Washingtonians Come Together! Washington Peeps

[ValerieJ]

Took the turkey out to thaw. We lucked out and found an 8 lb turkey, that's a whole turkey not a turkey breast. It's called a "Little Butterball". I don't generally buy that brand, but the size was perfect for us.

I'm not sure I'll be very into the Thanksgiving dinner since we just went to a potluck that was a Thanksgiving theme. Not sure why they planned it that way. Seems odd to me.

 

[Smokerbill]

The turkey I bought is a little over 12 pounds but I'll be roasting it for my son and three grandkids so it should be about the right size. I'm going to remove the backbone to spatchcock it and position the breast over a mound of dressing in the baking pan so it cooks slower than the legs and thighs. I hate dry, overcooked breast meat.

And yeah, having a turkey day themed potluck the weekend before Thanksgiving day seems just wrong.

My son is sicker than a dog now with some type of repiratory illness, coughing, hacking and pretty much lost his voice. I'm hoping that the flu, covid and RSV shots I got in September give me some protection.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Since I generally make Thanksgiving for 2 just a boneless breast or a thigh works for me. Thankfully the local co-op always has smaller turkeys available, so I picked up a 3 lb breast and that'll be 4 hearty meals for 2.

Sides will be a Swiss vegetable casserole (similar to green bean casserole but with cauliflower and broccoli, and a Swiss cheese sauce), potato gratin with pancetta and porcini, ambrosia salad, sweet potato pie.

 

[ValerieJ]

Since I generally make Thanksgiving for 2 just a boneless breast or a thigh works for me. Thankfully the local co-op always has smaller turkeys available, so I picked up a 3 lb breast and that'll be 4 hearty meals for 2.

Sides will be a Swiss vegetable casserole (similar to green bean casserole but with cauliflower and broccoli, and a Swiss cheese sauce), potato gratin with pancetta and porcini, ambrosia salad, sweet potato pie.

Two of us here too. But I will make turkey tetrazzini with leftover turkey and then I'll freeze the rest for later meals.

Your Swiss vegetable casserole sounds wonderful. I don't care for the green bean casserole because it is generally made with canned goods, but your idea sounds fresh and delicious.

 

[rosemarythyme]

Two of us here too. But I will make turkey tetrazzini with leftover turkey and then I'll freeze the rest for later meals.

Your Swiss vegetable casserole sounds wonderful. I don't care for the green bean casserole because it is generally made with canned goods, but your idea sounds fresh and delicious.

I love turkey tetrazzini and considered getting a larger turkey breast to save some meat for that, but they had 3 pounders so that was perfect as-is.

I always do green bean casserole with fresh beans and homemade mushroom sauce, so this is very similar just Swiss cheese sauce and cauliflower/broccoli and carrots instead. I still have plenty of carrots in the ground which is why I went this route.

 

[ValerieJ]

I love turkey tetrazzini and considered getting a larger turkey breast to save some meat for that, but they had 3 pounders so that was perfect as-is.

I always do green bean casserole with fresh beans and homemade mushroom sauce, so this is very similar just Swiss cheese sauce and cauliflower/broccoli and carrots instead. I still have plenty of carrots in the ground which is why I went this route.

I have made green bean casserole that way before. I love it, but no one else does. I've tried it a few different ways. IDK...it's just not right to them, so I refuse to make it, because I refuse to use canned beans and Campbells soup. lol

I am going to try your Swiss vegetable casserole though, but not this week. I think I'll really like it.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I have made green bean casserole that way before. I love it, but no one else does. I've tried it a few different ways. IDK...it's just not right to them, so I refuse to make it, because I refuse to use canned beans and Campbells soup. lol

No offense to anyone who prefers the canned version, but it doesn't even taste like anything.

I do use packaged French onions though, not a fan of frying things so just dumping those out of the container is fine with me.

 

[pennyJo1960]

I know what you mean there I detest canned meat of any kind.
I can eat a tuna prepared right not in can either.

 

[rosemarythyme]

I can eat a tuna prepared right not in can either.

Well I am fine with canned tuna, but I tend to get the higher quality ones which look like a tuna steak neatly fitted in a tin.

 

[ValerieJ]

I had some of my neighbor's canned tuna. Oh my. That was good. I ate it right out of the jar as it was.