rest for me.