Comments on: Gobble gobble

Question: Gobble gobble

BlahLaLa — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:52:23 -0800

I only have 3 meat eaters coming for Thanksgiving. What can I serve to balance my desire not to have a ton of meat leftover that no one will eat vs. the desire to set a festive table and have a special meal?

I don't want to roast even the smallest turkey, first because it's hard to find anything even 10 pounds, and also because we're a mostly meat-free household, so I'm not going to want the carcass for stock.

I know I could just roast a chicken...or do just a turkey breast...but is there anything else I'm not thinking of? Or is there a really great recipe for one of those that will be super pretty and tasty for our holiday meal?

By: yb2006shasta

yb2006shasta — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:57:01 -0800

You could do duck. I'm thinking maybe of a small turducken loaf, but just duck would be good too.

By: hrj

hrj — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:57:44 -0800

Are the meat eaters opposed to a vegetarian Thanksgiving? I'm an omnivore, but I would would be just as happy with a special vegetarian meal as I would a roast chicken or turkey breast.

By: treblemaker

treblemaker — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:58:30 -0800

Cornish game hens? I've done this for small Thanksgivings. Everyone gets their own personal bird.

By: erst

erst — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 10:59:49 -0800

Could you give the leftover meat and carcass to the meat-eaters to take home?

By: pla

pla — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:00:52 -0800

I'd say your idea sounds best - Either go with a chicken, or just get a small half-turkey.

That said, as a veggie myself, I wouldn't really want (or properly know how) to cook the thing at home, so I'd probably go with a pre-cooked half-rotisserie-turkey from the deli. Not exactly a gourmet meal, but think about some of what well-intentioned meat-eaters have tried feeding us for thanksgiving. :)

Though on preview, seconding hrj - Do you really need to provide meat? Most people love gorging themselves on the carbs at Thanksgiving anyway, they'd only really miss out on one (albeit iconic) part of their their normal feast.

By: Argyle

Argyle — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:01:01 -0800

Simplest is getting a turkey breast from Honeybaked Ham. They taste great.

Second, roast just a turkey breast. It's plenty enough for 3 people.

Good luck!

By: BlahLaLa

BlahLaLa — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:02:00 -0800

The meat eaters are definitely not opposed to a veg-centered feast. I guess I'm just leaning toward having some sort of traditional, or neo-traditional centerpiece dish.

And logistically the meat eaters will not be able to take the carcass with them, though I could possibly fob it off on a neighbor.

By: bq

bq — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:04:07 -0800

this crockpot turkey great recipe is amazing. It's a stuffed turkey breast - you slice the breast before cooking, stuff it, and then wrap it in cheesecloth to cook it. This might be a good compromise as it has the traditional turkey + stuffing components and flavor profile, but it has a great presentation, seems fancy, and is secretly super easy.

By: JPD

JPD — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:05:52 -0800

If you are a veg-only persons for ethical reasons but are willing to cook meat for this occasion I would maybe suggest you get an ethically reared chicken rather than a turkey breast. I think it'll be nearly impossible to find a non-factory farmed turkey.

By: Strass

Strass — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:11:48 -0800

You could get just a turkey breast, rather than the whole bird. I've had my eye on this recipe for turkey day this year.

By: snickerdoodle

snickerdoodle — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:16:34 -0800

I'd personally go with a couple of smoked turkey legs. No cooking for you, delicious for them, and you could incorporate it into some sort of big main course dish.

By: lysimache

lysimache — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:37:12 -0800

I (vegetarian) always just get a little bit of pre-done turkey for my (non-vegetarian) partner and any guests. Unwrapping it and reheating is as much meat-cooking as I'm willing to do (and even then, I usually ask someone else to do touch it). I buy the herb-roasted turkey breast thing for Thanksgiving that Whole Foods has at their prepared foods counter, and everyone always says it's very good. I make everything else (vegetarian).

Non-veg guests are usually willing to try whatever vegetarian thing I've done for the "centerpiece" (I like the Quorn turkey roast best), but they always say they're happy the WFM turkey is there.

By: theora55

theora55 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 11:50:36 -0800

Turkey breast or leg is a nice option. Peel some carrots, onions, parsnips and potatoes to put under it for roasting; it keeps it out of the juices, and the veggies taste fantastic roasted in turkey juices. You can mash the potatoes and make a little bit of gravy with the juices, for any traditionalists.

By: corb

corb — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:16:40 -0800

As a meat eater, I would think blessings were falling upon me if either a neighbor or the person cooking thanksgiving wanted to gift me with turkey carcass. As a datapoint.

That said, Cornish game hens are also incredibly delicious and serve the same roasted-bird purpose.

By: infinitewindow

infinitewindow — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:27:34 -0800

Screw turkey. Grill some steaks for your carnivores. Fast prep, easily controllable portions, etc.

My west coast family has been doing carne asada for Thanksgiving for a couple of years, and my east coast family is considering grilling steaks after the two traditional Thanksgiving stalwarts passed away this year.

