Settling These Thanksgiving Food Debates

It's November!!! So, that means that Thanksgiving is soon to come. Lots of food talk happens during November. I know am not the only person that watches food & cooking shows or segments and answers Food Debates. It seems that no other holiday brings about food debates like Thanksgiving. I think they are funny. They are such first-world issues. But let me add my two cents (well my 20 cents) and give you my opinion

Ham vs Turkey

I say both. Both will be on my plate. I only get turkey during this time and the next time I should get ham will be Easter. The people who pick ham, usually say that Turkey is just a big chicken or it is too dry. 

There are so many debates about the subject of turkey that it is unreal. I have experience in making a turkey. Made my first one 8-10 years ago. I watch Tyler Florence make this RECIPE and I volunteered to make the turkey for the family. But in Bag vs Tent, I say bag.

I've never made a turkey any other way. Also tenting requires basting. And in the debate of Bag vs Basting, bag will win every time. I'm not getting up all the time to keep the bird moist. The bag handles that quite well.

Oh, how do you like your turkey, Fried, Roasted, or Smoked? All 3 ways.

Most people have only had it roasted. Smoked turkey is a great alternative to ham. And my friend  ID's father makes the best fried turkey. As long as the turkey is fully cooked, I have a preference that is not so picky.

Speaking of fried turkey, how do you like to "season" it? Do you like Brining or Injecting? Taste-wise I prefer either.

But when it comes to preparation, brine, I injected a turkey I roasted, once and it is not as easy as it looks.

And once the bird is prepared and on the table, Dark or White? I prefer white on my plate. I like dark meat for a good leftover stew or casserole.

Ok so we've tackled the meat, Let's talk side dishes.

Mashed vs Sweet Potatoes

I don't eat sweet potatoes as a side item. So, I have to say mashed. We have sweets on our table, but I fixed mashed to eat the next day with some leftovers last year. Turkey with mashed potatoes was good.  I just topped it off with a bit of my aunt's gravy that goes with her cornbread dressing.

Yes, I said dressing. And that is my answer in Stuffing vs Dressing. I always thought if it was cooked in the turkey it was stuffing.
We don't stuff the bird with it. We put it in a casserole dish, so it is dressing. Oh, I'm Southern, I eat cornbread or wild rice dressing. White bread or sourdough dressing is weird to me and prefer not to eat it again, in life.

Now Canned vs Homemade cranberry sauce is very easy.

Unless my cousin, Clois is making the cranberry sauce, it will be canned. We have both jellied & whole berries because there is one adult & some kids that don't eat the whole berries.

And to round out this debate discussion I will take on dessert. Which one is do you prefer, pumpkin pie, apple pie, or pecan pie.

I've never had pumpkin pie (Pumpkin roll is delicious). I don't like pecan pie at all, So, apple pie wins. Sweet potato pie actually wins, if I should tell my truth. Well, if my mother is really in the holiday spirit and makes my favorite, Millionaire wins.

Okay, so those are my picks in the Thanksgiving Food debate. What are your picks? No matter what you pick, Be Grateful that you have something to pick at all.


As Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Are We Skipping Thanksgiving This Year!!!

I know this cold weather has me hibernating at night but I know didn't miss Thanksgiving. Did I miss the memo about skipping Thanksgiving? I hope not because that means I won't get to curl up in bed that night after everyone has left with my mother's green bean casserole (She omits milk & soy sauce & add cheese soup) and watch the best Thanksgiving movie ever, Pieces of April.

I really don't want to miss doing that.

Oh I didn't miss Thanksgiving!!! There was No memo stating to skip Thanksgiving!!!
Then Can We Act Like It???

For the past few years I think the Christmas sights are starting earlier and earlier. We barely get finished passing out Halloween/Harvest?Hallelujah Night candy. I know what it is. We are excited to celebrate the birth of the man sent from God, who came to die for our iniquities, rise in three days with All power in his hands and ascend to Heaven to make preparations so, he can come back for us.

