Turkey-Free Thanksgiving!

last year

last modified: last year

Our first post-pandemic Thanksgiving approaches. I know, the pandemic is not over. But this is the first year in the last three that we will have a large gathering again, all mentally totting up the weeks since our third booster and trying to talk over the five HEPA air cleaners running full blast.

This will also be the first year in the last three that we have had a working dishwasher. At the start of 2020, my trusty Hobart warewasher started leaking into the basement below. Inspection revealed a seep where a fitting was welded to the hot water tank, and a larger leak from somewhere deep in the machine's bowels. Since the Hobart was only used for large gatherings, I disconnected the machine and ignored it for almost three years. SWMBO finally insisted that we must have a working dishwasher or Thanksgiving would be cancelled.

The seep was "repaired" with JB Weld, which seemed preferable to the $1,600 price of a new tank. The leaky bowels turned out to be the braided steel supply hose, crushed at some point in the machine's life and leaking at a point several inches from the machine's exterior, with water running down the hose and puddling in said bowels. Easy, just unscrew and replace the supply hose. It attaches - yes, deep in the machine - at a place that I can barely see and cannot reach without separating the machine's upper and lower halves, disconnecting old and brittle hoses and fittings, and likely engendering a profusion of new leaks, if I could even figure out how to lift the very heavy upper tank off the lower base. Not a good design. I'm not an appliance proctologist.

Another "ghetto fix" - cut out the worst-damaged part of the supply hose and rejoin the remaining parts with a brass barbed connecter and hose clamps. Then muscle the insanely heavy thing back into its home under the counter, close eyes, press "ON", and . . . HOBART LIVES! Running about twenty cycles with bleach got rid of the rotten water smell, and we are in the party business again.

To work on the Hobart, we had to empty and move the center island/work cabinet, which is itself very heavy. How can something from IKEA weigh so much? In a huff, I mounted casters on the legs, so we won't have to go through that again. I also resolved to start working out again, because this stuff wasn't as heavy the last time I worked on it.

On to the food. We have decided to have a turkey-free Thanksgiving. I don't particularly like turkey and the hassle of roasting a bird big enough for fifteen, making the gravy, and the stressful tableside carving is something I'm happy to skip. We have a mess of ribeye and tenderloin in the freezer, and reclaiming that space will be another bonus. The tentative plan is sous vide then pan-sear the meat, make a big batch of red wine reduction for the ribeye and Grand Marnier-and-drippings sauce for the tenderloin, pairing with scallops which we also seem to have a giant bag of in the freezer. We have warned everyone of this flagrant breach of holiday tradition, and no-one seems to care.

But now my conscience nags. Really, not a molecule of turkey? I am thinking about getting some turkey legs, so that people can get just a taste if they want it. I don't want to roast it, and my sous vide sticks will be occupied with the beef, so was thinking about deboning and braising the turkey leg meat. Maybe even making a sort of turkey au vin.

What do you think? I have zero experience doing anything with turkey other than roasting the whole bird.

For the sides, it will be the usual festive and random assortment of whatever people bring. I'm planning my usual creamed corn with Grand Marnier and creamed spinach with Amaretto. For the mashed potatoes, I plan to substitute a cheese-y cauliflower puree. Hopefully someone will bring a green bean casserole - the holidays are not complete without GBC.

A party. What a concept. We're out of practice giving parties. But I guess everyone is out of practice attending them. So we will all lurch into this brave new world together.

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John Liu
Original Author

last year

last modified: last year

Report: people were happy enough without turkey. The meat turned out nicely (thank goodness for sous vide), and lots of sides were made and brought. My favorites were cauliflower gratin and creamed corn. But no GBC, boo. What’s the world coming to? I guess we need to start supplying the green bean casserole, if it’s gone so out of fashion.

The biggest success is that we managed to send most of the food home with guests!

People stayed quite late - 11:30 pm. I snuck off to bed at 10:30 pm. I have no qualms about disappearing from my own dinners, especially if I have to work the next day.

It was so nice to have the Hobart dishwasher running again. Clear the dinner plates, quick scrape and pre-rinse, into the rack, in just a few minutes all the plates are stacked and dry, before dessert is even ready to serve. After handwashing for over two years, I know what I’m thankful for this year!

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Comments (22)

l pinkmountain
last year
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 . . .
John Liu thanked l pinkmountain
cookebook
last year
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.
John Liu thanked cookebook
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gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
last 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!
John Liu thanked gardengal48 (PNW Z8/9)
Olychick
last year
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.
John Liu thanked Olychick
CA Kate z9
last year
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.
John Liu thanked CA Kate z9
plllog
last year
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.
John Liu thanked plllog
nancyjane_gardener
last year
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.
John Liu thanked nancyjane_gardener
annie1992
last year
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
John Liu thanked annie1992
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
last year
last modified: last year
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
John Liu thanked dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
last year
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.
John Liu thanked sleevendog (5a NY 6aNYC NL CA)
bragu_DSM 5
last year
arm roast with veggies, but traditional T-day sides.

Smoked Turkey this weekend ... because of the weather.
linda campbell
last year
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!
John Liu thanked linda campbell
mxk3 z5b_MI
last year
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.
John Liu thanked mxk3 z5b_MI
colleenoz
last year
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 ;-)
John Liu thanked colleenoz
John Liu
Original Author
last year
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.
Islay Corbel
last year
Sous vide the turkey in advance and pop it in the bath with the beef to warm up?
John Liu thanked Islay Corbel
nancyofnc
last year
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.
John Liu thanked nancyofnc
mxk3 z5b_MI
last year
Thank you John, Liu! I will have to try the GM sauce, sounds easy enough.

Sounds like your get-together was a success :0)
l pinkmountain
last year
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.
carolb_w_fl_coastal_9b
last year
last modified: last year
Glad all turned out well!

For future reference, turkey thighs are a much better choice than legs, if you just want the dark meat.
annie1992
last year
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

Turkey-Free Thanksgiving!

John Liu
Original Author

Comments (22)

l pinkmountain

cookebook

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Turkey-Free Thanksgiving!

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