Thanksgiving Open Thread
The above photo is from iStock user bhofact2. This midweek open thread continues on with a nod towards the big day tomorrow, Thanksgiving.
First, a tip for re-heating ham and turkey slices, whether that’s later after Thanksgiving dinner, or the following days. Have a spray bottle? Before heating the leftover Thanksgiving food, spray it with water. When you’re done microwaving the turkey and ham, they’ll taste just like they came from the oven.
Now onto some Thanksgiving Trivia.
Did you know that turkey meat is a global meal, not just something that we Americans enjoy?
The Spaniards/Conquistadores didn’t just bring vegetables and “display” animals back to Europe. They got a taste of turkey meat while in the new world. They were so taken in by the taste of turkey that they took some turkeys with them back to Spain.
Turkey meat ended up conquering the Spanish King. He subsequently ordered the importation of more turkeys. Through trade and popular demand, raising and eating turkeys spread throughout Europe.
From The Atlantic:
The success of Central American, European-cultivated turkeys in England from the reign of Henry VIII onwards is what made it possible to send them on ships to Virginia in 1584 and Massachusetts in 1629,
.
This bridged us to the wild turkeys:
When the French epicure Jean Anthelme Brillat-Savarin wrote of going on a wild-turkey hunt in 1794 in Connecticut, he observed that the flesh was so superior to that of European domesticated animals that his readers should try to procure, at the very least, birds with lots of space to roam.
You could read more here:
Category: Open thread
1st
Great,
I haven’t had lunch yet and now this is me at my desk…..
There, added something for you.
Interesting tidbit from The Franklin Institute:
“The story about Benjamin Franklin wanting the National Bird to be a turkey is just a myth..”
“Did Benjamin Franklin Want The National Bird To Be A Turkey?”
https://www.fi.edu/benjamin-franklin/franklin-national-bird
But he still invented the Franklin stove, bi-focals, and made sweet, sweet love to lots of French women?
My point is, while disappointed, he’s still one of my favorite historical characters.
I like him as well, Mason…😊👍👌…
Just wanted to quash a myth that I’ve heard for years since the topic was about turkeys.
🦃
Now your talking Turkey about Ben Franklin.
For Jeff:
😆😅😂🤣!!!!
Ya bunch of jive turkeys…
Happy Thanksgiving brothers and sisters of TAH! Have a blessed day wherever you are.
We had planned to go to Cracker Barrel tomorrow. I called them to ask if I could make a reservation. Nice guy but said no, couldn’t do that. He also said they anticipated a very large crowd. So, plan two, either Golden Coral, Chinese Buffet or Po Folks. Left it to the family so we’re going to Po Folks. Haven’t been there in 30 years. Saving the Chinese place for Christmas. Ever notice that Chinese buffets are almost always open on Christmas. Usually the only place that is. Love me some fried rice and spring rolls.
Hoping all youse boys and girls have a great Thanksgiving with family and friends. Seen alerts lately which advise against eating certain type(s) of lettuce. To be safe, I would consider just throwing out any that I had.
Be safe, folks. Blessings to all.
OK, fess up, your real name is “Ralphie” isn’t it?!?! *Smile*
My father-in-law is Jewish, my Mother-in-law is Lutheran. My wife’s family tradition was Christmas dinner and presents on Christmas eve, and Chinese on Christmas day.
We continue that tradition, but we’ve replaced Chinese with teppan grill.
HMC, I have had some success asking the long-term staff at restaurants “when will you be less busy on day X?”
Some years ago when holiday meals got too complicated to consider having with family and pretty much anyone we know, another couple and us decided to do Chinese for Thanksgiving. We enjoyed it so much that we did the same for Christmas, and have nearly every year since, at least one or the other. A great remedy to ease the strain when the competition for kids and grandkids becomes too much.
My Friends sister and the group are going up to the Chinese Kingdom Buffet up in Boynton Beach, Fl. and her Brother and his daughter are taking me out for my B day at Poppy’S Deli tommoro. Mentioned this on the recipe post.
Jeff: Is tomorrow your Birthday?
If so…Happy Birthday, Punster…I mean Youngster! Enjoy your special day!
🎂🎈🎁
Being taken out Thursday for dinner but birthday is Friday the 23rd. I think they are doing something Friday since his daughter just moved down to Fl from New Jersey last week. Thanks for the B day wish Pat.
Jeff, we share a birthday! Mom used to put candles on a pumpkin pie when birthday fell on thanksgiving. I’ll raise a glass in your honor!
When the turkey slices are finally devoured and you remove the rest of the meat from the bones, try this slow cooker recipe. We inherited this from my mother (RIP) whose nine boys let no scrap of food go to waste. We snarfed this stuff down. My children and grandchildren do the same.
There are no exact measurements.
-Bite sized chunks of turkey and every other scrap. The more the merrier. Minimum 2 cups.
-Bean sprouts. Hard to find fresh bean sprouts, but 3-4 cans of it will do the trick.
-Celery. 2-3 cups cut up small.
-Water chestnuts. 2 small drained cans
-Bamboo shoots. 2 small drained cans.
-Onion. Chopped. Amount to your predilection for onion. We use about half a large onion.
-Package of Chinese spices. This is optional, but adds extra flavor.
-Turkey Gravy. Two cups. Initially we try to make enough gravy from the turkey drippings, but in the last few years we just buy Harry’s turkey gravy (Costco) which is an outstanding gravy. Otherwise use standard package or bottled gravy.
-Crisp Chinese noodles on which the goop is served.
