American Thanksgiving Dinner 2004

Inspired by the Canadian thread, I've decided to create a topic for the Americans rather than hijack their thread.

Anyone interested in getting together for a Turkey dinner next month? I've got two cans of Libby's pumpkin pie mix and a box of graham cracker crumbs freshly delivered by my visiting sister. I also have a ton of those crunchy onions which, incidentally, they do sell here.

Well? Who's up for it?



TT guide cross-reference: Thanksgiving dinners in Munich

oh man, I would be all over that like white on rice...

@ IPJ: how did you get hold of my crackers?

i have an american living with me at the mo (I think a few of you have met het already). I am sure she would be interested in a thanksgiving meal.

a few of us were actually discussing this last sunday, so it could end up being a massive get-together

I guess in that case, we'd need a bigger kitchen than one in somebody's home (hint, hint ).

I like the idea too! I'd like to come. I don't think I could volunteer a massive kitchen though. I've got a Biertisch that will sit 8 at a squeeze, but then no one can breath or try to open the oven...

I have space enough to sit and set up tables but you couldn't swing a cat in the kitchen, so not ideal.

I'll definitely be there, wherever there is. I make an incredible pumpkin pie by my own special recipe totally from scratch, even cut up and cook the pumpkins. I also make a great apple pie if we already have enough pumpkin pie.

i can swing several cats around my kitchen, more than once even, but don't have a big table...

either you bring your kitchen to my flat or wed find some waay of getting my tables to you?

We should probably discuss where we'll do this closer to the date, when we know how many people will be involved. There seem to be a couple options so far, but whatever we do we'll probably need to have some portable tables. Perhaps what we should be discussing is who should contribute what food. I'll make a couple loaves of some tasty parmesan cheese bread, since it appears others can contribute fresh pumpkin pie (I'll just save my Libby's for Christmas).

Any suggestions on a date for this? Thanksgiving is on the 25th, so should we do it the weekend before or the weekend after? Saturday or Sunday?

I can do green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, and the cranberry sauce (if I can find some cans of ocean spray... the jellied variety ). Just tell me when and where.

Dontcha think that's a bit much for one person? We've got lots of people, so I don't think each individual will need to contribute that much. Of course, the more food, the more leftovers...

hi! i dont know anyone yet, because i am new. but my name is christa and i am 22 years old and im from indiana. id love to have thanksgiving with some people! and if anyone ever wants to hang out or what not, just pm me! talk to you later!

Time to bring this back up to the forefront.
Thanksgiving dinner, Sat the 27th I think.
Now, who is in and where are we having it?

I have volunteered my place, but I think Hazza has also an interest in hosting it and can show more up to date football than I can.

Any thoughts?

-Randy

Since there were Americans on the Canadian thread, I'll stick my nose once into this thread and offer the opinion that Thanksgiving is one of those times that it's better to be in someone's home than in a bar. Sorry Hazza, but The Arc ain't the same.

I'm going out of town the Friday after Thanksgiving, so I won't be able to do a Sat night do.

@showem

I'll agree with you on that, but how practical a home is will be determined by the number interested in joining.

As I said before, I'll make two or three loaves of parmesan bread.

I'm definitely in for Thanksgiving. I'll make pies. But I agree with Showem...I'd rather not have it in a bar. I really like to pair a nice special wine with my meal. I don't want to be buying beer for my dinner.

Ok, there is two "homes" up in the air right now. I don't want to step on any toes and maybe the "two" groups are not so overlapping. That would be a good thing. I will contact the other party and see if this might be the case. What we need now is an actual list of who is up for one, whereever it might be?

I'll be interested, too, though I'll be getting off a plane at 1pm on that Saturday so please don't make it too early. (I'll get two Tdays, one in the States and one here. Cool!) So anybody needs anything (reasonable and legal) from the States, let me know before Tday Thursday and I'll bring it back.

I'm a stickler for real cranberry sauce (i.e. made with fresh cranberries), and I know a good sweet potato thing that freezes well, so I can do those ahead of time.

I'll be there and I'll do the stuffing, mashed potatoes and a host of other things based on attendance

And on a somewhat distantly related note. I was trying to explain grits to my German class, consisting of an Italian, Spaniard, Aussie and Norwegian. Coarsely ground hominy similar to cream of wheat went right over there heads. Any suggestions, using comparisons to some slightly more internatial foods? PM me

Grießbrei for the Germans, granos de arena for the Spanish and white polenta for the Italians.
Just tell the Aussie that it is better than vegemite!

interplanetjanet
Graham's houseguest
Kat
Winegirl
butterbeanXXXout of townXXX
Mbangura
weaver
mizbunce

The list so far. Also need #'s of significant or insignificant others.

Time to start planning something fun again.
Menu:
Turkey (one oven cooked and one grilled and ...)
Stuffing-(I will make cornbread stuffing, but there needs to be more)
Giblet gravy-I will make this as well (family fav)
Mashed potatos
Green beans
Sweet potatos
Creamed corn
Cranberries (I have a can of jellied and you can buy fresh around here)
Salads
Pecan pie (I will make two)
Peach cobbler (I can make if needed)
Drinks

Other suggestions and or desires?

I take it this is an American-only thing? Never had a Thanksgiving dinner before... and if the welsh can come...

If there's room I'd like to sign up (and possibly bring +1)... I was going to go back home but can't (the first time in my life I'm away for T-giving) .

Can also cook, bartend, etc - help in anyway needed.

JB, Americans are first in line of course, but you can be put on the waiting list.

