Doing a dry run of Thanksgiving...

lookingglass

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Tonight I am doing a dry run at my Thanksgiving meal. I've never cooked on the scale of a holiday meal, so I feel like I should get some practice. So here's what's on the menu:
Cornish Game Hens
Mashed potatoes
Mushroom Gravy (I hope)
Salad (that's the easy part)
Yeast rolls

And for desert:
Lemon Cake!

Wish me luck, and if you have any tips on cooking please let me know.
 

satai

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Sounds yummy. My only tip is to enjoy yourself!

Oh, and make sure the hens don't dry out. But mostly, just enjoy yourself.
 

gemlady

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Don't forget the butter for the yeast rolls!

Mom will be over for the lemon cake.
 

babyharley

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Originally Posted by lookingglass

Tonight I am doing a dry run at my Thanksgiving meal. I've never cooked on the scale of a holiday meal, so I feel like I should get some practice. So here's what's on the menu:
Cornish Game Hens
Mashed potatoes
Mushroom Gravy (I hope)
Salad (that's the easy part)
Yeast rolls

And for desert:
Lemon Cake!

Wish me luck, and if you have any tips on cooking please let me know.
The only tip I have for you, is to make enough for all of us!
 
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lookingglass

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Originally Posted by gemlady

Don't forget the butter for the yeast rolls!

Mom will be over for the lemon cake.
I have so much butter in this apartment a cardiologist should be sitting outside my door with paddles... just incase.

My fear is that I will not cook the hens right, but hey if this dinner doesn't work out we will order Chinese.
 

lokismum

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Wow - sounds great! I love cornish game hens, and I haven't made them in forever! That's a great idea for dindin next weekend!
 

valanhb

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I actually just saw a show on Food Network (The Barefoot Contessa) where she made Cornish Game Hens for Thanksgiving for 2.
One thing that she did that I wouldn't have thought of was covering the hens with aluminum foil while they cooled from the oven to bring the juices into the meat. Something like that, anyway. So that would be my tip - cover with aluminum foil right after you remove them from the oven.
 

lokismum

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Originally Posted by valanhb

I actually just saw a show on Food Network (The Barefoot Contessa) where she made Cornish Game Hens for Thanksgiving for 2.
One thing that she did that I wouldn't have thought of was covering the hens with aluminum foil while they cooled from the oven to bring the juices into the meat. Something like that, anyway. So that would be my tip - cover with aluminum foil right after you remove them from the oven.
That makes a lot of sense! It would keep the juices in! Cornish hens are usually cooked at high heats, so a cooling down period (Just like we do with turkeys) would benefit!
 

pushylady

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Mmmm yummy! :yumy: I've never had cornish hens before, but I'm sure they're tasty. Let us know how it turned out, and if you need any help with the leftovers!
 

katachtig

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It is called resting the meat - a useful technique with any meat. I'm sure you will do fine. I got snowed in and had to do Thanksgiving for myself. The game hen was perfect.

Plan out how long everything takes, then determine what could be done ahead of time and when to start everything.
 
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lookingglass

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Originally Posted by DixieDarlin256

You're gonna have turkey and 8-Bit in the same house together?

I seem to recall Bit has an obssession with turkey and turkey sandwiches
We locked him in the bedroom...


It went well. DH is letting his belt out one notch, and looks a bit sleepy. We are about to partake in some lemon cake so I have to go.
 

trouts mom

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Originally Posted by lookingglass

Tonight I am doing a dry run at my Thanksgiving meal. I've never cooked on the scale of a holiday meal, so I feel like I should get some practice. So here's what's on the menu:
Cornish Game Hens
Mashed potatoes
Mushroom Gravy (I hope)
Salad (that's the easy part)
Yeast rolls

And for desert:
Lemon Cake!

Wish me luck, and if you have any tips on cooking please let me know.
OMG that sounds good
Can I come over?
 
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