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Thanksgiving Plans

MFS62 Nov 19 2020 08:07 AM

We just decided that for the first time in over 40 years, we won't have the family over for Thanksgiving dinner. I'll still cook the turkey, the kids will cook and bake their traditional sides, and we'll meet in a parking lot somewhere between our houses (we all live in a 35 mile radius) and safely exchange food packages to be brought back home and enjoyed. What have you decided you'll be doing that day? Later

Benjamin Grimm Nov 19 2020 08:29 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

If several logistical and medical challenges can be overcome, I'll be having lasagna at my girlfriend's house. (She doesn't like turkey.) if not, I'll probably be at home alone. Because of my Plan A, my kids will be having Thanksgiving with their mom and her new SO. If my Plan A falls through, I may or may not be invited to join them, but if I am I doubt I'll accept.

Fman99 Nov 19 2020 10:11 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Bought a small (12 lb) bird to make for a gathering of 7, the four of us plus my wife's mom, sister and my niece who is 5. Only my wife & daughter were exposed at their last Girl Scout meeting on Sunday and are in a self-quarantine mode for 14 days. So that's been nixed. Trying to decide if I still want to make this giant bird, or put it in the freezer and just buy a breast & a couple of drums.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 19 2020 10:13 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

=Fman99 post_id=51018 time=1605805915 user_id=86] Only my wife & daughter were exposed at their last Girl Scout meeting on Sunday and are in a self-quarantine mode for 14 days. So that's been nixed.

Get them tested. A negative result will bring great peace of mind.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 19 2020 10:19 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

And a positive result can bring peace of mind too, I should add, after an initial period of worry. My daughter tested positive and has now fully recovered, so she's one fewer person that I have to worry about, at least for four-to-six months, and hopefully she'll be vaccinated not much after that.

Lefty Specialist Nov 19 2020 10:21 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

We normally have about 16-18 people gather at a rotation of family houses. This year it's just me and the Missus at home. One of our Thanksgiving group died of COVID in April, so we're all staying put. Even Lefty Jr will stay in DC this year. We'll have a big Zoom call and get together next year, when hopefully this is all behind us. Probably going to do Christmas remotely as well, which will also be sad. We'll cook up a small turkey and have sandwiches for weeks. And yes, get them tested.

Fman99 Nov 19 2020 10:28 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Benjamin Grimm wrote: =Fman99 post_id=51018 time=1605805915 user_id=86] Only my wife & daughter were exposed at their last Girl Scout meeting on Sunday and are in a self-quarantine mode for 14 days. So that's been nixed. Get them tested. A negative result will bring great peace of mind.

Appointments for tests for asymptomatic folks like them are days out. I believe my wife gets her test tomorrow and my daughter on Monday. These were scheduled this past Monday, for reference.

Benjamin Grimm Nov 19 2020 10:41 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Wow. At CVS (near me, anyway) you can schedule day-after-tomorrow tests as long as you do it early in the morning.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 19 2020 10:58 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Just me and the GF at home. My brother lives literally across the street and her folks a few doors down, so we'll likely have a beer in someone's yard, but we are not sitting down for meals or anything. Our state numbers are horrific right now.

kcmets Nov 19 2020 12:25 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Our usual rotation of 15-20 people are all chillin' and swillin' on our own this year. Too many variables and we figure we made it this far with no serious covidin' so why let our guard down just to share a turkey and some laughs in person. So on Saturday we'll go to Shop-rite and have our annual free turkey vs. ham de- bate. I see we can also get a 8-9 lb turkey breast as well so maybe I can work out a compromise. We often have a long late Friday morning hike with everyone who is around. I hope that works out but I haven't floated it and no one else has yet either.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 19 2020 12:53 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Ham?! What in the hell's the debate?

metsmarathon Nov 19 2020 12:55 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

we're massively struggling with what to do for thanksgiving over here. was going to do about an 11-person max gathering, but it spans 4 households. we're currently thinking of just inviting my mom and sister over, as its one household and our bubbles have been intersecting for a while already. but even that is starting to sound unwise. but! we do have a good sized turkey in the freezer. so i might want to go out and get a smaller something, just in case.

cal sharpie Nov 19 2020 01:23 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Going to our son and his girlfriend's apartment. First time we've been. They are both super careful and she gets tested weekly. It'll be just the 4 of us.

kcmets Nov 19 2020 01:28 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

A Boy Named Seo wrote: Ham?! What in the hell's the debate? The debate is what to get for free. Year's past we got a ham and made it in December. This year we 'need' some turkey.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 19 2020 03:04 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

We were gonna go visit Wifey's parents in Vermont (just them and just us 3) but may cave to CDC recommendations and stay home. Small chance that Vermont captures us at the border and makes us quarantine for 14 days. Either way nothing big

Edgy MD Nov 19 2020 08:28 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

First Thanksgiving without my mom and my aunt, and we won't be gatherin'. And the way we're gettin' along, I'm not sure there will be a next time. Sharing even a modest inheritance with somebody really just makes for such a familial shitshow.

whippoorwill Nov 19 2020 08:56 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Hubby and I having chicken with the usual fixins' My mom says she's gonna make salmon cakes; my daughter wants to join her lol My son in law does not like the smell of fish so they never have it

ashie62 Nov 19 2020 11:45 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Thanksgiving is a phone call and gift to mom at assisted living. Then a call to my brother and his wife. That's about it.

