Turkey or no turkey for Thanksgiving?

[ponyo]

I'm debating if I want to cook a turkey this Thanksgiving or not. I know it's tradition but I don't particularly enjoy turkey too much. It's ok but I'm not too big fan of turkey or chicken cooked whole.

What's the best price you've found on whole turkey so far? I think my local Publix has Publix branded turkey on sale for $0.59 /lb. That's the lowest I've found so far.

 

[nakedfrog]

I'm debating it too. If I do, I'll definitely just cook it in my smoker. Haven't checked prices yet.

 

[Iron Woode]

I'm debating if I want to cook a turkey this Thanksgiving or not. I know it's tradition but I don't particularly enjoy turkey too much. It's ok but I'm not too big fan of turkey or chicken cooked whole.

What's the best price you've found on whole turkey so far? I think my local Publix has Publix branded turkey on sale for $0.59 /lb. That's the lowest I've found so far.

you know you can cook whatever you want, right?

How about some kickass meat loaves? A nice tasty ham? A huuuuge lasagna?

the only limitation is your imagination.

 

[zinfamous]

I've been roasting whole chickens instead for the last couple of years, because I prefer it to Turkey.

 

[Chaotic42]

I used to do a really strong brine for a couple of days. The meat ended up tasting like spicy chicken soup and I got a lot of complements. That plus deep frying and it would probably be about as good as it can get. I will say that you should eat turkey in honor of those of us who can't.

 

[deadlyapp]

Hosting a friendsgiving this weekend and I went through the same argument. Decided to just buy a pre-cooked from Honey Baked. I'll make some pulled pork to complement.

 

[Carson Dyle]

Yes, you must cook turkey. I love turkey, I love the leftovers, I love the gravy and the stuffing, the sandwiches with mayo and lettuce. Make it two or three times the size you need for dinner so that you can send leftovers home with guests and still have a couple sandwiches a day for a solid week.

 

[ponyo]

I've been roasting whole chickens instead for the last couple of years, because I prefer it to Turkey.

I've thought about just going to Costco next Wednesday and buying two of the $4.99 rotisserie chicken and then smoking it next day. I can do fresh chicken but don't see the point when Costco rotisserie chicken is less than $1.66 /lb. Reheating by smoking with cherry wood will give it nice flavor to the otherwise boring roasted chicken.

 

[Mayne]

This year I cooked a ham..not a huge fan of it, but its the least stressful of the options available.

it was a spiral ham.

 

[ponyo]

I used to do a really strong brine for a couple of days. The meat ended up tasting like spicy chicken soup and I got a lot of complements. That plus deep frying and it would probably be about as good as it can get. I will say that you should eat turkey in honor of those of us who can't.

If I do turkey, I'll probably inject and smoke it Cajun style similar to how Malcom does in this video.

 

[dullard]

Yes, you must cook turkey. I love turkey, I love the leftovers, I love the gravy and the stuffing, the sandwiches with mayo and lettuce. Make it two or three times the size you need for dinner so that you can send leftovers home with guests and still have a couple sandwiches a day for a solid week.

I think I found my arch-enemy.

Do NOT cook bland turkey for your guests who also have to eat 3 to 5 other bland turkey meals on the same week. Do NOT force/guilt/demand your guests take the leftovers (of a meal that they didn't want in the first place) home with them. They already have a freezer full of the other turkey that the last hosts forced down them from yesterday and the day before.

Break tradition (the most evil word in the world). Come up with something fun, new, different, delicious, and exciting. Have your guests look forward to your meal next year rather than dreading their 28th pound of turkey in the same week (each with the same dull sides that everyone pulls out for the same holiday).

It isn't that turkey meat is bad. But, we will soon be forced through this terrible week of nothing but the same meal over and over and over again (plus leftovers of each) next month too when Christmas rolls around. Do your turkey on St. Pats day instead and have corned beef now (or some other similar way of mixing up the repetitiveness of this most awful food week of the year).

