So...whats for dinner?

auntienance

This is one of ina's using mascarpone. Is the same as libby's?

http://m.foodnetwork.com/recipes/284779

susan_02143

The cake is fundamentally the same. All the cakes are the same out there in recipe-land. The fillings are where the changes occur. I read more darn pumpkin roll recipes in my panic!

*susan*

auntienance

I like the mascarpone filling.

SpecialK

I like the interpretive dance idea! I may just do one even though I am not making the fleepin' pumpkin roll!

chabba

Susan, I would ask him what kind of filling he liked.  I have often made dessert logs with ice cream filling.  You might find a specialty line of ice cream that makes a special flavor for Thanksgiving that would be good.

Tonight I've been remembering holidays growing up.  When Dad was growing up he raised turkeys for sale to neighbor farmers, and for home consumption. He not only learned how to pick out the best turkey but when he finished carving it you could have put it back together like a jigsaw puzzle.  When I was in junior high he found a local  farmer that raised a small free range flock for sale each year.  Normally his customers just ordered their bird and picked it up oven ready the day before.  He let us come out the weekend before and pick out a bird which he would tag for us.  Wed. morning we would go to pick up our bird.  When we got there he would kill and clean it for us.  Those were probably the best turkeys I've ever eaten.

ShazzaKelly

just found this thread and got some great ideas for meals. Summer is fast approaching here in New Zealand and the weather is great. I'm going to crank up the BBQ and marinate some chicken steaks served with green olive salsa, baked potatoes and green salad. Strawberries and ice cream for afters. I had chemo this morning and the steroids make me so hungry I've been eating Xmas mince pies all afternoon.

Moonflwr912

Hello Shazza! You are trying to make us jealous, yes? LOL while we will sometimes grill the turkey for thanksgiving we do it in 20 degree (farenhigt) sp... and snow. LOL

Susan, I make a chocolate roll and I use a ricotta filling. It's great..just add an egg and something a bit sweet, honey or sugar or substitute. I think that would be nice and light but good for the pumpkin roll.

Tonight I had sloppy Joe from the grocery store deli. It's pretty good. I can just get enough for two meals with no mess. Also finished the bean casserole. Gotta keep up the mag level! LOL of course I had some dark chocolate too. It's actually the highest magnesium food. LOL.

susan_02143

I dreamt about rolling pumpkin cake all night long. I am totally exhausted!

*susan*

auntienance

I was thinking about it too while I was trying to go to sleep and I'm not even making one!

auntienance

No good deed goes unpunished Susan ;-D

carberry

Pillsbury or somebody makes a frozen cheesecake in a tub...thaw and add pumpkin spices and put in your roll. I have only made a pumpkin roll once and had trouble rolling it...it cracked. I now leave it to my sister, who does it perfect all the time. Or our local Wegmans store has them already made. Susan, you are such a dear to put so much effort into making sure he gets a favorite.

I got my groceries last night after work at 9 pm...it was perfect...no one in the store, but when I got home with the loot DH was asleep on the couch. Funny story...the cashier says to me as I was unloading stuff onto the conveyor " I need to see your ID" I was like what the heck, I didn't buy any alcohol...but there it was...the cooking sherry for my onions! who knew ha ha

Welcome Shazza ohhhh summer. So glad those steroids are giving you an appetite during your chemo

Lacey12

Susan, I'm here getting anxious for you, too! Rolling a cake has never been my forte. I'll be interested to hear what filling you settle on....and I'd be very tempted to avoid the rolling and make it with filled layers. Afterall, it will never be the dessert he is used to. Ahhhh, the sweetness of holiday dynamics. Ditto about 'no good deed.......'

Welcome ShazzaKelly.........envying your temps right now!

susan_02143

My life did NOT conform to my timeline today. I woke up late. The farm was mobbed. There was no parking at Penzey's. My husband wanted me to make lunch. And then my dear friend Pat's partner arrived with the lamb, and man did he need to talk with someone who "gets" what Pat and he went through. What a wonderful man and so we chatted and chatted and chatted. And then it was 3:30 and I had not even begun. So today I have been able to roast vegetables to enhance the turkey stock and make a veggie broth. Turn the white bread sponge into dough, and it is now on its second rise. Will bake tonight. The kid has all the pie doughs in the fridge chilling. I haven't made the pumpkin roll, or steamed the pearl onions, or made the béchamel. And that is it. _sigh_

Last night's dinner was enhanced by a take out Chana Masala from our local, if mediocre, Indian restaurant.

