Neither hubs or I are particular turkey fans, and since we've always had small group gatherings mostly in my family, turkey has been a "meh" offering most of the time. I've had great small turkey barbecued on a rotisserie once at my Aunt's in the summer, but that's another thing all together. For years I was vegetarian and tried a lot of alternatives. The most delicious Thanksgiving meals I have had did not feature turkey. They included fresh wild caught Pacific salmon, duck, Cornish hens and chicken. Also a snowed in potluck at a camp once with a bunch of us who got stranded out of our travel plans and had to wing it at my house, but that was mostly vegetarians and featured stuffed acorn squash. BUT, having said that, there always seems to be someone who is a holiday crank who complains about not having turkey and other traditional things. My Dad is now our resident crank, and he just cranks, randomly. He would be fine with Cornish hens or duck, but hubs doesn't like duck. So we got a small turkey, since we eat roast chicken very frequently and the Cornish hens are expensive. Just went with the flow.

I think turkey legs would be great. When I used to live in an urban area a few blocks from a big farm market I could get all kinds of cut turkey parts which was great for my small family. A lot less fuss to cook too, no carving! I would occasionally get turkey "loins" to mix it up for my meat eating husband. I can't remember if they were dark or white meat. They sold half turkeys and legs too . . .

If everyone was ok with not having turkey I wouldn't bother with it at all. Sounds like a great meal you have planned. The turkey is the thing I least look forward to every year.

I'm no help as I could eat turkey 365 days a year. Thanksgiving dinner of roast turkey with all the trimmings is my idea of a perfect meal!

However......, I would never say no to a well cooked piece of beef :-) If your family and guests are not into turkey, I see no reason not to substitute the main course for something you will all enjoy. I do not think providing any turkey in any form is a requirement and I wouldn't bother with wings. There is enough going on with cooking for a large family holiday gathering without adding another, unnecessary dish to the menu!

I would miss the smell of turkey roasting as nuch as eating it. But since you won’t be roasting it, I don’t imagine braising will provide that scent. I dont think I’d bother.

I, literally just returned from a month's stay at my daughter's. I was planning on 10 days that streached on and on with the total destruction of my car. My new car and I are home just in time to host the Clan for T'Day.

None of us care much for turkey and so a whole new simplified menu will have to do for this year. It will start with lamb and go on from there. I think that nothing but the pumpkin pie will be the usual fare.

I agree with Cookebook--they agreed to no turkey, If you can turn up a copper turkey mold, you can make a “turkey” out of one of your sides. Or make turkey soup. But you're overthinking and wimping out.

We're going with crab, green salad and french bread with whatever people want to bring! I'm making delicata soup and cranberry stuff. We'll see what others bring!

Have been watching the Kitchen from time to time and they did a bacon wrapped turkey breast, cornish game hens and something else rather than turkey.

I actually really like turkey and only eat it a couple of times a year. Elery and I watched a jacques Pepin video once and boned a whole turkey, rolled it up with a stuffing that included cranberries and roasted it. His son in law says he still has dreams about that turkey, LOL.

However turkey legs are hard to bone, they have all those little bones and cartilege, so I think they might be difficult to bone and still yield enough turkey pieces big enough to braise. And I would certainly not turn down tenderloin or a nice rare ribeye.

That said, we're having turkey.

Annie

The turkey will be pardoned. Instead, a chestnut stuffed Buddhism Exempted chicken, lobsters and a whole oxtail, 72-hour sous vide'd, big salad with Ukrainian dressing, etc.

A happy Thanksgiving and peace to the whole world.

dcarch

We have stayed on script since the late 80's be it family or friends. We like the tradition. We both grew up with a traditional turkey meal. Going back in holiday pic files, 2012 we went with rotis duck. Should have saved that for Christmas day. We missed having turkey.

But would not mind at all if another friend hosted and went another direction. Most important is seeing friends/family after what we all have been through.

Christmas day is our coin toss meal. Could be ribs, BoSaam, lasagna, rack of lamb, lobster,....or could be turkey if we missed it on Thanksgiving.

XMas eve through NewYears is all seafood then the other 'on script' is NewYears day---always ham, black-eyed-peas, cornbread and collards.

Can't imagine a holiday season without next day brunch turkey sliders on biscuits with NPR's Mama Stamberg's cranberry relish.

arm roast with veggies, but traditional T-day sides.

Smoked Turkey this weekend ... because of the weather.

Can't imagine thanksgivingw ithout turkey...or the smell of it roasting. You can buy a "turkey roll" which is boneless dark andw hite meat......grill it, or put i into the crock pot...or the toaster oven. Or get a turkey breast....you can get boneless or bone in and in sizes from about a pound up to huge. Same options for cooking, but be careful not to over cook or it will be dry...the turkey roll seems to be more tolerant of ovr cookinga s it has both dark and white meat.

And a deep fried turkey is very VERY good!

What do I think? I think you need to post the directions for the Grand Marnier and drippings sauce for the tenderloin :0)

I also think the turkey-less dinner sounds delicious! It's fine to skip the turkey. DH doesn't really like it, either, but there would be a revolt if I didn't make it since it's my family that comes over on Thanksgiving.

Here it's traditional to have turkey for Christmas (back in the day a roasted chicken was even more traditional, as then chicken was quite expensive so a roasted chicken was a rare treat). However my stepdad didn't care for turkey as those of his youth were farm turkeys not very well prepared, so they ended up dry with sinewy legs. It put him off turkey for life. I don't recall anyone feeling hard done by because my mother didn't do a turkey for Christmas.

I do have a couple of amusing stories about what she did do ;-)

No real directions for the Grand Marnier sauce. Just drippings, flour or cornstarch, butter, heavy cream, and blend to desired consistency, Grand Marnier to taste.

Of course, I just burned my red wine reduction and have to start over, so take my tips with a cupful of salt :-(

That one is red wine, mushrooms, garlic, shallots, butter, reduce by 2/3, sieve to remove solids, add broth, reduce to desired consistency, sieve again, add butter, if in a cheating mood (I always am) add a (very little) sugar and/or red wine vinegar to taste.

Sous vide the turkey in advance and pop it in the bath with the beef to warm up?

Yummy ham was served on the day -plan on turkey near Christmas but will be just a small breast so that I can have the best part of a traditional feast - LEFTOVER cold turkey slices, sage and celery stuffing, cranberry sauce schemer on thick sliced homemade white bread with mayo.

Thank you John, Liu! I will have to try the GM sauce, sounds easy enough.

Sounds like your get-together was a success :0)

That red wine gravy sounds delish. You are a true gourmet. I think my red wine gravy is red wine, tomato sauce thickened with cornstarch . . . I don't make it very often though, not much I would serve it on these days.

Glad all turned out well!

For future reference, turkey thighs are a much better choice than legs, if you just want the dark meat.

John, I always like the sides best, but you can keep the green bean casserole, LOL.

Congratulations on the Hobart and the successful dinner. Happy Thanksgiving.

Annie