What is Your Thanksgiving Menu This Year?

I tried a new recipe for my turkey this year. The last 3 years I've brined it and it turned out great. But trying to struggle a 22-24 lb turkey into a brine bath, never mind trying to find something big enough to MAKE a brine bath was getting discouraging. I had found a source of brining bags and lost my grip on one last year. there was about 2 gallons of brine sloshing around my kitchen floor, and just managed to catch the turkey before it escaped.

anyway, long story not so short, Bobby Flay was on TV telling me how to make a moist turkey without having to brine it and I bought in without a second thought. It involved rubbing the bird with an herb butter made with unsalted butter, chopped fresh sage and roasted garlic. how could that be wrong? just happened to have an entire sage plant waiting to be picked clean in my new herb garden. and my oldest DGD here dying to roast a head of garlic. It had to be basted every 15 min, but younger DGD volunteered for that. I've got it made with those 2 (how do make a beaming grandma emoticon?)

It smelled great while it was cooking! Skin got dark, like it was barbequed, but not burnt. The meat did, indeed stay very moist. It didn't taste garlicky at all.

One of my heroes, Erma Bombeck, asked why it takes 18 hours to produce a Thanksgiving dinner, and then it takes 12 minutes to eat it. . . which was exactly how long it takes for a football halftime show. Coincidence. . . I don't THINK so!

I love the phrase "the survival of the cooks." And I don't have an answer either as to why it seems so important to produce a feast. Except, maybe, that that IS the point.

What a feast!

Looks fantastic!

Looks yummy!!!!

Thank you, it was yummy. And thank heavens for the tradition of sending home leftovers with the guests! (Except for the pumpkin pie. Does anyone else eat PP for breakfast? Really beats out anything healthful!)

Funny!

Yes! Emily!!! I can't remember when it started, but my favorite part of Thanksgiving has always been pumpkin pie for breakfast the next morning!! LOL My son has the same tradition!

Your spread looks wonderful!! I'm sure it was enjoyed by everyone!

I had pumpkin pie for breakfast!

So did my wife...

Don - isn't that fodder for a good poem??

Definitely p pie for breakfast! I'll have it everyday until it's gone. I made 2 pies and my son already had pie at home. So we were 'stuck' with a whole pie and then some, darn it (snicker). If I don't cut the pieces too big it's good for at least 4 days (well, I have to let DH have some, don't I?)

We sent the chocolate cream pie home with guests. Darn it! It would have made a pretty good breakfast.

(you asked for it...)

My wife eats pies on rising,
To my thinly veiled disgust.
It seems a bit surprising,
But there's fiber in the crust.
B vitamins in the filling,
Plus fruit like pomes or cherries.
So for breakfast she's fulfilling
A whole day's dietaries!

That's awesome!!
Gave me a good chuckle!!!
Thanks, Don.

Brilliant Don!

Don, You work fast! (and well)