Throw all ingredients in slow cooker. I think it is impossible to overcook this stuff, but you want the celery to be on the softer side. Typical slow cooker will be about 4 hours on high. Make it in the morning and serve all afternoon/evening. It is a lot of food, so consider sharing with others or you will be really tired of it by the third serving. Or you can cut down the ingredients in the first place.
With the exception of the Priest (he bums from the rest of us), every one of my brothers makes this after a turkey has been properly attacked and then deboned. Mom used it a lot for parties on the boat. Simple to fix, everyone serves themselves, and always a hit.
ChipNasa provided us an update on Keith Hudson, WHO NEVER SERVED, yet was collecting VA Disability pay (his 2nd Time)and served a very short sentence.
Thank You, Chip, for sharing that story with us.
Chip’s update led me to an interesting story with videos from the NEWS4JAX Investigaton Team in Jacksonville, Florida:
“Two Military Veterans and a Government Worker Stole Hundreds of Thousands of Dollars in Taxpayer Money Through Disability Payments. The I-TEAM Learned the Three Were Caught on Hidden Camera Doing Activities They Claimed They Could Not Perform.”
“People Receiving Disability Payments Busted For Lying;I-TEAM Learns Veterans Claiming Blindness Were Driving, Giving Directions”
https://www.news4jax.com/news/investigations/caught-on-camera-people-receiving-disability-payments-busted-for-lying
Here is the Department of Justice (DOJ) Report on Veronica Hahn, a Military Veteran, who between November 2001 and February 2016, received $394,800.85 from the Department of Veterans Affairs in disability payments for 100% service-connected blindness in both eyes:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-ndfl/pr/woman-sentenced-prison-fraudulently-obtaining-veterans-disability-benefits
Here is a DOJ Report on Jose Calderon-Fuentes, a Military Veteran, who between October 1997 through April 2013, stole more than $538,000 or $4,000 a month in Veterans’ Disability benefits for fake bilateral blindness:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/federal-jury-convicts-jacksonville-man-stealing-veterans-disability-benefits
Here is the DOJ Report on Susan Gissy, a Postal worker, who received $112,000 in workers’ compensation disability benefits to which she was not entitled:
https://www.justice.gov/usao-mdfl/pr/citrus-county-woman-convicted-federal-workers-compensation-fraud
Greedy Little Ducks. All three of them. You reap what you sow.
Happy Yanksgiving!! 😏
We had ours way back in the beginning of October, it was delicious.
Can never have too many turkey dinners!
Terrain, Terrain, Pull Up, Pull Up….
Splat.
Bernath is still dead.
Kaboom! 💥
The NTSB is still working on that gravity investigation.
Try basting your turkey with herb n garlic infused Cannabutter, right under the skin. Delicious! Tryptophan + THC/CBD= best nights sleep ever. It even helped Nan’s arthritis!
So both you and the turkey get baked? Groovy.
You will see how high, the turkey can fly
Someone queue up the WKRP clip about the turkey drop
“… I thought turkeys could fly.”
See below
Classic!
“Oh the humanity…”
Me and Mrs. C.H. will be spending Thanksgiving Day with the wife of an Army officer currently deployed to Congo as part of a very small team of U.S. military advisors to the African multi-national force securing the Congo countryside and border against ISIS-affiliated jihadis. In addition to pulling a one-year tour as an advisor in a third world country with no real back-up, he and his teammates also have to operate in an environment where there is a current Ebola outbreak and epidemic. Please keep this brother-in-arms and his wife in your prayers…
Wilco. Prayers up.
Done. And thank you.
On it.
Done.
https://www.foxnews.com/us/oldest-surviving-veteran-of-pearl-harbor-dies-at-106
RIP
I wonder …. I’ve seen a Pearl Harbor Survivor license plate here at the Moffett Field commissary within the past 6 months …. I wonder if he died earlier than Ray Chavez.
Then again … if “my” PH vet died earlier, perhaps his wife or adult offspring are still using the car.
… We now return you to your regularly scheduled program now in progress ….
I heard rumor that some radio station in Cincinnati was going to do a turkey drop at some mall, anyone heard anything about it?
Oh the humanity!
As God is my witness, I thought turkeys could fly.
I pray that y’all’s Thanksgiving Day celebrations, on whatever day(s) they occur, are happy and joyous.
We are praying that our first-grade grandson will be home for our first celebration tomorrow. He is currently in a children’s hospital in Houston with a severe ear infection. He had mastoiditis a year ago (which used to be 100% fatal before modern antibiotics) and this infection is in the same ear.
However, we are very, very grateful for the outstanding children’s hospitals in the Greater Houston Area, and the highly competent and professional staff who make them run.
May God bless, keep, guide, and guard you all.
This will be the first Thanksgiving in which there will be an empty chair at the head of the table at Fort Lilyea. I want his family and friends to know that we are thinking of him and of his family.
Thank you. All of you.
He left us a lot to be thankful for.
I’ll set a place and pour a glass for him.
The False Commander “Phony” Phil Monkress (CEO of All-Points Logistics) is handing out some serious stuffing as he sticks it up the collective taxpayer ass(es) over funds procured through his false Native American, Navy SEAL and Law Enforcement claims.
Have a great Thanksgiving y’all!
It’s truly a blessing to be American, free from need, in the company of likeminded people or those who respect differences.
Thank you for being part of this arc towards greatness.
Happy Thanksgiving to all. Dinner with the in laws, then coffee, bourbon and a Viaje Stuffed Turkey (damn fine cigar) with the mrs on the front porch this evening