Do you observe Thanksgiving?

[Dannyalcatraz]

Are there actually people out in the world actually would ban people from this sort of thing for not being able to cook well?! That's...so rude I am actually getting worked up imagining it.

I’m sure there are, especially if they’re particularly bad cooks, but insist on bringing food anyway.

I mean, most stuff, you could take or leave. But some dishes are contagiously un-appetizing, and might ruin appetites. Bad/unusual smells would top that list. Beyond that, some dishes can be visually repulsive.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

My wife eats halal which makes it challenging to find appropriate meats. I don't think we've ever had turkey. Depending on where we are in the country we can find chicken or beef. But in any case I eat meat only rarely these days. So really it is about the sides. Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, baked macaroni...both for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they end up looking similar.

There’s a growing number of halal groceries here in D/FW, but we’re evolving into a community of foodies.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to find an online food delivery service that does halal meats. Might be pricey, but if it’s only for special occasions…

 

[The Firebird]

There’s a growing number of halal groceries here in D/FW, but we’re evolving into a community of foodies.

That said, I wouldn’t be surprised to find an online food delivery service that does halal meats. Might be pricey, but if it’s only for special occasions…

Dallas is also one of the most popular destinations for Muslims to move these days. That's a good idea; it hadn't occurred to us.

 

[gnarlygninja]

My wife eats halal which makes it challenging to find appropriate meats. I don't think we've ever had turkey. Depending on where we are in the country we can find chicken or beef. But in any case I eat meat only rarely these days. So really it is about the sides. Brussel sprouts, mashed potatoes, baked macaroni...both for Thanksgiving and Christmas, they end up looking similar.

I'm speaking from almost total ignorance, but isn't kosher food usually halal (or is it the other way around)? I think Trader Joe's used to have kosher turkey.

 

[CleverNickName]

As for Thanksgiving meals, I'm not a huge fan of turkey so I'm more of a sides girlie. Mashed potatoes & gravy is my jam. Cranberry sauce (from the can! I want to see the ridges! Taste the ridges!). My wife also makes an amazing brussels sprouts dish with balsamic vinegar and whole garlic cloves that rules. Some good apple & sausage stuffing too. Man.

My sister is the same way. I've been known to put my homemade cranberry sauce into a clean metal can, letting it set in the fridge, and then unmoding it onto a plate just for her.

 

[The Firebird]

I'm speaking from almost total ignorance, but isn't kosher food usually halal (or is it the other way around)? I think Trader Joe's used to have kosher turkey.

It is complicated. Strictly speaking it does not follow the same preparation method. But, there is an exception that says it is ok to eat food prepared by members of a different abrahamic religion if that food was prepared according to the rules of that other religion. In practice some people consider it ok and others don't depending on their judgement and their tradition.

Trader Joe's is a good idea, but they aren't common where we travel for the holidays (often rural areas).

 

[MGibster]

GIven that you all have Christmas dinner on Thanksgiving, what do you have for dinner on Christmas day, if not Christmas dinner? I can't imagine Christmas day without the full turkey and all trimmings. It just wouldn't be Christmas!

We usually did turkey on both Thanksgiving and Christmas in my family.

 

[DammitVictor]

Yeah. I'm American, most of my family and in-laws are either American or Americanized immigrants... and a harvest feast dedicated to showing gratitude for the blessings of the land and the blessings of the community is very on-brand for our religion's ethos. The timing coincides with when we celebrate disirblot, so we perform our heathen ceremonies when we gather for the Thanksgiving feast.

My wife and her sister-in-law fight for the privilege over who gets to host the Thanksgiving feast for their family; my wife and I don't normally have to fight for the privilege of hosting my family. Both families make a potluck affair of it. The in-laws are picky about "traditional" Thanksgiving foods, so I try to stick to classics for my contribution; for my family this year, I'm making butter chicken and mint chutney chicken.

 

[gnarlygninja]

It is complicated. Strictly speaking it does not follow the same preparation method. But, there is an exception that says it is ok to eat food prepared by members of a different abrahamic religion if that food was prepared according to the rules of that other religion. In practice some people consider it ok and others don't depending on their judgement and their tradition.

Trader Joe's is a good idea, but they aren't common where we travel for the holidays (often rural areas).

I am not surprised to learn a bit of internet trivia I half remembered wasn't correct, thank you for the correction.

 

[trappedslider]

When my grandma was still with us,we did turkey for thanksgiving, and my uncle who for a long time lived in Kansas City would send down a ham from The Honey Baked Ham Company for christmas.

After grandma passed away we stopped doing large family gatherings, but still had turkey.