Thanksgiving is next weekend for those of us up here in Canada! I'm interested to know what different things people have for their traditional thanksgiving meal For those in the States feel free to join  in, we have to be thankful before you 'cause it gets colder in the North and we have to have our harvest in earlier than y'all!

We usually end up at my brothers house he deep fries the turkey, nice and moist, but it sucks for gravy and stuffing the bird, so I roast turkey wings to make the gravy and use the meat in the stuffing for flavor. My sister-inlaw does the mashed potatoes, and my sister does the vegis; mashed turnips, squash and green beans, never changes. My lot above and beyond this is desert; The requested desert is Apple cream schnitz pie, and pumpkin pie. The year I brought the pumpkin cheesecake for a change you'd a thought I had lost my mind. I thought it was great, a little change, but still within the same flavor range. who knew it would rock the world for those pie fans. I'm looking for something new to rock the traditional wagon again any ideas?

How about a nice cranberry mousse made with honey and a smidge of mint?  It'll be nice after all that megaprotein and butter!

I'm actually celebrating Canadian thanksgiving this year at the home of a couple of Canadian culinary wizards, who say "bring wine or dessert if you feel like it," so I'll probably get to taste-test four different preparation methods for turkey again this year (the smoked one got my vote last year). 

Love, Columbine 

mmm pumpkin cheese cake... YUMMY might have to add that to my list...

Our Thanksgiving usually consists of turkey, ham, gravy, mashed/whipped potatoes, pasta salad, and ceaser salad, brussel sprouts, corn and pumpkin pie along with a couple non bake cheesecakes, cherry and blueberry... this is my house.. if my mom in law comes over she usually makes sweet and sour ribs too...

We also eat at my dads' which usally consists of the same but instead of brussel sprouts and corn it is broccoli and cauliflower with cheese, pies and other treats...

I so can't wait for Thanksgiving... the best part about hosting it.. is the left overs!!!

Costco has a pumpkin cheesecake (at least my location does).  I didn't sample it, but opted for the lemon because I loooove lemon... and it rocked.

President's Choice also has a pumpkin cheesecake.  It looks small, but it is very rich so you just need a small slice.

I'm going to convince my Mom to make her homemade applesauce for Thanksgiving this year.  It works as a side dish for the main course or as a dessert.

Some years we've had a first course of butternut squash soup.  I'm not a fan of squash in the least, but this was very nice.  One ingredient is orange juice, which adds a nice sweetness and it is not as heavy as some other butternut squash soups that I've had.  I'll have to try and find the recipe.  If I do, I'll post it in the "Soups" thread by Monday, which would give anyone interested time to shop for the necessary ingredients.

When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner in my family, I'm in charge of white white and appetizers.  That's RIGHT up my alley.  If you search for the Appetizers thread I started some time ago, you'll find the recipe for the Asparagus appetizer I made last year.  This year though, I might try white asparagus instead of green. 

I love butternut squash soup... mmmm it is kinda a comfort food for fall... right up along with apple crisp!!! mmm

asparagus... might have to go check out that appetizer thread... sounds yummy... my family LOVES asparagus... it would be a nice treat instead of brussel sprouts... which I like but I think I am the only one really LOL!!!

Stuffing!!!

Last Thanksgiving I was in shock when some friends were making stuffing with potatos!.. say what?  Oh, that is how stuffing is always made.. hmm I have never in my life had potato stuffing at least without my knowledge.  To me stuffing is cubed bread, seasoning, broth, and as yummy add-ins apples, dulse and parsley is my specialty.

Thanksgiving in the US isn't too different from the menus posted here. A lot of dishes vary by region. When living in Virginia, one host made peanut soup, which was quite tasty!

And some put oysters in the stuffing- which I don't really care for.

My grandma always made a shrimp cocktail appetizer, which was tasty, but I never understood how it had anything to do with Thanksgiving!

Oysters in stuffing sounds interesting! 

I also like to have baked in the oven squash quarters and add the butter to the top before cooking so while it cooks the butter soaks in through.. yummy.  Mashed turnips is another Thanksgiving fave.  Homemade cranberry sauce of course, simmer till they pop, so simple.

We always had squrnip - mashed squash and turnip together.  Better than either one alone!

Love, Columbine 

Hey honey... I use a a potatoe in my stuffing... just one... mashed... my moms said her mom did it.. my mom does and now so do I... Old school... LOL... my stuffing consits of bread crumbs, with sesonings, I put that in a bowl... a huge bowl.. then I have my potatoe boiling... I fry abit of hamburger up just a tiny bit... extra lean, put in my celery, onion and more spices like sage and poultry seasoning and then I mash to potatoe with NO butter and add everything to a bowl and mix it all up and make a slopy mess while I add my water... then I stuff the bird!!! LOL...

I have never done that to squash but I hear it is yummy especially if you add a wee bit of brown sugar to them... YUMMY... maybe I should do that too!!!

I love it when the cranberries "pop"...

Columbine:

We always had squrnip - mashed squash and turnip together.  Better than either one alone!

Sounds delish!

Lisa, yes of course, I forgot celery and onion!  I usually use fresh bread crumbs, never think about letting the bread dry out or toast it for dry.  I also cheat on occasion and add a pack or two of stovetop. :D

I like to put Italian sausage ("sweet," not hot) and walnuts in the stuffing!  Dulse, though - never heard of putting dulse in stuffing.  Sounds interesting.

Love, Columbine 

DULSE?  In STUFFING?  I...I...I wouldn't even consider that!  But then, I'm not sure I could be convinced to put Dulse in my mouth, like, ever.  (I'm such a Come From Away!) Last year a couple we didn't know had us over for a very awkward thankgiving dinner, since we didn't know each other AT ALL.  They served lobster meat as a side dish-cold, without drawn butter.  Interesting.

I hadn't thought about it, but perhaps we'll have them for dinner this year-Since now we are good friends! 

Or maybe we'll see if there is a family like us who just moved here and doesn't know anyone yet---if history repeats, it will be an awkward dinner, but through the course of the year, we'll become good friends.

 So, since I"ve never done it before, can anyone point me at good, EASY, turkey roasting instructions?

Squrnip- sound good I wonder if our die hard turnip fans and our die hard squash fans(not the same group) would ever be able to handle that!

 My Dressing: At Christmas I like to add some chestnuts too! 

• ripped bread
• sauteed onions and celery
• parsley, sage, rosemary,thyme, summer savoury, S&P.
• meat from the turkey wings previously roasted
• dried cranberries
• chicken broth
• put it all in a large cassarole dish and bake in the over for an hour

again my don't change anything family don't like the fruit and nuts in their stuffing 'cause" thats not the way Mom did it. I really like my neice's response to that " well she's not here now, so we can change things around."