Oh I get it. But can we acknowledge the day we made to set aside to be thankful for not just for Jesus' birth but for Everything, God the Father blesses us with.

I know that is not the initial reason why American Thanksgiving (I'm thankful for that also) was made but we Americans can't even keep our own traditions. We spit on the our own observances to go shopping in the middle of the day to buy more stuff . I wonder how many Christmas gifts are actually bought during these early "Black Friday" sale days. I just heard a consumer advisor say the cheapest an oven will be 3:oo pm Thanksgiving day. Who will be giving a oven this year? I would love to meet the giver because that is a great gift. And who is truly benefiting? Not the worker who can't enjoy the day of gratefulness because they are at work. They have to corral you crazed sale wanting shoppers. Not your pocket books because that's why you want the sales, you afford that stuff at regular prices. Maybe the economy but that is just a short while because when are we buying like this the rest of the year.

Again I said I get it. Oh it is a sale before the hustle and bustle. I've been known to buy something for a Christmas gift for someone in September because it won't be there when I come back. What I don't understand the spirit of ungratefulness the early shopping is done in. Pushing and shoving for a deal, opening stores before 12 am the day after Thanksgiving, advertising Christmas commercials early promotes that spirit. Everyday is a Day of Thanksgiving but when I see Hershey showing my favorite Christmas commercial

(Next month I'll discuss that) before most of us have bought all the Sweet Potato pie ingredients (still need to get potatoes),
it makes you question are we being sheepily lead into believing that Thanksgiving day should be canceled.  I hope not. I would hate to see in the future we become a country that Never sits down as a whole show God all the gratitude he is owed, Consumerism & Commercialism are trying to take advantage by using our excitement to celebrate Jesus' birth. Don't let those greed factions beaugard the Thanksgiving spirit away by pushing up the sights of Christmas up earlier.

Okay I'm jumping off my soap box. What are doing for Thanksgiving? What are you cooking? Anybody celebrating the day with a Friendsgiving? Let me know in the comments.
And if I don't talk to you on that day, Happy Thanksgiving!!! Not an Early Thanksgiving because Everyday is a Day of Thanksgiving. Whoo, I could shout off that fact right there. I know I'm so churchy but you love me because I am.

Always, Talking to You in Adult Terms

Retail Ungratefulness...

Okay I will say that I don't participate in Black Friday. I don't understand it. I know Many that do. I spend Black Friday sleeping and resting from Thanksgiving festivities. Now Cyber Monday, that's when I start the my little shopping.

Black Friday this year is unreal. It all starts Thursday, Thanksgiving Day. I've seen some stores opening as early as 6:00 am Thursday. My problem is not with the shoppers, it with the stores. Thanksgiving mean nothing to them. That apparent they put Christmas out right after Halloween. Their employees mean nothing to them. Have them working instead of being at home for the holiday. Instead of being Grateful all for being able to be a store and take a moment to say Thank You, they rather run them into ground by working them all these hours dealing with sale hungry customers.

Target says they are listening to their customers by being opened early. Target, in my opinion, is listening to the dollar bill. All these stores are listening to the dollar bill. I won't be surprised if being opened Thursday won't bring out the crowds that they think they will get. I won't be surprised some people are still gonna act up if what they want is out. I won't be surprised that opening Thursday won't bring in the revenue they think they will bring in. I will  be surprised if their employees don't feel abused and misused.

A store is about the workers and customers. Only half of the store is being heard. Let the employees off that day and enjoy their holiday like everyone else.

So I guess this year I spend the shopping holiday Cooking, watching the Macy's Day Parade and Eating with my Family. Because Black Friday starts on Thursday. Now that I'm thinking about it Thanksgiving get NO LOVE. Already only have a Few Holiday songs for the occasion. Now Black Friday is honing in on it's day. *sigh* I still celebrate you Thanksgiving. *BIG* Hug!!!

Alright that's how I feel. If you are out this Black Whatever day Be Safe & Pick me out something nice. Can't go wrong with Diamonds. *smile*

Happy Thanksgiving!!!