 

[clamum]

I'm not going to be cooking but as simply a food consumer I could take it or leave it; if I had to choose I'd say "NEIN,"

 

[sandorski]

Turkey for Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter. It's the only way.

Unfortunately, you guys picked the wrong month for Thanksgiving and get Turkey fatigue. Sucks to be you.

 

[BurnItDwn]

We must recognize what in our accepted tradition is damaging to our fate and dignity-and shape our lives accordingly.
Albert Einstein

I think if you made some delicious beef, pork, lamb, or seafood in place of turkey, it would be more delicious, and shape your life better.

 

[lxskllr]

Not a fan of turkey, but I'm not really sure what we're having. Got a Jamaican and a Muslim coming for dinner. One doesn't eat turkey, the other doesn't eat pork. I was tasked with procuring ox tail. Gonna hit up the bison farm for that. Dunno what I'm eating.

 

[BarkingGhostar]

I thought one of the three pillars of why women exist was to cook the damn turkey. If my wife finds out this is not true ...

 

[BurnItDwn]

Not a fan of turkey, but I'm not really sure what we're having. Got a Jamaican and a Muslim coming for dinner. One doesn't eat turkey, the other doesn't eat pork. I was tasked with procuring ox tail. Gonna hit up the bison farm for that. Dunno what I'm eating.

Oxtail soup is awesome!
Goat Curry is magnificent

They probably both eat Lamb or goat, it might be easier to find Halal lamb than oxtail.
Around Chicago there is a "little india" section of town with like 50 different butchers. Maybe whatever big city you are nearest to has a Muslim butcher?

 

[Iron Woode]

Not a fan of turkey, but I'm not really sure what we're having. Got a Jamaican and a Muslim coming for dinner. One doesn't eat turkey, the other doesn't eat pork. I was tasked with procuring ox tail. Gonna hit up the bison farm for that. Dunno what I'm eating.

be aware that Muslims have issues with cheese due to rennet.

How about some middle-eastern/Greek style meatloaf or roast beef or lamb?

 

[lxskllr]

Oxtail soup is awesome!
Goat Curry is magnificent

They probably both eat Lamb or goat, it might be easier to find Halal lamb than oxtail.
Around Chicago there is a "little india" section of town with like 50 different butchers. Maybe whatever big city you are nearest to has a Muslim butcher?

be aware that Muslims have issues with cheese due to rennet.

How about some middle-eastern/Greek style meatloaf or roast beef or lamb?

I will say I'm making an assumption about them being Muslim. I was told they don't eat pork. Not many people avoid it 'just cause', so that leaves Jewish or Muslim. They're also not from this country. My daughter and her boyfriend(the Jamaican) are taking care of that I assume. I wasn't told it had to be halal, so I'm getting regular. Dinner will be a combined effort of me, my mother, my daughter, her boyfriend, and maybe the extra guy/girl(?)

 

[Thebobo]

If they come to my house for dinner they eat what I serve - They know I don't pander to religious mumbo jumbo.

 

[lxskllr]

If they come to my house for dinner they eat what I serve - They know I don't pander to religious mumbo jumbo.

I kind of agree, but I'm not a huge fan of traditional thanksgiving stuff anyway. I'll make allowances for foreigners one day a year, and it'll probably be an interesting experience, so I'm ok with it. A random average dinner? "This is what we're having... ... ... You're welcome to join us"

 

[Mayne]

serve them Jerk chicken.

 

[tortoise]

Turkey Sticks

 

[lxskllr]

serve them Jerk chicken.

I think everyone would be good with that except my mother, and maybe the Musilm. Best part is the boyfriend would cook it :^D

I'm sure it's gonna be a huge clusterfuck with everyone vaguely dissatisfied, but it'll be interesting. I'd be ok with a can of soup and some whisky. I'm just here to assist, and observe. Whatever happens is fine with me.

 

[DisturbedRamm]

Tofurkey get lol