Thanksgiving Stoke Thread

[Bobby Stainless]

I will be getting hammered while smoking the bird than OD on both turkey and Paula Deans sausage stuffing...

Add some pot in there somewhere, and this is it.

[KQ]

Schwerty, that green bean sounds like the shit.

Old local radio guy who has to work every thanksgiving uses his radio time to launch a "green bean casserole jihad" as he feels that the traditional mushroom soup-green bean-onion chips casserole is a waste of valuable turkey day table space. Funny radio but I'll admit; I'm a sucker for that stuff.

It's like wet conduit for turkey/gravy/cranberry/what-have-you

As a wiser man than me once said: it is what it is.


EDIT TO ADD: if you didn't already know, champagne/sparkling wine is a primo pairing with the bird.

Here is yet another variation on the GBC. I will be making it this year too. Funny, despite complaints about it being served I notice it is the one dish that usually has no leftovers to go in the fridge.

And another good pairing if you prefer a non-sparkling option is Zin - it is a bird best friend. If you can get your hands on some from Maryhill Winery you'll be golden.

CLASSIC GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE

Serves 10 to 12.
The components of the casserole can be prepared ahead of time. Store the bread-crumb topping in an airtight container in the refrigerator and combine with the onions just before cooking. Combine the beans and cooled sauce in a baking dish, cover with plastic wrap, and refrigerate for up to 24 hours. To serve, remove the plastic wrap and heat the casserole in a 425-degree oven for 10 minutes, then add the topping and bake as directed. This recipe can be halved and baked in a 2-quart (or 8-inch-square) baking dish. If making a half batch, reduce the cooking time of the sauce in step 3 to about 6 minutes (1 3/4 cups) and the baking time in step 4 to 10 minutes.

Topping
4 slices white sandwich bread , each slice torn into quarters
2 tablespoons unsalted butter , softened
1/4 teaspoon table salt
1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper
3 cups canned fried onions (about 6 ounces)

Beans and Sauce
Table salt
2 pounds green beans , ends trimmed, and halved
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 pound white button mushrooms , stems trimmed, wiped clean, and broken into 1/2-inch pieces (see illustrations below)
3 medium cloves garlic , minced or pressed through garlic press (about 1 tablespoon)
Ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unbleached all-purpose flour
1 1/2 cups low-sodium chicken broth
1 1/2 cups heavy cream


INSTRUCTIONS

1. FOR THE TOPPING: Pulse bread, butter, salt, and pepper in food processor until mixture resembles coarse crumbs, about ten 1-second pulses. Transfer to large bowl and toss with onions; set aside

2. FOR THE BEANS AND SAUCE: Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 425 degrees. Fill large bowl with ice water. Bring 4 quarts water to boil in large Dutch oven. Add 2 tablespoons salt and beans. Cook beans until bright green and crisp-tender, about 6 minutes. Drain beans in colander and plunge immediately into ice water to stop cooking. Spread beans on paper-towel-lined baking sheet to drain.

3. Add butter to now-empty Dutch oven and melt over medium-high heat until foaming subsides. Add mushrooms, garlic, 3/4 teaspoon salt, and 1/8 teaspoon pepper; cook until mushrooms release moisture and liquid evaporates, about 6 minutes. Add flour and cook for 1 minute, stirring constantly. Stir in broth and bring to simmer, stirring constantly. Add cream, reduce heat to medium, and simmer until sauce is thickened and reduced to 3 1/2 cups, about 12 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

4. Add green beans to sauce and stir until evenly coated. Arrange in even layer in 3-quart (or 13 by 9-inch) baking dish. Sprinkle with topping and bake until top is golden brown and sauce is bubbling around edges, about 15 minutes. Serve immediately.

[Tippster]

EDIT TO ADD: if you didn't already know, champagne/sparkling wine is a primo pairing with the bird.

2 more suggestions:

For the "Bird means White Wine" crowd, try a Viognier this year. Spicy, yummy, goes great with Turkey and Cranberries.

Cru Beaujolais for the Red Wine drinkers - especially a more floral one like a Fleury or Julienas. Don't pay more than $15/bottle and yes, the DuBoeuf wines are just as good if not better than the smaller label more expensive stuff.

[irul&ublo]

Ordered 5 lbs of stone crab for an appetizer. They'll be BBQ turkey, homemade cranberry sauce (really easy) and assorted other stuff. I'll second KQ on the Zin and recommend an El Dorado or Amador Zin. Lava Cap is a good choice. Barbera, Sangiovese or Cab Franc are good choices.

And martinis before dinner, of course

[KQ]

And martinis before dinner, of course

Yes! A fresh bottle of Hendricks in on my shopping list. So nice that I can buy it in the grocery store now - one stop shopping!

So tell me Irul - do you keep your martini glasses in the freezer?

[irul&ublo]

Yes! A fresh bottle of Hendricks in on my shopping list. So nice that I can buy it in the grocery store now - one stop shopping!

So tell me Irul - do you keep your martini glasses in the freezer?

No, broke too many, but it's a nice touch. Hendricks is good, also like Plymouth and 209. Junipero good too. Tough though to beat regular Beefeaters IMO.

[KQ]

No, broke too many, but it's a nice touch. Hendricks is good, also like Plymouth and 209. Junipero good too. Tough though to beat regular Beefeaters IMO.

Yes, they do have a tendency to chip and break but it is sooooooooo nice. My freezer is full of martini and pint glasses.

Have you tried Crater Lake Gin? Very yummy.

[booner]

Thanksgiving leftovers = best food for the munchies evah!