LWFS Nov 20 2020 07:44 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

We usually roll REAL deep-- between 35 and 45, including an in-law branch or two, depending on the year-- at one of three cousins' houses in Jersey. Pickup soccer and football, weather-permitting. Trash-talk karaoke competish. Some dance-related Switch game that the kinder cajole the old folk into, while laughing at them. Instead, it'll be four this year: BetterHalfer, YoungerPooper, OlderAunter and me. 12 lb. bird, with baby carrots, Brussels, potatoes two ways, cranberry-lemon tart, and either Parker house rolls or cornbread.

Chad ochoseis Nov 20 2020 07:53 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Across town to my girlfriend's house, where we'll probably cook chicken tagine (cheating a bit using a Dutch oven), because nobody really likes turkey. Maybe a quick drive from there over to my brother's to say a masked and socially distanced hello to him and his family, and probably get some dessert forced upon us to take home, just as if we'd had our traditional in-person dinner. Then a zoom chat with my girlfriend's son and daughter in law, who live in Astoria.

A Boy Named Seo Nov 20 2020 08:04 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

=LWFS post_id=51142 time=1605926649 user_id=84] We usually roll REAL deep-- between 35 and 45, including an in-law branch or two, depending on the year-- at one of three cousins' houses in Jersey. Pickup soccer and football, weather-permitting. Trash-talk karaoke competish. Some dance-related Switch game that the kinder cajole the old folk into, while laughing at them. Instead, it'll be four this year: BetterHalfer, YoungerPooper, OlderAunter and me. 12 lb. bird, with baby carrots, Brussels, potatoes two ways, cranberry-lemon tart, and either Parker house rolls or cornbread.

Promise to take pictures of the food

Benjamin Grimm Nov 20 2020 08:10 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Benjamin Grimm wrote: If several logistical and medical challenges can be overcome, I'll be having lasagna at my girlfriend's house. (She doesn't like turkey.) if not, I'll probably be at home alone. Because of my Plan A, my kids will be having Thanksgiving with their mom and her new SO. If my Plan A falls through, I may or may not be invited to join them, but if I am I doubt I'll accept. Plan A is now baked ziti instead of lasagna. (I know you all need to know this.) And on Friday I'll be making jambalaya. Plan B remains the same. I'll be home alone, sitting on the couch, hugging my cat, eating ice cream and weeping while watching Sleepless in Seattle. Except I won't be weeping and there's no way I'll ever watch that movie again.

whippoorwill Nov 21 2020 06:27 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

1) Seo thank you for reminding me tgat I'll need rolls! 2) Ben that was my sister's and my niece's thanksgiving tradition. Plan B that is. Then they'd take mom shopping on Friday. Those were the days 😢

kcmets Nov 21 2020 02:31 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

I like cheesey pasta with a turkey day meal, will miss our friends manicotti. We're going to Plan E on Thursday and having salmon! Broasted red potatoes with rosemary garlic butter, brussel sprouts in white wine parmigiano pepper saute and insilata di kc. Gonna slow cook the free turkey breast Friday in the kettle grill.

Fman99 Nov 21 2020 08:01 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Had only limited options at the store today so I will be making a 12 lb bird for a family of four. My first attempt at a full bird. I am told it's fairly easy so I'm not too concerned. I do nearly all of the cooking in our house already, my wife and daughter handle the baking.

kcmets Nov 22 2020 12:44 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Does anyone brine their bird? I never have mainly because whenever I cook one it's so freakin' big that I don't have a pot large enough to do so. Since I only have a 8-9 lb breast this year I might give it a whirl. There's like a thousand brine recipes on the air.

whippoorwill Nov 22 2020 02:05 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Here's the thing. I like dark meat, Mr Cooby likes white meat. He doesn't want to do a whole turkey, thus the chicken. But that's so ‘everyday' But when I think of turkey leg I think of those hideous things they pawn on you at Renaissance Faires Any suggestions?

kcmets Nov 22 2020 03:08 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

=whippoorwill post_id=51188 time=1606079122 user_id=79]But when I think of turkey leg I think of those hideous things they pawn on you at Renaissance Faires

That's pretty funny... Huzzah!

