Roughly 45 million turkeys are eaten each Thanksgiving, so it's not too surprising that we - and just about everyone else who writes about food - spend a lot of time talking about what we're doing with our turkeys for Thanksgiving and presenting alternatives to the traditional roast bird. But not everyone is planning on having turkey at his or her Thanksgiving dinner. A few might opt for steaks or pasta dishes for the main meal and a handful choose Tofurkey, but the second most popular main course for this particular holiday is ham. HoneyBaked, which is one of the most popular sources for ham, says that they can sell 50 times more ham for Thanksgiving than the do during the average week. Even more than that is sold leading up to Christmas.
I'm still serving turkey on the big day in addition to all the usual sides. What's going to be on your Thanksgiving table?
11-22-2006 @1:50PM Kassie said... The woman in line in front of me this morning at the bagel shop was talking about the tamales and enchiladas her family would be having.
It sounded great to me. I remember as a kid always hoping for homemade pizza instead of turkey and the sides.
Reply
11-22-2006 @2:13PM Bear Silber said... Both. Of course. When you can't decide, choose everything.
Turkey
Honeybaked Ham
Mashed Potatoes
Candied Sweet Potatoes
Homemade No-Knead Bread
French Rolls
Dutch Crunch Rolls
Cranberry Sauce (Homemade & Store Bought)
Gravy (Homemade & Store Bought)
Stovetop Stuffing
Cornbread Stuffing
Greenbean Casserole
Pumpkin Pie
Strawberry Pie
Pecan Pie
Apple Pie
Vanilla Ice Cream
You have to please everyone!
Reply
11-22-2006 @2:57PM Susan said... No options.
Turkey roasted in the oven
Giblet and aromatic veggies bread stuffing
Gravy from turkey drippings
Mashed potatoes
Tossed green salad with tomatoes
Homemade parmesan ranch salad dressing
Whole berry and jellied cranberry sauce (from cans)
Pumpkin pie (Mrs. Smiths)
Cool whip (we like it)
Reply
11-22-2006 @3:25PM maxx said... Turkey for Thanksgiving, because Christmas without Ham is like Channukuah.
Reply
11-22-2006 @3:54PM peggy said... turkey mole, green pork tamales, fresh tortillas, salad, encheladas, jicama cucumber and chili salad, and all the extras....and maybe some jamica and sangria or margaritas. ole'
Reply
11-22-2006 @4:01PM CigarLady said... My husband wanted to try a country ham this year after seeing AB do one on Good Eats. We live in SC so it was easy to buy one. They are salted/sugared and smoked. It's now soaking in my guest bathroom bath tub. I'm supposed to bake it with a litre of Dr. Pepper. We're having buttermilk biscuits, peach preserves and cole slaw. Pumpkin pie for dessert. We're only two people what to do with 16 lbs of ham (fried rice anyone?)
Reply
11-22-2006 @4:24PM Dr. Electro said... I think Thanksgiving is more about being thankful than what's on the menu. Growing up in Texas, I have been exposed to the traditional turkey-and-dressing dinner, the baked ham dinner, and even the roasted wild meats dinner. I liked the elk steaks best.
I have also been to the homes of Hispanic friends and feasted on tamales, chile rellenos, enchiladas and pumpkin empanadas. I spent one Thanksgiving in Hawaii. The traditional luau (big, formal, Hawaiian dinner) and hooki lau (big, noisy, Polynesian party and drinking binge) are festive enough for any feasting occasion.
So, this Thanksgiving, make the food you cook the best you can possibly make it. Enjoy your dinners and parties to the ultimate degree. But most of all be thankful for all your many blessings. If you have to think past the one that says, "I'm thankful I'm still alive," you need to look deeper within yourself.
I'm thankful for Slashfood, what's left of my health, my wife, kids, grandkids and great-grandbaby (born Oct. 1, 2006) and all the friends I have ever had. I'm also thankful for Golden Corral's Thanksgiving Buffet since I'm not cooking this year. :D
Reply
11-22-2006 @5:14PM Hawk said... I do traditional stuff on thanksgiving, although sometimes I just do a chicken cuz it's uhm, a lot less of a PITA.
I'm surprised beef brisket isn't on there. Mmm, brisket.
To me, thanksgiving is Turkey day, and christmas is Ham Day. Grew up eating Honeybaked Ham on christmas, until we got one that was somehow spoiled and my mom nearly died. Now, I turn christmas into "let's see what weird world food I can make for my parents this time" day.
Reply
11-22-2006 @5:04PM Erica said... How about giving animals something to be thankful for by choosing vegetarian foods. Here's one good reason why:
http://www.cok.net/camp/inv/turkeys06/
Reply
11-22-2006 @5:48PM calamari said... Who was the pundit who proposed spaghetti carbonara as the appropriate traditional dish for Thanksgiving?
That's what we'll have in the evening, most likely. Lunch will be turkey cutlets, stuffing, cranberry sauce, something done to a green bean, and whatever looks stunning from the pastry case. With two of us, there's no point fussing over anything that makes unwelcome leftovers.
Reply
11-22-2006 @7:16PM will k said... Since my mother-in-law grew up next to a poultry farm/slaughterhouse, she won't touch poultry in any form; we're having a nice, center-cut pork loin. I have my butcher run a hole down the center (roughly) lengthwise, and then run a rotisserie spit through it and throw it on the grill and let it turn for about an hour. Can't beat it with a stick.
Miss the bird, though.
Reply
11-22-2006 @7:17PM Spitzmaus said... "Who was the pundit who proposed spaghetti carbonara as the appropriate traditional dish for Thanksgiving?" - calamari
That would be the inimitable Calvin Trillin . . .
Reply
11-23-2006 @12:33AM Mike said... I can attest to this. I just got of working at a Honeybaked Ham store tonight, and we sold WAY more hams then turkeys.
Reply
11-23-2006 @12:53AM esmereldagrubb said... "How about giving animals something to be thankful for by choosing vegetarian foods. Here's one good reason why:"
You know.....not all Turkeys are abused in this manner....you can be a carnivore and not abuse animals on this manner. Thats why myself and alot of other people go out of our way to avoid Butterball and similar manufactured Turkeys and buy free range and organic Turkeys whom living conditions i have witnessed myself.
Reply
11-29-2006 @10:31AM Steve said... I would be furious if I found that my Thanksgiving dinner turned out to be ham. A friend of mine went to his aunt's place on Thanksgiving and suddenly found out that the meal was ham. He was extremely disappointed, and it's become a joke over time. I'll admit it. I don't like the taste or smell of ham at all but aside from that Thanksgiving is a day for turkey.
One of the things that drives me nuts is looking forward to eating something - anything - and then find out that I can't. Whether it's expecting a certain cereal in the morning or going to a certain restaurant at lunch, being unable to eat the meal you hoped to eat really blows. When you do that with Thanksgiving, a day many look forward to for months, and suddenly announce "Hey, I know you've been looking forward to a big turkey dinner for the past 11 months but I decided we're going to have eat smelly, bitter HAM instead!" then I think you should expect violence.
If you're one of those people who like sacrificing experiences for the sake of being different, I recommend that you at least give your guests a fair warning. That way they have a change to get the meal they want, not the one you want them to have.
Reply