Tofurkey

[Keepur]

Well, like I said, she specifically mentioned it so I bought it.

If she asked for it, then that's on her and not you It's very nice of you to buy it for her. I've never had it so I can't speak. I'm sure for someone new to being vegetarian and/or younger, choosing a simple meat substitute may make it easier to eat at family meals if that makes sense.

Just remembered this morning while talking with my sister that one of the other nieces is extremely picky about what she eats. And I understand, I was picky too, but I wasn't indulged in quite the same way she is either. At any rate, she may just get spaghetti. Or yogurt. She's not at all adventurous, so I'm sure none of the other specials I have will be of any interest to her either. I'm honestly not sure how she even stays alive.

Sounds like my younger brother. I remember he would only eat baked beans and maybe bread at get-togethers. And he ate cereal for half his meals at home. Who knows.

 

[Pequenita]

Just remembered this morning while talking with my sister that one of the other nieces is extremely picky about what she eats. And I understand, I was picky too, but I wasn't indulged in quite the same way she is either. At any rate, she may just get spaghetti. Or yogurt. She's not at all adventurous, so I'm sure none of the other specials I have will be of any interest to her either. I'm honestly not sure how she even stays alive.

On the other hand, Thanksgiving is pretty predictable as far as foods go. Unless you're intentionally doing a non-traditional one.

 

[Jenny]

On the other hand, Thanksgiving is pretty predictable as far as foods go. Unless you're intentionally doing a non-traditional one.

She doesn't like turkey. Or mashed potatoes. Or sweet potatoes. I think the corn and rolls are ok. And the pumpkin pie.

 

[Christy]

Unless you're intentionally doing a non-traditional one.

Or, unless you live in one of the wacky states that makes things like frog eye salad or cookie salad. I love this graphic of most googled Tday recipes.


https://www.nytimes.com/interactive...nksgiving-recipes-googled-in-every-state.html

 

[Jenny]

I do love cheesy potatoes . . . but we, personally,, don't have them at Thanksgiving. Other times of the year, though.

 

[Christy]

Along the same lines, I make smoked salmon dip all the time but don't necessarily think of it as a Thanksgiving dish. It's my potluck staple. Maybe that's why it's most googled here, because it's a crowd pleaser and it travels well, so it's easy to bring to someone's house.

 

[Keepur]

I have never heard of dirt pudding... I'm afraid to Google it and add to the searches, haha. Well, I can say that I haven't seen that at any Thanksgivings.

 

[Christy]

Alright I did it so you didn't have to. Looks like the "dirt" is oreos. There is a link on this site.
https://www.ohioheartlandcuisine.com/heartland cuisine/ohio-heartland-cuisine_2016

 

[Keepur]

@Christy Hahaha, thank you! Interesting! I have possibly had that when I was younger, but haven't seen anyone bring it to family meals.

 

[vickie]

@Jenny - Hope your meal is a success and, even more, that your family appreciates your work and worry.

 

[Jenny]

Thanks - I'm sure it will all be just fine. I now have borrowed enough chairs so,that everyone can sit down, so that's a plus! And I remembered my friend has an electric roaster so that's now in my kitchen, ready to go tomorrow - will make coordinating everything a lot easier.

 

[nopoleskier]

Please share photos and what you think of Tofurky.. it will be great dinner party!!

 

[Jenny]

I'm sure we'll have some pictures - my sister is a relentless photographer.

 

[nopoleskier]

I have eaten TONS of tofu but never have 'seen' a tofurky just sounds so gross I want to see what it looks like out of the package LOL..

 

[bounceswoosh]

I have eaten TONS of tofu but never have 'seen' a tofurky just sounds so gross I want to see what it looks like out of the package LOL..

I think it just looks like a turkey breast.

Why that would be appealing to a vegetarian is beyond me.

 

[geargrrl]

oh, they make tofu-bacon, tofu-sausage....

 

[nopoleskier]

I like faking bacon. Tofu sausage and the hot dogs I make tofu jerky.. the tofurkey has to have very weird texture being tofu..

 

[Jenny]

Well, we're fed, cleaned up, and everyone went home. Everything was done when it was supposed to be, and we only had a couple of burned fingers, and two minor spilling/swearing incidents.

Vegan niece and her boyfriend ate, and enjoyed, the tofurkey - went back for seconds and took the leftovers home. I was so distracted by everything else I never even got around to tasting it, so I will forever remain unaware of the taste.

I have to say, it's kind of a weird thing. It was kind of like a big snowball, much firmer than I'd anticipated it being. I made the marinade suggested on the box, tossed on a bunch of other spices (same as we used on the turkey roasts), added vegetable broth to the bottom of the pan, covered it up, and put it on the grill. An hour later, pulled it off, and thought we'd destroyed it. It now looked like a big charred ball. All of the broth had boiled away - we had a little trouble regulating the grill temp - and the outer layer was pretty crispy.

Here's a picture before we cut it.


And sliced. DH said it sliced like the turkey roasts did, once he pierced the outer char, that is.


We had eight people at our dining room table, six at the card tables set up in the living room, and me on the couch. Since there's only the two of us, we don't have a lot of place settings, so the eight in the dining room had our everyday dishes and the others had the good china/silver that my grandmother insisted on buying for us when we got married. It's only been used maybe one other time in our lives, on a similar occasion. Seems kind of waste to have it and not use it, but I also like things that can go in the dishwasher. She always used the good stuff when we were there for holidays, though, so it's like she was with us today . . .

 

[Keepur]

I just wanted to say that I made fresh cranberry sauce since I've never had it before, and it was so good! I just used cranberries, squeezed juice from some oranges and added some zest, and sugar. I forgot about trying maple syrup.

My boyfriend liked it too, after previously telling me how gross he remembers the cranberry blob from a can used to be.

 

[bounceswoosh]

I just wanted to say that I made fresh cranberry sauce since I've never had it before, and it was so good! I just used cranberries, squeezed juice from some oranges and added some zest, and sugar. I forgot about trying maple syrup.

My boyfriend liked it too, after previously telling me how gross he remembers the cranberry blob from a can used to be.

My MIL is pretty much a gourmet cook. She decided to buy cranberry "relish," as she called it, from the deli because she's "very particular. " So I'm extremely pleased to report that after tasting my tart sauce and "her" overly sweet one, she only ate mine!