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 22 2020 04:04 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

=kcmets post_id=51187 time=1606074276 user_id=53] Does anyone brine their bird? I never have mainly because whenever I cook one it's so freakin' big that I don't have a pot large enough to do so. Since I only have a 8-9 lb breast this year I might give it a whirl. There's like a thousand brine recipes on the air.

A lot of the birds you find at the store already have a brine injected.



I use a brine on pork chops several hours, and even chicken breast. Chicken only takes 15 minutes, will produce a juicier baked cut but careful it doesn't get too salty.

kcmets Nov 22 2020 04:13 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Yeah, reading the label more closely this thing is already gassed up.

LWFS Nov 23 2020 10:58 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Does anyone brine their bird? I never have mainly because whenever I cook one it's so freakin' big that I don't have a pot large enough to do so. Since I only have a 8-9 lb breast this year I might give it a whirl. There's like a thousand brine recipes on the air. Definitely worth it. Perfect seasoning with crazy-little work. The space issue-- along with the white-meat-drying-before-dark-meat issue-- can be solved by spatchcocking... boom, brine in a big freezer bag!

kcmets Nov 25 2020 10:09 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

That spatchcocking video is cool, thanks! I don't have poultry shears, but I'm sure my Milwaukee Sawzall can handle it lol...

LWFS Nov 25 2020 12:08 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

That's got to be so much more fun than scissors.

Fman99 Nov 26 2020 08:44 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

The turkey came out great. I made a real mockery of the carving, but it was tender and juicy with lots of flavor. And it looked nice.

Lefty Specialist Nov 27 2020 04:40 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Free Shop-Rite Turkey comes through again. I just realized that this is the smallest number of other people I've ever had Thanksgiving with in my entire life (1). It was very weird, and were it not for the cranberry-pineapple-jello dressing and creamsicle pie, it would have been just another meal. We had the Zoom call with the relatives, but it's not the same as poking them in the belly and teasing them about how much weight they've gained. But hopefully we'll tough it out this year and make up for it next year.

MFS62 Nov 27 2020 05:54 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Our turkey came out great and the plan to meet and swap food with my daughters worked out like clockwork. Later

Benjamin Grimm Nov 27 2020 06:21 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Ziti for two, with Pillsbury crescent rolls. It seems that scooping ziti from a pan is a much simpler task than carving a turkey.

LWFS Nov 27 2020 10:51 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

We're locking down in the same town where about four different sets of relatives live. We basically prepped/cooked all morning (with some... indifferent assistance from the kid), ding-dong-ditched take-out containers of desserts and featured side dishes at each other's homes all afternoon, then settled in for daydrinking and 3:30 pm vittles. First turkey in a while, and it turned out really good! First Gobbler sandwich this morning turned out even better, and now it's 12:45 pm, and I'm trying to stay awake, and it's hard!

kcmets Nov 27 2020 05:06 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

[FIMG=750]http://kcmets.com/CPF/112720a.jpg[/FIMG] This isn't pretty, but it came out great. 8½ lbs of turkey breast. It's on it's side. Thought it would take almost three hours but done in exactly two to reach 165°. Charcoal and cherry wood - Weber Kettle wonder!.

MFS62 Nov 27 2020 05:28 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Looks great, Kase. Never tried BBQ-ing one. Now I might give it a try. Did you use a rub? Sauce? Later

LWFS Nov 27 2020 05:58 PM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

It's pretty to me.

Johnny Lunchbucket Nov 28 2020 06:49 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Seems like overkill but we earned a "free" turkey at our local Food Bizarre and had wifey's mom's bird for Thanksgiving , so ill smoke ours where we get home this week. Don't have the right shears to splotch that thing. Should we try anyway?

kcmets Nov 28 2020 09:38 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

I looked at poultry shears before online but balked for now on the $20+. Seems a lot for scissors. I imagine a sharp chef's knife would do the trick.

kcmets Nov 28 2020 10:12 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

=MFS62 post_id=51449 time=1606523296 user_id=60]Looks great, Kase. Never tried BBQ-ing one. Now I might give it a try. Did you use a rub? Sauce?

Not really bbq grilling per se but more indirect heat and smoke.



I lathered it in an olive oil and melted butter mix. Used my staple rub that I always have a

Ball jar handy of...



2 TBSP paprika

1 TBSP cayenne pepper

1 TBSP dried thyme

1 TBSP dried oregano

1 TBSP black pepper

1 TBSP white pepper

1 TBSP salt

1 TBSP garlic powder

1 TBSP onion powder



The cherry wood is nice, first time I've used store-bought wood to kettle.

MFS62 Nov 28 2020 10:18 AM Re: Thanksgiving Plans

Nice spice mix. Bet it tasted as good as it looked. Thanks. Later