Anabi, there is still room for more. All you have to do is add to the menu, wash all the dishes, take out the trash, set up and break down the tables and chairs... just kidding

graciously accepted! thank you!

I wouldn't want to take a seat from someone who's away from home and wants to be in a crowd. But if there's a seat, I'd come and be a fly on the wall... with a bottle or two in hand, of course..

No flies allowed and if it is a bottle or two of Wild Turkey, you go to the head of the line!

Didn't see anyone volunteering the turkey -- mine last year for seven people cost me 34,22 at Höhenrainer in Viktualienmarkt. Just for reference. Or is that what you meant by listing your menu, eurovol? You're providing all that? For as many people as show up?

I would pay towards it.. but yes, Vikutalienmarkt is well expensive, may be worth looking for a local turkey farm and collecting direct..

local turkey farm is Höhenrainer, they're right close to Munich...
http://hoehenrainer.de/

it was 6,50 Euros per kilogram, 5,264 kilograms. Keep me updated on the prices you find!

I just called their Info-Hotline too btw. and they use no animal meal, no hormones, and no antibiotics in their turkey production. Not quite Bio / organic, but pretty close. I'm willing to pay for that.

34.22? You got robbed. Number of turkeys depends on numbers of participants. Turkeys from France are the best for the price around here and I do know a few farmers as well. Usually figure half pound per person and yes it will probably take a few donators that are cooking challenged to meet the demand.

Oh, I was assuming we'd be chipping in for turkey... did you say half a pound or half a kilo. Or should it be half a pound per gal and half a kilo per guy?

Just cooking calculations as they come with bones. Final yield is about half that here. In the states where the turkey is shot up with salt water it is almost a pound per person.
Hadn't really thought about charging a turkey admission. Most often it is best to let the non-cooks chip in. They seem to like it and it works for me.

Like I said before, I'll pre-make a couple loaves of pamesan cheese bread (and heat them up just before dinner).

Is anybody gonna be able to get a copy of the game in time?

Oh, sorry, I did forget the bread. I will also be making potato/yeast rolls. Damn they're good and fattening!

Ack! What about pumpkin pie?! I've got a can of Libby's and some graham cracker crumbs, but I know somebody mentioned making one from scratch.

Anybody have any ideas for how I might freeze some bread dough into cylindrical logs (i.e. what to use for a mold)? Last year I just rolled 'em up in some foil like giant joints, but it didn't work quite right.

Old parmesan cans?

Pshaw! Parmesan in a can? Never. Besides, I need something about 5cm in diameter (I guess I should've specified that).

I wouldn't touch that with a 20 X 5 cm cylindrical log!

Silly nilly...(or should that be willy? )

Old paper towel roll? Might be a bit small, but it's traditional for freezing cookie dough.

PS Put me down for sweet potatoes and real cranberry sauce.

Was there any decision on where we're doing this?

Yes, at my place. I have the room and live right on U6 Kieferngarten.
The other party that was to do one as well, well, she is moving back to the states.
We have freezer room if you want to leave the sweet potato thing here, so you won't have to mess with getting off the plane and running around to get things together. Real cranberry sauce also freezes well.
You can leave instructions on what to do that Saturday and it will be done.
Looking at around 4-5ish for dinner and the bar can open a bit later.
Yes we have a bar and any contributions are welcome.
I do have some requests, but can discuss that via PM later.

I haven't seen any mention of what time we'll eat? (actually had to look and see when Thanksgiving was too! I've been in Europe too long!) I assume you'll PM us the address Eurovol? The only thing I can cook well is a spiced bread dressing with celery sauteed in butter, but if there's a cornbread stuffing, maybe that's too similar?

Kat, I doubt that the stuffing will be similar. The cornbread stuffing is very southern! VERY!
Thanksgiving is the 25th, but we will do this German style on the 27th. Hopefully, we can get a copy of the Thursday games on CD for atmosphere.
The time to eat is posted abover your post, but can be adjusted to suit the crowd. Some like it earlier and some later-I am an in-betweener and always running late. Not sure of the start time, but think early afternoonish sounds about right. I will be smoking a turkey or two starting very early or even on Fridan night.
As we will have it on Saturday, there can be a movie (perferably a comedy) running upstairs and a hopping bar downstairs. Anyone with good dance music CD's bring them.

Will contact all with the intimate details when things start to get smoothed out.

Will post the updated list shortly from all the posts.

What we have so far. Correct me if I am wrong.

interplanetjanet and hubby-parmesan cheese bread
Graham's houseguest
Kat +1-bier tisch and stuffing
Winegirl-pumkin pie from scratch
Mbangura-green bean casserole, mashed potatoes
weaver-
mizbunce +1-cranberry sauce and sweet potato thing
anabi +1-wash all the dishes, takes out the trash
Gen-turkey money

Others?

Turkey (one oven cooked and one grilled and ...)
Stuffing-Me and Kat
Giblet gravy-I will make this as well (family fav)
Mashed potatos-Mbangura
Green beans-Mbangura
Sweet potatos-mizbunce
Creamed corn-
Cranberries (I have a can of jellied and you can buy fresh around here)
Salads-
Pecan pie- (I will make two)
Apple Pie-
Peach cobbler- (I can make if needed)
Bread-parmesan cheese bread
Potato rolls-me

Drinks

Waiting list.
The artist formally known as Graham-beirgarten tables.
JoolyBooly with two bottles of something good.

You forgot the pumpkin pie again!!!