I have decided to make a mascarpone cheese with whipped cream filling for the pumpkin roll. Tonight I will research the proportions. I also bought some cream cheese in case I need that for stabilizing the cream. Our dessert menu is now apple pie, blueberry pie, and pumpkin roll. We have enough cream to whip some up and Shaws Farm ice cream, vanilla of course.

Need to update my timeline.

*susan*

SpecialK

susan - sounds great!  Sorry your timeline went south - it happens.  I was supposed to go to the fajita lunch at DH's office - felt like poo this morning so I bagged it.  DH came home this evening and we went out to get the turkey and a few odds and ends.  I feel better after resting, but I got NOTHING done today, so you are way ahead of me!

susan_02143

p.s. Also made the cranberry compote.

auntienance

I've been anxiously awaiting the pumpkin roll report!

Cleaned all day then made pie crusts, also chilling in the fridge. Tried a new technique of pounding the butter flat before adding to the flour. Supposed to make for a more flaky crust. Mine's pretty flaky anyway, but dh thought it was even more than usual. It's a lot more work and painful on my arthritic hands, but we'll see what the verdict is on the pumpkin pie.

Since I had an abundance of crusts, I made a fresh spinach and bacon quiche with a salad for dinner.

 Dbil and dsil are coming tomorrow to spend the night and travel to dh's and dbil's sister's house for dinner Thursday. Since they will need to be fed, tomorrow night's meal will be a fairly simple roast beef with horseradish sauce, roasted parmesan potatoes and, much to dh's disappointment, Brussels sprouts. (An olive oil cake will cheer him up). I too, have a giant stalk from Trader Joe's, Lacey!

Good choice on the filling Susan.

SeasideMemories

Susan,

Even though it was a detour you hadn't intended, I'm sure your friend Pat's (Frapp) partner will never forget your kindness. The first holiday without a loved one can be really rough and I'm sure it was a great comfort to him to talk with someone who understands!

Kaara

Hi everyone: Back in Florida for the winter...two day drive from the Carolinas trying to beat the bad weather...just made it.

The day before I left I made my traditional Thanksgiving dinner for BF's kids. They raved about my deviled eggs and cornbread dressing which made me feel good. My kids just take it for granted that I will prepare these dishes. Once I tried to make the deviled eggs with diet mayo and they noticed immediately, saying "Mom, we're not on diets". My secret is I add a little juice from the green olive jar, and I use dijon mustard and a little sour cream.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving everyone! I'll be at DD's so don't have to cook twice.

susan_02143

Seaside,

Can't agree with you more.... I mean is steaming onions or being a friend more important? No question. I fired up a pot of coffee and chose being a friend. Real friends aren't easily made or kept. The onions aren't going anywhere. [I checked the kitchen; they are still in the brown paper bag.]

*susan*

Moonflwr912

susan. Words to live by. Friends before onions.... LOL might have to explain that one though.... LOL

Kara glad you made it before the snow. SpecialK hope you feel better.

To all Much love.

Lacey12

No surprise about your choice for empathy, Susan. That was more of a meaningful holiday event than any food prep.

DH and I also headed out for food shopping today....four stops (one left for tomorrow), and sadly our Trader's was totally out of brussels sprouts, stalk or not! Menu revision unless Roche Bros has some.

While on our way to Volante's we passed the local turkey farm....OMG !!! People were lined up football field length to pick up turkeys....I do not recall that the one we had from there a few years ago was worth standing in the cold for an hour.

Of course after all of our food purchases we forgot about dinner, so I made a fritatta with the tons of beet greens and onions that just came home. It was pretty good.

Tomorrow I need to get into some serious productivity.....self-induced pressure given our low key T-giv.

We're supposed to have driving rain tomorrow, so it will be a good day to stay in the kitchen...after, of course, someone picks up the turkey.

susan_02143

lacey, Wilson Farms has TONS of brussels, all grown right there, if you can stand the crowds. Should have bought some for you today when I was there.

Moon, there is a t-shirt in there somewhere. I give you that idea. Just remember us little folks when you make it big!

Kaara, your holidays sound just perfect for you.

