dans

Our tradition took most of a week to prepare. I mentioned in a previous post that I created a shopping list for our menu. Shopping the week of Thanksgiving is always hectic so I did it early in the week. I would make chicken/turkey stock with chicken wings and turkey legs. This went for the gravy and other things that required stock (dressing, etc.). Bread was readied to the stuffing/dressing. The onions, sausage, etc. for it were also cooked ahead. Putting it all together and cooking it was simple. Some of the vegetables sweet potato casserole, etc.) could be prepped ahead and cooked off on the day. We always had the usual dishes (turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, etc.), but I always changed-up something each year. I never made the standard veggies. Sometimes it was roasted squash (never boiled and mashed) sometimes glazed, sometimes, ginger mashed. I thought it kept things interesting. I always stock up on the plastic food storage containers when they on sale. Various sizes so that you aren't taking up a lot of space with a little bit of leftover something. As we are putting food away, I package it into multiple containers. As each person/family leaves, they get a shopping bag with another meal. Cleanup goes pretty quickly. Lots of hands make quick work. We bought place settings and flatware for 40. It packs into the dishwasher pretty well. It may take several loads but it works. Pots and pans are the most difficult thing. We really had good intentions to clean these as we are done with them. Sometimes it works, sometimes it only partially works. But we usually had some at the end of the night.

We got our celebration done to a science. I've got all the recipes in a document and use it to create a shopping list based on what we will be serving. The document has been given out to anyone who asks for the recipe for something. Hopefully, they read through it and picked out something alse to try.

We were even more specific when assigning what people were to bring. Everyone has a specialty that they do well so that is what we assigned. For those that don't cook we assigned a pie or cookies. It made it so much easier to get a "balanced" meal and not one heavy with casseroles, deserts, or veggie platters. We started doing 2 turkeys also. Cooking one on Thanksgiving day took up so much time in the oven. So we started cooking one bird the day before and cutting it up. Once I got the BGE, I started doing the second on it (adding a little apple or cherry wood). The second bird was always the first to go. Cooking it on the BGE freed up the oven for everything else that needed time there.

I'm going to try and pass along the Thanksgiving tradition to my nieces or nephews. My wife passed away this summer and I am not up to cooking for 25 to 35 people alone. In the past we would do maybe two out of three years and see if someone picked up their own tradition but I think I need to suggest it specifically. I'm sure that I will have a small Thanksgiving in the future, but it will be a smaller more intimate affair.

I'm not sure I have a favorite. Let me give you an overview. Beef: My got to steak would be a ribeye but I've been ordering filet mignon because it is smaller. Strip steaks are good in a pinch. I get boneless spare ribs to make stews I've always got veal shanks in the freezer for a nice osso buco. Lamb: I love lamb. My mother used to make lamb fritters but I never got the recipe from her. She would put the lamb in a port of water and cook until it was tender. I don't know what cut she used or what she seasoned it with. Once cooled and shredded it was mixed into a pancake-like batter and fried up. It was one way to divide our family - those that loved the fritters and those that hated them. This is one of the reasons I married my wife - she loved them. Lamb chops - any kind Rack of lamb Roast leg of lamb. Pork: I Love a good pork chop. Particular favorite is the "porterhouse" style but loin chop in a pinch. The tenderloins are so versatile. I grill them, cut-and-pound them pan fry and make schnitzel, pork parm, etc. I made pork osso buco once. It was delicious and maybe a little too rich. Ham, roast or smoked pork - Bring it on. Poultry: I'm clearly a dark-meat person. I would rather have a leg or thigh than breast meat. Regardless if it is roasted, grilled, stewed. Nothing like a good duck breast.

Yes.

There is a Sichuan place near me that has wontons in a spicy Sichuan sauce. It is very orange, slightly sweet, with a dark earthy flavor. No garlic that I can detect. I thought it was a combo of Chili oil and brown sugar. I'll have o go there again and check it out.

David Rosengarten!?!? Is he still alive? Last I heard of him was when he closed down his subscription email letter right after I renewed my subscription. Sorry, I can't support this by buying his books.

I found the Whole Foods in Nashua has some backs in the freezer case. Not as cheap as I'd like ($1.49/lb) but at least I can get some stock made. I wasn't looking for prepackaged/industrial chicken backs. I was thinking more along the lines of a grocery where I could pick some up after they cut up the chickens for sale as pieces.

I'm interested in making stock and am looking for a dependable source for chicken backs. In the past I've used chicken pieces, chicken wings from Costco, and whole chickens. I'd rather not pay a lot for the raw ingredients. At Thanksgiving, Whole Foods was selling chicken backs for cheap money but when I asked today, the were pretty unhelpful suggesting that they could break down any whole chicken I picked out. When I said I was only interested in the backs, they said not very often. Any ideas? I'm north and west of Boston (south of Nashua.

I hadn't thought about doing any gardening this year. I tried the potato tower last year and threw some pea plants in pots with mediocre results on both. We stopped by the local nursery and they had one last pot of tomatoes (Sun Gold) that I couldn't leave behind. I guess I'll be doing some gardening after all.

I order from the place next door. They aren't throwing fish around and will cut it whatever way you ask. I just received a notice that they are taking orders for copper river salmon (king and sockeye). We went to the Olympic Peninsula for a wedding one time and stopped at the stall at Pike Place Market. We got a whole salmon cut into steaks and packed to travel. People were raving about the salmon when I cut out the bone, tied it into a "burger" then grilled it up. We have ordered some sent to us on the east coast a few times. Unfortunately, we sibned up with Cape Ann Fresh catch and they have salmon equally as good. Check the two of the out: Pure Food Fish Market Cape Ann Fresh Catch

We were looking at getting a counter top oven in addition to our microwave. We decided to get the GE Profile microwave convection and it has been great! We can use the microwave when called for and the oven when required. It not only cooks, but reheats, and keeps food warm before serving.

We have tried shiso soy. We, too, only use it for dipping. Our local sushi place has taken it and showed it to their Japanese customers - we've given them a small bit to taste and it has led to some interesting conversations.

All molds are still available.

molds are still available.

We have used the no-cook lasagna sheets before. They come out OK. Recently we found the Rana Lasagne sheets that I like even better. No-boil and cooks up faster. You still need to use a sauce with more liquid but I'll be using these whenever I want to make lasagna.

Sure. It shouldn't bee too much extra to ship the third mold.

Tikidoc, No longer interested?

It's about the size of a half-bottle.

USPS Priority mail is $11.50 I didn't check regular USPS service or UPS. If you don't want priority mail let's figure about $6 for shipping. Dan

Too much time at hospitals. I'll get to it this week.

I'll check and get back to you.

The 12 well one with the car badges or the shapes?

I've got a few molds that I'm not using so I thought I would put them up for sale. About half of them are unused and the rest have only been used once or twice. Here is what I have: Single molds 32 piece ribbed domes 16 piece car logo 32 piece @ sign 12 piece oval/round/square/circle mold Double molds 1 piece double champagne bottle mold with clips 24 piece double cork mold with clips 6 piece double grape cluster mold with clips Single molds are $12 each and double molds are $15.