I'm still buying food for Labor Day weekend college football kickoff weekend Enty. :(
I dont know how you missed the Farrah Abraham is now working as a stripper story in Austin Tx. But you should send the Austin posters out to check out her show.
I'll never understand why they say to start thawing 4 days before you want to cook it. It always takes at least 8 days to thaw a frozen turkey in my fridge.
Aunt Liddy, you're so lucky!!! Hope you get to go & if so give a full report -- always wanted to do a family vacation there!! Seems like a magical place.
(Take in mind I've only been in charge of Thanksgiving dinner once since my Mom passed) It only took two days to thaw a 24 lb. turkey for me. I left it in the sink while I was awake and in the fridge when I slept inside a plastic tub with a drain pan inside and a lid on top (goes back to my days as a cook, can't teach an old dog new tricks, right? The tub and drain pan were actually old ones from Long John Silver's, we used it for the chicken strips. We ordered new ones and we managers all took the old stuff we wanted instead of throwing them away)
Then on Thanksgiving eve, I set out all of the spices and canned goods I would need (and didn't need refrigeration) an the table in the order I would need them. Then I woke up about 6am, had some coffee and a Stacker Energy Shot (Dr. told me to drink one of those a day since my body has a problem with Niacin since my stroke and the energy shots are cheaper than the actual pills lol).
I preheat the oven, put the turkey in the roasting pan, coat it in oil (to crisp the skin and give it that nice brown color), add pepper and other seasonings then put it in the oven to cook.
The next thing I did was prep everything for the sides (Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Cole Slaw, etc.) and make the things I could that could be put in the fridge like the cols slaw, sweet potatoes, Green Bean casserole, stuff that just needed to be heated up before dinner.
I was out of the kitchen by 8am, everything was clean (keep an old shopping bag by you to throw all your trash out at as you get it, makes clean up a cinch). Turkey was ready by 1pm, sides were ready at the same time, dinner was served at 1:30pm.
My Dad was amazed. He asked how I was so calm doing everything when my Mom had always rushed around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Like I told him, it's all about preparation and having things put in the order you need them.
Sorry, been a while since I was me and like a commenter said about a certain other account, I tend to write novels, not posts.
Dexamyl, it's really not hard to do. I did leave out the part where I cut all the veggies the night before and put them in gallon storage bags, that way all I have to do is throw them together or in the case of potatoes, pot to boil. So figure an hour extra of prep work the night before.
@Rowdy I like your hyper-organization! I do everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that I can the day before. Peel and chop veggies, bake pies, chop bread for stuffing, etc., etc. Then on The Day all I have to do is get the turkey stuffed and in the oven, turn on a few switches and drink some wine.
Turkey isn't my job, I do German Chocolate cake and choc chip cookies.
ReplyDeleteBeginning of August is when I realized im getting fucking old =[
ReplyDeleteAnd if you are in the UK,start boiling the Brussels sprouts ready for Christmas dinner.
ReplyDeleteHa! @ haydn.
DeleteI'm still buying food for Labor Day weekend college football kickoff weekend Enty. :(
ReplyDeleteI dont know how you missed the Farrah Abraham is now working as a stripper story in Austin Tx. But you should send the Austin posters out to check out her show.
I will make the journey and report back.
DeleteThere's an indemnification issue with sending anyone within spitting distance of Backdoor Farrah, one would think.
ReplyDeleteI'll never understand why they say to start thawing 4 days before you want to cook it.
ReplyDeleteIt always takes at least 8 days to thaw a frozen turkey in my fridge.
Our Thanksgiving is in October but I'll be in the Caribbean this YR then so I don't have to make dinner this YR!
ReplyDeleteShould start soaking the dried fruits in brandy for the xmas pudding.
ReplyDeleteFSP be careful Enty doesn't have combat pay available in the budget and I doubt his health insurance covers any STD s she gives you.
ReplyDeleteIt's airborne with Farrah!!
DeleteIf you leave the turkey in the sun, it cuts the thawing time in half.
ReplyDeleteMight, might, MIGHT be going to Sanibel Island for Thanksgiving!!'Excited! Love shells!
ReplyDeleteAunt Liddy, you're so lucky!!! Hope you get to go & if so give a full report -- always wanted to do a family vacation there!! Seems like a magical place.
ReplyDelete(Take in mind I've only been in charge of Thanksgiving dinner once since my Mom passed) It only took two days to thaw a 24 lb. turkey for me. I left it in the sink while I was awake and in the fridge when I slept inside a plastic tub with a drain pan inside and a lid on top (goes back to my days as a cook, can't teach an old dog new tricks, right? The tub and drain pan were actually old ones from Long John Silver's, we used it for the chicken strips. We ordered new ones and we managers all took the old stuff we wanted instead of throwing them away)
ReplyDeleteThen on Thanksgiving eve, I set out all of the spices and canned goods I would need (and didn't need refrigeration) an the table in the order I would need them. Then I woke up about 6am, had some coffee and a Stacker Energy Shot (Dr. told me to drink one of those a day since my body has a problem with Niacin since my stroke and the energy shots are cheaper than the actual pills lol).
I preheat the oven, put the turkey in the roasting pan, coat it in oil (to crisp the skin and give it that nice brown color), add pepper and other seasonings then put it in the oven to cook.
The next thing I did was prep everything for the sides (Green Bean Casserole, Mashed Potatoes, Dressing, Sweet Potatoes, Cole Slaw, etc.) and make the things I could that could be put in the fridge like the cols slaw, sweet potatoes, Green Bean casserole, stuff that just needed to be heated up before dinner.
I was out of the kitchen by 8am, everything was clean (keep an old shopping bag by you to throw all your trash out at as you get it, makes clean up a cinch). Turkey was ready by 1pm, sides were ready at the same time, dinner was served at 1:30pm.
My Dad was amazed. He asked how I was so calm doing everything when my Mom had always rushed around like a chicken with it's head cut off. Like I told him, it's all about preparation and having things put in the order you need them.
Sorry, been a while since I was me and like a commenter said about a certain other account, I tend to write novels, not posts.
I enjoyed your post, Rowdy! Sounds like you've got it down. :)
ReplyDeletenah, we don't have turkey at thanksgiving anymore. no cleaning out organs from a bird's ribs.
ReplyDeleteHi again rowdy!!!
ReplyDeleteHi Lady H. As the bard once said "Don't call it a comeback, I've been here for years."
ReplyDeleteWow, Rowdy. If you can make all those sides between 6 and 8 am, I need to try that energy drink!
ReplyDeleteLMFAO.
ReplyDeleteDexamyl, it's really not hard to do. I did leave out the part where I cut all the veggies the night before and put them in gallon storage bags, that way all I have to do is throw them together or in the case of potatoes, pot to boil. So figure an hour extra of prep work the night before.
ReplyDelete@Rowdy I like your hyper-organization! I do everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, that I can the day before. Peel and chop veggies, bake pies, chop bread for stuffing, etc., etc. Then on The Day all I have to do is get the turkey stuffed and in the oven, turn on a few switches and drink some wine.
ReplyDeleteI have a turkey thawing in my fridge that I'm going to cook this weekend. Looking forward to days of turkey sandwiches.
ReplyDelete