to be jealous that Americans get Thanksgiving AND Christmas?

[FeuDeRussie]

Thanksgiving sounds really good. Like Christmas, but no presents to worry about (AFAIK?), just FOOD!

Are there any Americans around who can tell me what Thanksgiving is like? Do you prefer it to Christmas?

I know I know!

And imagine mashing potatoes for 12 people....

Forgot to add gravy to the meal above - goes without saying obviously, and homemade cranberry sauce too.

we always have roasted and mashed.... and always have gravy.... (have never ever heard of anyone not having gravy)

squoosh when (a) you have no room in the oven (because of mahoosive turkey, pies, casseroles etc) and (b) when your family recipe for thanksgiving mashed potatoes to feed 8 is as follows:
9 large potatoes, steamed and mashed with:
120g butter
300g cream cheese
200ml sour cream
small bunch chives or salad onions, finely sliced
ground nutmeg

MMMM.

I don't like roast potatoes, I tolerate them. I love mash.

Butter, cream cheese and sour cream? That must stick to your arteries ribs! Does sound delicious though.

anyone find any nice dinner rolls here in UK? like parker house rolls?

I've been cooking up a storm all week in preparation for my Thanksgiving dinner. Every year it gets larger; starts with half a dozen 7 for 7.30pm and grows like Topsy - this evening there'll be 16-20 hungry mouths to feed.

The only food that'll be deep fried will be shrimp appetisers served with bloody marys to kickstart the festivities welcome the guests. A good pumpkin pie is a revelation - think a smooth custard-type tart shot through with cinnamon/nutmeg/brown sugar flavours, but tonight's menu features the giant orange gourd as soup.

The turkey will be served with peppery/buttery/creamy mashed potatoes, roast Lincolnshire potatoes and roasted glazed sweet potatoes, greens collard style (nary a bean in sight), traditional cornbread stuffing plus a sausage meat & bacon (cheers Oscar Meyer) number, gallons of nourishing and nutritious gravy, and the obligatory fresh cranberry sauce.

There's a meltingly moist maple glazed gammon and a veggie nut roast with tomato/basil sauce for those who don't eat poultry.

Desserts are pecan, Mississippi mud, and key lime pies with scoops of Movenpick vanilla ice cream - which has to be the best ice cream outside of Vermont.

Apart from the ice cream it's all home made and the scent of the feast, together with the leftovers, will last through the weekend. A good time will be had by all but I wish I was home with my folks being waited on hand and foot Maybe next year....

Happy thankgiving everybody!

I have no American connections but every year we celebrate thanksgiving because my son was born on July 4th

We are having sweet potatoes with marshmallows, parsnips with maple syrup, bread sauce, turkey, roast pots.

My dad has just cancelled on us given the weather so we have more food than we can eat but it's lovely every year.

I love roasties. Would take them anyday over mash. My mum wasn't big on mashing potatoes though; we never had them at Thanksgiving (as far as I can remember, anyway!)

Happy Thanksgiving, wheezing :)

Ok, I'm going to make a pumpkin pie, you've inspired me. Can anyone tell me if I have to roast the pumpkin or do I boil it? Googling recipes all tell me to use a tin, which I don't have!

Don't do it MissCellania!

Halloween is Scottish, not American. Can't blame them for that too.

Miss I'd be afraid to do it without using tinned

I'm going to have to make it up as I go along aren't I?

Ummmm, not just Scottish.

I would cut the pumpkin open, take out the seeds, de-skin it, chunk it up and roast it.

Although I have never actually done this...

Yes tee and then you would have to puree it to the smoothness of a baby's bottom...

We gather together to ask the Lord?s blessing;
He chastens and hastens His will to make known.
The wicked oppressing now cease from distressing.
Sing praises to His Name; He forgets not His own.

Beside us to guide us, our God with us joining,
Ordaining, maintaining His kingdom divine;
So from the beginning the fight we were winning;
Thou, Lord, were at our side, all glory be Thine!

We all do extol Thee, Thou Leader triumphant,
And pray that Thou still our Defender will be.
Let Thy congregation escape tribulation;
Thy Name be ever praised! O Lord, make us free!

-Traditional Thanksgiving Hymn

Lots of Americans do 'Irish' Christmas meals and have a turkey and a ham.

Also, it is viewed as a more Christian festival over there. People of other faiths resolutly don't celebrate it and they don't get much time off over xmas and new year.

DONT DO IT WITHOUT USING TINNED. IT WILL BE FOUL.

Half a kilo of fresh pumpkin flesh (i.e minus seeds & skin) will produce enough puree for an 8" pie - line a deep flan dish with shortcrust pastry, prick the base, cover loosely with baking paper and bake blind for 10 mins.

To cook the flesh, cut into chunks and microwave with a couple of spoons of water until soft; or steam or cook on hob with a little water, or put in a moderate oven until tender

Drain the cooked pumpkin thoroughly before using a hand blender or processor to turn it into a puree.

Beat in 3 eggs and add 125g light or dark muscovado sugar, half teaspoon each of ground cinnamon, ground ginger, ground nutmeg or use ground mace or mixed spice - these are basic proportions and you may prefer to use more sugar, more spice, or use maple or golden syrup to replace all or some of the sugar.

Make a lattice pastry topping and glaze it with egg white and caster or brown sugar or top with pecan nuts or make up a streusel style topping - let your imagination be your guide!

Turn the mixture into the prepared pie dish and cook for 45 mins at 190c until set - ovens vary so check after 30 mins.

Serve warm with ice cream and enjoy!

I ascribe to the view that fresh is best and I've never bought or used tinned pumpkin for pies or anything else, ethel.

Thank you Izzy! Making pastry now, and pumpkin is cooking. Maybe it will be vile, but I'll give it a lash.

In case anyone was wondering whether we get sick of doing this twice a year, we don't - we go out for Chinese food on Christmas Day

You know when you say that Thanksgiving isn't a religious holiday?
Who are you thanking then?
Not criticising BTW, it's a lovely premise, just interested.