By: Nickel Pickle

Nickel Pickle — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:43:26 -0800

You mentioned a turkey breast in your question, I think this is the way to go. They're substantial enough to look really amazing on a table, but won't leave you with a month's worth of leftovers.

By: brujita

brujita — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:45:55 -0800

Goose, if you're willing to spend the time cooking it.

By: ambrosia

ambrosia — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:50:11 -0800

I made this duck breast recipe one year at Thanksgiving, instead of turkey. It was a huge hit. Duck is special enough to have a real wow factor for Thanksgiving.

By: Weeping_angel

Weeping_angel — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 12:52:37 -0800

Seconding Cornish game hens. They're fun and festive, and seem special. And everyone gets their own little bird, so there's no fighting over white or dark meat and you can make as many (or as few) birds as you have people to eat them.

By: bonobothegreat

bonobothegreat — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:13:15 -0800

Do you have a grocery store with a particularly good meat counter? Ask about pre-ordering a boneless rolled lamb shoulder. Our local store makes a boneless rolled chicken and a even a turducken roll. They're smallish and present well when carved.

By: slow graffiti

slow graffiti — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 13:27:58 -0800

A small duck will serve exactly three to four people, but cooking whole duck is not for the novice; it takes some skill/experience to render all the fat out of it while not overcooking it.

Seconding other small game birds - pheasant and quail are also tiny and festive and maybe easier than duck since they have less fat under the skin, but they're still very tasty.

By: croutonsupafreak

croutonsupafreak — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:10:11 -0800

Could you buy a small already-roasted turkey and then parcel out the leftovers? I don't think meat is necessary for Thanksgiving. I do, however, think that if the bird's not a turkey there's not much point in a Thanksgiving bird.

By: xmts

xmts — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 14:54:24 -0800

This turkey breast recipe looks delicious.

By: upatree

upatree — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 15:11:06 -0800

For my family of three, I cook a turkey breast in my crock pot. It's perfect for a big dinner and only a little bit of leftovers (sometimes I wish it were more leftovers).

By: raccoon409

raccoon409 — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:09:38 -0800

Roasted butternut squash halves provide a very festive looking presentation (and are pretty too) if you go the veggie dinner route.

By: Daily Alice

Daily Alice — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:26:49 -0800

Pumpkin soup served in a pumpkin is a pretty centerpiece dish. If you want to serve meat but don't ordinarily cook meat in your home, lots of places (grocery, deli, restaurants) will sell you a pre-cooked turkey or turkey breast.

By: obiwanwasabi

obiwanwasabi — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:47:10 -0800

Lay slices of prosciutto on a board.

Cut open a turkey breast so it's nice and flat. Lay it lengthways on the prosciutto.

Make a simple stuffing: sweat onions and celery in plenty of butter, moisten with a little vermouth; add coarse fresh breadcrumbs and parsley, stir through some chopped pistachios.

Spread the stuffing over the breast. Roll so the prosciutto is on the outside. Tie. Roast or panfry. Slice, fan. Serve with a simple gravy and/or a 50/50 mix of cranberry sauce and peach jam.

By: Doohickie

Doohickie — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:33:25 -0800

Turkey breast loaf, or maybe a small pork roast.

By: lakeroon

lakeroon — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 18:56:39 -0800

A pork tenderloin of the size I usually find at the grocery store is easy to cook, a good amount for 3 people, and works well with Thanksgiving type flavors. No carcass in your trash, no reaching inside a dead bird. Rub with spices, sear the outside on the stove, roast until done.

By: Lady Li

Lady Li — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 19:12:44 -0800

Stuffed roast pumpkin makes a great centerpiece - I've done it just stuffed with a rice stuffing, but there are many ways that would work. Or stuffed butternut squash halves, etc.

By: The corpse in the library

The corpse in the library — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 20:32:43 -0800

I, an omnivore, would greatly prefer to be vegetarian for Thanksgiving than to eat turkey made by someone who doesn't really know how to cook turkey and would rather not be cooking it.

I don't really like turkey, even when made by people with a lot of experience, and I was a vegetarian for years, so I might be the exception, but I think Thanksgiving is really all about the side dishes.

By: vignettist

vignettist — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 23:17:07 -0800

I would do the cornish game hens too. Duck is so fatty, and I wouldn't feel comfortable serving it to someone if I wasn't very well practiced at preparing it, and if I wasn't absolutely certain that they liked it. But I'm a little picky that way as a host.

By: BlahLaLa

BlahLaLa — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 15:38:32 -0800

Thanks for the ideas, everyone. I'm leaning toward just doing a turkey breast, possibly this recipe.

By: 2oh1

2oh1 — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 17:12:35 -0800

A vegetarian friend once made me a baked turkey leg for Thanksgiving since I was the only meat eater at a group dinner. I was over the moon about it. Oooooweeee, what a treat.

By: BlahLaLa

BlahLaLa — Wed, 21 Nov 2012 12:43:01 -0800

Also, I just made this super, duper delicious vegetarian gravy -- I'm sure this going to please the veggies and meat-eaters alike!