Thanksgiving family recipes?

[Randi]

Thanks Karen! Ok, so half and half is what probably what we call coffee cream here. I prefer milk in my coffee myself.

You're ON NOW!!

Your mother sounds like she was an amazing woman. No wonder she was taken aback when that woman turned her nose on a turkey! What gratitude!

[caseysmom]

I have tried thawing before and usually at least give the turkey 4 days, 3 days isn't quite enough for a 20lb and above turkey I am just concerned because I want to buy it ahead and I'm not sure if my freezer is large enough.

One other trick on the mashed potatoes is using Yukon gold..they are soooo yummy.

One thing I won't do from scratch is gravy...so anyone have any idea on the best canned gravy?

[caseysmom]

How does everyone cook their turkey? For years I have put mine in a roasting bag...just wondering if I should try something new this year....

[jennielynn1970]

My nephew loves the old fashioned green bean casserole, but everyone else at my house HATES it! So, I was watching the food network, and the bleachy blonde guy who does all the diners drive inns and dives did THIS recipe. IT ROCKS!!! It's labor intensive, can be done a day ahead, but it is worth it!!

The Mean Green
For the Beans:
2 pounds green beans, ends trimmed, cut into 2-inch pieces (weighed prior to trimming)
4 strips bacon, cut into 1/2-inch slices
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 large Vidalia sweet onion, 1/2 cut into large dice, 1/2 reserved
1 medium red bell pepper, cut into 2 by 1/2-inch pieces
4 shittake mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch strips
4 oyster mushrooms, cut into 1/2-inch strips
1 tablespoon minced shallots
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly cracked pepper
1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper

For the Roux
1/4 cup butter
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups panko bread crumbs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
In a large pot of boiling water, blanch green beans. Remove to an ice bath until cool, drain and let dry.

Lightly butter a 13 by 9 by 2-inch glass baking dish.

In a large frying pan, over medium-high heat, saute bacon until lightly crispy, remove bacon to a paper towel lined plate to drain. In remaining bacon fat, add 1 tablespoon olive oil, heat over medium-high heat, add onions and saute until just starting to caramelize, add in red bell peppers, saute 2 minutes, add in mushrooms and minced shallot and saute for 2
more minutes. Season with the salt, pepper and cayenne. Set aside.

For the roux:
In a medium saucepan over medium heat, melt butter. When butter is melted, add in flour, all at once and stir vigorously with a wooden spoon until well combined. Continue to stir for 1 minute more. Add in milk 1/2 cup at first, stirring well to combine, then add 1 cup more milk, stir to combine and bring to a simmer, then add final 1/2 cup of milk and stir and simmer until thickened. Add in seasonings, combine with green bean mixture and pour into prepared pan. Top with 1 1/2 cups panko crumbs, then reserved bacon, then remainder of panko lightly sprinkled on top.

Place in oven, set timer for 35 minutes.

For the Topping
1/2 cup buttermilk
Reserved 1/2 Vidalia onion, thinly sliced, with a mandoline
3 medium shallots, thinly sliced with a mandoline
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon granulated garlic
1/2 teaspoon dry mustard
1/2 teaspoon seasoned salt
1 teaspoon freshly cracked black pepper
4 cups canola oil

In a medium bowl place buttermilk, onion, and shallots. Let sit 10 minutes, drain well.
In a medium bowl, combine flour and seasonings. When green beans have been in the oven 25 minutes, in a large frying pan, heat canola oil to 350 degrees F. While oil is heating, dredge drained onion and shallots in flour mixture. Drop carefully into the hot oil, 1/3 at a time. They will cook rapidly, 1 minute or less. Turn over if necessary. Remove and drain on paper
towels. Let oil heat between batches.

When timer goes off for green beans, take out of oven, top with onion-shallot mixture, evenly coating the casserole, place back into oven and continue to cook for 5 more minutes. Remove and let set 5 minutes before serving.

[caseysmom]

You've got to be kidding me...I got tired just reading that

I like opening 2 cans of beans, a can of mushroom soup and a can of onions.

[jennielynn1970]

Nope, it's the home made or nothing for me. Come to my house, I'll make it for ya!

[caseysmom]

I usually do homemade all the way but on thanksgiving I have the turkey, the potatoes, etc plus making the house presentable. I will cut corners on some things, like the biscuits, the gravy and the beans.