Thanksgiving recipes go here

[rocketgirl]

Rosemary roasted carrots.

Prep Time: 5 minutes

Cook Time: 25 minutes

Total Time: 30 minutes

Yield: 6-8 servings

ingredients

2 bunches of small carrots (about 24), peeled
1 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. minced rosemary
salt and pepper

instructions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Toss carrots with olive oil on a rimmed baking sheet. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt & pepper. Bake 20-25 minutes or until tender.

Ha!  I do almost exactly this with cut up chunks of sweet potatoes.  Except that I also add minced garlic.  Yummy!

[cgraz]

I have been making Alton Brown's recipe found here for years and it is always perfect.  I see you're not sure about the brining, but it's the brining that makes the meat so tender and moist.  Consider giving it a try. 

I am nervous about finding a turkey that is fresh, because they say you shouldn't brine a frozen turkey. But then I read that you should buy your fresh turkey just 2 days before cooking it - and I am nervous about not having a turkey before Tuesday! What if I go to the store then and they are all gone?

[Run Amok]

I am nervous about finding a turkey that is fresh, because they say you shouldn't brine a frozen turkey. But then I read that you should buy your fresh turkey just 2 days before cooking it - and I am nervous about not having a turkey before Tuesday! What if I go to the store then and they are all gone?

Then you go to whole paycheck and hand over a bazillion dollars because they are the only ones with any turkeys left. Ask me how I know. Why not buy a frozen turkey and give it time to thaw?

Thanks RA! He loves ginger. I may try that chutney instead.

It's pretty intense. Some people reviewed it and said they preferred it with half apple cider and half apple cider vinegar. I made it as written and we liked it- but just throwing that out there. I imagine that you guys are a little more acclimated to stronger tasting foods though, so you'll probably be fine.

[cgraz]

Then you go to whole paycheck and hand over a bazillion dollars because they are the only ones with any turkeys left. Ask me how I know. Why not buy a frozen turkey and give it time to thaw?

That's my plan - hence, no brining. Maybe next year if I do this again and feel more adventurous.

[nadra24]

You can brine a frozen turkey, you just have to let it thaw most of the way first.  I say buy it now, put it in the fridge to defrost on Sunday night, and then put it in the brine on Wednesday night.  No worries.

[Magic Microbe]

I bought a fresh turkey last weekend an the sell or freeze by date is 11/26...so what's up with the two day thing? It will just have been sitting in the store anyway.

[cgraz]

Food safety guidelines...

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/Lets_Talk_Turkey/index.asp

[Magic Microbe]

Food safety guidelines...

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/FACTSheets/Lets_Talk_Turkey/index.asp

Except you have no idea how long its been sitting in the store.

[cgraz]

Yeah, I try not to think of that.  And I figure the guidelines take typical time frame into account, hence the short timetable on the consumer's end.

[omega lambda]

You can brine a frozen turkey, you just have to let it thaw most of the way first.  I say buy it now, put it in the fridge to defrost on Sunday night, and then put it in the brine on Wednesday night.  No worries.

Exactly!  And frozen turkeys are as good as if not better than fresh.

[crazypants]

When is your Thanksgiving this year?

[Magic Microbe]

When is your Thanksgiving this year?

Next Thursday.

[caribougrrl]

Yeah, I try not to think of that.  And I figure the guidelines take typical time frame into account, hence the short timetable on the consumer's end.

ah, but since brine is full of salt, it's killing all sorts of bacteria and shit anyway, think of as added protection

[Tim]

Ha!  I do almost exactly this with cut up chunks of sweet potatoes.  Except that I also add minced garlic.  Yummy!

I am going to try that.

[diablita]

DH has never liked the canned cranberry sauce. So the first time I made thanksgiving dinner I made it from scratch. It's so easy and he loves it (I don't care for it). But I found this recipe last week and I want to try it. It uses pomegranate juice.

http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/11/cranberry-pomegranate-sauce/

I am totally making this.  I usually make two batches of this:  http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/spirited-cranberry-apricot-sauce-10000000520577/
because I love it so much, but this year I'll make one of each.

And while I was perusing the pom sauce, I saw this:  http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2010/10/soul-sweet-taters-step-by-step-recipe/  which I may make

[MiniDriver]

I'm making apple-cranberry pie, it was requested because everyone enjoyed it last year.  Now I just have to remember how I made it.  I didn't use a recipe, I just threw it together.

[witchypoo]

Ah. I can't help you with a recipe... but I'd probably hit up epicurious and look for one that's been reviewed a bunch. I think you can also get most (all?) of the joy of baking recipes on there.

the joy of cooking recipe for lemon meringue pie is top notch.  if you can't find a copy, mm, i will post it for you.

[Magic Microbe]

the joy of cooking recipe for lemon meringue pie is top notch.  if you can't find a copy, mm, i will post it for you.

Is it pretty tart and not too sweet?

[BonitaApplebum]

I've brined turkeys for the last five years, at least. And they've always been frozen.

This year is my first time making a fresh turkey. I will brine this one, too.

[witchypoo]

Is it pretty tart and not too sweet?

yes.