[GiBo]

2. Turkey and chicken (white meat) can be easily over powered by smoke so be sure get a good clean smoke before putting on

This is true. Don't over smoke poultry. I have the same smoker, farmer. It's easy to keep wanting to throw more chips in there, but resist! One good smoke early on and then let it just bake in there. I prefer apple for poultry.

After over 45 years, this was going to be the last TG at my grandma's house. At 94, she had finally agreed to move to a smaller place. But she had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and she died last Wednesday. So we're going to still have it at her house and it's going to be a big one- tons of family coming into town. She drank a couple of Jim Beam and diet 7up's every day at 4:30ish. So we'll have a highball toast before dinner. Bittersweet this year...

[Dantheman]

Definitely the best holiday. Feasting, football, non-religious and minimally commercialized.

My FIL will assuredly overcook the turkey again (quite a feat since he owns a probe thermometer), but since I'll be as baked as the bird we'll call it even.

[iceman]

After over 45 years, this was going to be the last TG at my grandma's house. At 94, she had finally agreed to move to a smaller place. But she had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and she died last Wednesday. So we're going to still have it at her house and it's going to be a big one- tons of family coming into town. She drank a couple of Jim Beam and diet 7up's every day at 4:30ish. So we'll have a highball toast before dinner. Bittersweet this year...

Goddam diet soda claims another victim.

(Sorry for your loss man)

[BmillsSkier]

This is true. Don't over smoke poultry. I have the same smoker, farmer. It's easy to keep wanting to throw more chips in there, but resist! One good smoke early on and then let it just bake in there. I prefer apple for poultry.

After over 45 years, this was going to be the last TG at my grandma's house. At 94, she had finally agreed to move to a smaller place. But she had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and she died last Wednesday. So we're going to still have it at her house and it's going to be a big one- tons of family coming into town. She drank a couple of Jim Beam and diet 7up's every day at 4:30ish. So we'll have a highball toast before dinner. Bittersweet this year...

Wow man, sorry for your loss; but that sounds like one nice way to celebrate your grandma.



I find that I've lined up as nearly as many varieties of booze as there will be sides on the table for this year. So far I'm committing myself to:

- Mulled cider and rum/bourbon
- Cranberry gin and tonics (see one of the Christmas threads here for my killer recipe)
- Champagne
- White and Red wine
- Homemade limoncello for dessert

oh, and of course just bourbon neat strewn throughout the day. It's like my own 6 step program in effect.

[HD333]

Thanksgiving is hands down my favorite holiday. I am smoking the bird for the 4th or 5th year in a row at my folks place using an Orion Cooker. Old man preps the bird, I just drop it in the smoker with some apple chips and take all the credit....

My dilemma this year is we want to head up to ski for the long weekend, do I abstain from the booze all day (gonna be real hard) and drive up TG night or do I partake in the beer/wine/scotch and head up early AM. First World Problems.

[gatorboy]

5 day vacation starts now. Got a case of Celebration Ale, plenty of scotch, and the yearly physical last week was good news. 5 days of good beer, good food, and decent family will be enjoyable.

Drunk posts will begin in 3....2....(soon)

Cheers

[GiBo]

Ya, didn't mean to non-stoke the TG stoke thread with that. It really will be a fun time with eveyone there and a great tribute- she loved having TG at her house.

And ya, Ice, that's how the tough old dutch lady rolled. Diet. I always thought it a little funny given she'd put about a thimble full of it in her highball.

[DeathVan]

Poutine !

http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/s...ine?highlight=

I will take pics this year, unless too gourded
-and thank you again Cananda!

[Phall]

Friendsgiving one was sunday, fried 4 birds for the office today, and frying one thursday for another friendsgiving. Haven't been with the family in 4 thanksgivings, so its bittersweet here as well.

[Dhelihiker]

I vow to only make bad ass appetizers, no potato chips, no celery sticks or deviled eggs.

Bacon wrapped 10ct prawns, lamb and boursin cheese sliders, the worlds best chicken wings and fresh local crab-crab cakes.

[hawkgt]

made it to the in laws today with no issues, as much as I will want to get back on Friday, really good to see family and shoot the shit.

little reminder for those traveling.... saw 2 bad accidents on the way.... drive safe everyone

[crackboy]

yea we were originally going to leave tonight, but weather is shitty with freezing rain and snow so we are waiting til tomorrow

[Art Shirk]

This is true. Don't over smoke poultry. I have the same smoker, farmer. It's easy to keep wanting to throw more chips in there, but resist! One good smoke early on and then let it just bake in there. I prefer apple for poultry.

After over 45 years, this was going to be the last TG at my grandma's house. At 94, she had finally agreed to move to a smaller place. But she had a stroke a couple of weeks ago and she died last Wednesday. So we're going to still have it at her house and it's going to be a big one- tons of family coming into town. She drank a couple of Jim Beam and diet 7up's every day at 4:30ish. So we'll have a highball toast before dinner. Bittersweet this year...

Good thoughts your way. I'll have 17 highballs in her honor. While they arent my absolute favorite, they are ubiquitous in my family Thanksgiving celebrations.

[Marshall Tucker]

baley was hot

[pepperdawg]

Dumb question - which I am going to look up now on an actual cooking site - brine is just salt+water?
Or is there more to it?

Got a 23.5lb bird need to soak tonight....

[sb]

You can put what ever else you want in the brine, herbs and spices, honey. Up to you. When I brine I do at least 12 hrs.

I will be working double shifts this year on Tday. I will get over to the folks on Friday lunch before heading back into work.

I recall so many Turkeydays at my grandmas house in my youth, it was old and small but we crammed everyone in.

[userA]

Add some pot in there somewhere, and this is it.

Thanksgiving leftovers = best food for the munchies evah!

these, plus the extra pecan pie i will place in deep freeze.
b