My First Thanksgiving (Cooking)...Need Some Good Luck Vibes!!!

I'm in the same boat too!!, I wish you the best of luck with your feast!

Here's a thing I like to do with carrots. We discovered it in a local restaurant and were so taken with it that we spent the rest of the meal betting on the ingredients. Then we consulted the waiter, who enquired of the chef. I won. Never did actually get a recipe, but once my suspicions were confirmed, it wasn't difficult to reverse engineer. I've always done it in the microwave, but there's no reason it wouldn't work by other means.

"Sprinklers" Carrots

Cut carrots in julienne sticks -- 3-4 cups. Put in microwave safe dish, add a small amount of water, and a very generous sprinkle of dill -- a tablespoon or more. Cover and microwave until slightly softer than al dente (surprise! but for this one, slightly soft is better). Drain and add a tablespoon or so of liquid honey and two tablespoons of butter. You can do it to this point well ahead of serving and just zap it for a minute or two when you are ready to serve.

Since I never had a detailed recipe, I've done it mostly by feel, so feel free to adjust quantities to your taste.

As far as potatoes are concerned, I always think mashed, with turkey, and they can be spruced up, by adding some roasted garlic during the mashing; also, don't stint on the butter, don't use any milk, but right at the end of the mashing, mash in a generous spoonful of sour cream.

Or scalloped?

In a lightly greased shallow glass baking dish, layer thinly sliced (peeled) potatoes, then thinly sliced onions. Sprinkle generously with flour, salt and freshly ground black pepper, and dot with butter. Repeat layers. Pour milk over all, to about halfway up the dish. Place in a 350F oven, with a drip tray underneath. Cook for 60-90 minutes, checking for tenderness toward the end. They should be VERY tender.

If you ever need a different oven temperature for whatever else is in the oven at the same time, just adjust the cooking time accordingly -- the spuds won't mind. If they're browning too fast, cover lightly with foil; if they're not brown enough when done through, turn the broiler on for 5 minutes or so.

Good luck! I know you'll do fine. And "Bon Appetit!"

This will be such a special Thanksgiving for you!

Good Luck!!!!

my evil potato recipe is in this thread

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...hlight=recipes

Good luck and what fun...best advice I can give, any dishes you can do ahead, do ahead!

If you need or want a kick butt cranberry relish recipe (and I hated cranberry relish for many, many years until this recipe) or the world's best pumpkin pie recipe, let me know

I'm assuming your main dish is turkey. If it is, stop worrying. Turkey is a snap to cook. Get one of those plastic roasting bags and follow the directions and it'll be great. Either that or tent the bird with foil. Don't roast it uncovered, though; they can dry out.

If you want a YUMMY variation on plain mashed potatoes, just add some sour cream and cream cheese to them. It makes it so rich and delicious!

Originally Posted by Pepper Girl

Hi All,
This is the first year that I'll be cooking Thanksgiving Dinner...and all alone too

I am so, so nervous, I really don't want to mess this up! Could y'all send me some "good cookin'" and "good luck" vibes???? It's be most greatly appreciated!!

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Oh..... I just only can send you good vibes to you! ...for you can reach that great Goal!!!! a Delicious and Wonderful Dinner!!!!.....





BUT meanwhile I can motivated to you!.....Okay? In FIVE...FOUR...THREE....TWO..... ONE!:
.... Enter the music of.... "Mickey"




(Oh Mickey, you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey, hey Mickey)
(Oh Mickey, you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey, hey Mickey)
(Oh Mickey, you're so fine you're so fine you blow my mind, hey Mickey)
Hey Mickey!You've been around all night and that's a little long
You think you've got the right but I think you've got it wrong
Why can't you say goodnight so you can take me home, Mickey
'Cause when you say you will, it always means you won't
You're givin' me the chills, baby, please baby don't
Every night you still leave me all alone, Mickey
Oh Mickey, what a pity you don't understand
You take me by the heart when you take me by the hand
Oh Mickey, you're so pretty, can't you understand
It's guys like you Mickey
Oh, what you do Mickey, do Mickey
Don't break my heart, Mickey
Hey Mickey!

Give Me A
P
Give Me An
E
Give Me A
P
Give Me A
P
Give Me An
E
Give Me A
R

Give Me A
G
Give Me An
I
Give Me A
R
Give Me A
L

WHAT'S THAT SPELL



PEPPER GIRL

GO Pepper Girl GO!!!!

HOw many folks do you have to feed? If I were you, I would make something I have cooked many times and feel comfortable with. I wouldn't pick this time to try out lots of stuff I have never cooked before. One of the best Christmas's I can remember when my husband and I were alone for the holiday was when some friends invited us over just to be together. It was really cold and they cooked up a big pot of homemade vegetable soup. We had some desserts too and everyone enjoyed it without having to work all day or even all week ahead.
Maybe you have a friend closeby who will be willing to help you out with some suggestions.

Originally Posted by AbbysMom

Good Luck!!!!

my evil potato recipe is in this thread

http://www.thecatsite.com/forums/sho...hlight=recipes

Click to expand...

I'm so hungry reading this thread

Originally Posted by Pepper Girl



Ohhhhh...I would LOVE

a receipe for pumpkin pie...hmmmm I love pumpkin pie...

And I'm defintely going to take your advice and make anything I can a head of time..

Click to expand...

On its way by PM!