The whole house smells great. The bread is almost done. I made a fairly standard country loaf, and added some finely minced fresh sage. If the bread tastes as good as it smells, I will post a link to this year's recipe.

*susan*

SeasideMemories

Susan,

Yes, real friends are few and far between. And I think I should say that you also are included in those who are facing a first holiday with a loss(es). And I keep you all in my thoughts and prayers!

debbie6122

Hello Every one Thank you so very much for all the well wishes and the Card from you Deb, You always send the best cards to every one here. Been home from the hospital for a few days after spending 8 days in ICU (Thank you Joyce for letting everyone know) Honestly when I went in I didn't think I was coming out, I was only breathing about 70% and when they saw me they wheeled me so fast my head was spinning. I still have Pnemonia the Dr said I will for a few more weeks maybe more, my white blood count was way up and still have a fever, I am on so much prednisone (125mg) that is keeping my lungs open and on oxygen 24/7 but it is keeping me stable so I won't complain too much, except the steroids make me a really crumpy person,. I will start weening off them this week all in all I am much better, after I get better I am going to go to a lung rehab place to try to improve my lung function having severe emphysema and having (had) lung cancer, has taken a toll on these poor lungs.

It took me quite awhile to catch up, I have been reading for the past hour or longer and missed so much. I am sure you all are going to be very busy today cooking and prepping and preparing but thought I would check in just to let you know I was still around and to say hi and I hope every one has a really nice Happy Thanks-Giving.

Now on to the more important stuff, I cried through every one's story on Michelle's Celebration of Life, You all wrote and told about it so beautifully as If I was there too. I know how hard this all had to be on you everyone with there different reasons why it effected them but mostly because you all loved her so so very much.

Joyce- I cried when I read about you bringing the chair, I think she will be sitting there next to you, you won't see her but she will be there. You are always In my thoughts.

Lacey, I am so glad you found a friend that Michelle also was friends with, You will both have lots to talk about and I bet you become very close friends with her. Just what Michelle would of wanted.

Deb- You have also been on my mind, I know things are still hard for you as it is me as well, I am still struggling too, I hope that your new Grand child will bring you much joy, Congrats!!

Susan- Glad you were able to make it there as well even though you didn't feel well, Thanks for the lovely story on the place and also the visual, I felt like I had a window in watching. I hope you are feeling better.

Seaside- I hope you also are better, glad I got the worst of it, wouldn't want any of my triplets to get sicker than me so I took it for ya! ha!

Laurie- I was thrilled when I read you were going on a trip and to Florida!! You deserved this vacation and I hope you are having the time of your life.

Sorry for all those I missed, there are just so many of you!! LOL! But I love you all and love reading each and every thing that is going on in your life. (My steroids make me quite chatty) Sorry!

Happy Thanks-giving every one- Love to all

auntienance

Debbie, so good to hear from you! Glad you are doing better, please continue to do so :-)

Lacey12

Debbie, soooo good to hear from you and I wish you continued progress on your path back to health. Scary event, but what a strong constitution you have to come through this. Please rest rest rest!! I am more than impressed with how much you respond to on this thread. This gemini girl can barely respond to one or two sisters' comments/situations.

Susan, thanks so much for the thought and suggestion about WF. Am actually heading to the gym, and thought I could shoot up the highway but then had this wild thought that maybe Trader's might hae gotten some more stalks in. Called them and voila...they just got twenty stalks. I'll just take one, thank you! I better get off this and run up there before they are gone.

Happy prep everyone.....

SpecialK

Yay for brussel sprouts - I have some from WF but they are not on the stalk - I may be the only brussel eater so I just got the little de-stalked bag, but I am excited!

debbie - so good to see you!  Sorry about the health crisis, but good to know you are hanging in - don't overdo it, rest!

Happy Thanksgiving to all my friends on this thread - such a warm, wonderful and encouraging group of friends!  I am picturing all of you in your kitchens preparing food with love for those we are thankful to have in our lives!

luvmygoats

Lacey - Traders will put stuff back for you. I found this out when I was in search of the frozen leeks.

Off to PT. BBL to chat.

eric95us

Hi DEBBIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :-)

Eric

susan_02143

Debbie, So good to "hear" your voice. What a nightmare you have been through. I hope all the lung folks can get you back to your old self quickly. I know it will take a lot of work on your part.

*susan*