Traditional Thanksgiving Hawaiian Style?

[Beachboy]

I have stopped doing the traditional Turkey dinner for years now. As nice & lean as Turkey is, I'm only good for it once a year at best. That one day has been designated Xmas Day. I usually make the rounds, and people 80% of the time are gonna have Turkey on the table!

So, for the past 10 or more year Thanksgiving has meant a Royal Thai Spread in my house, not a Turkey! I don't know, call me crazy. But THai Food on THanksgiving seems right to me! Topped of with not Pumpkin Pie, but with Mango & Sticky Rice!!!![]

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Let's get together and over grow the government!!!!

[missydog1]

I'm wishing someone would answer the "when to start thawing" question. We bought a fresh turkey last Wednesday and froze it because 8 days in the frig would be too long. I'm not going near the stores the last two days, been there done that.

All your menus sound awesomely delicious! MMM!

I was undecided what to make for dessert but yesterday in my upper yard I was amazed to see that the young APPLE trees have a small crop coming ripe! I thought the previous owner was a little lolo to plant apples at sea level in Hawai'i, but they're actually producing and not wormy even though I've not sprayed them at all.

So I will make apple pie or baked apples from my own yard. I have a bunch of lilikoi ripe too. For me it will feel good to have something not bought at a market, even though I am no Hotzcatz, who for me is the epitome of having the self-producing act together.

I like Turkey and only get it once a year roasted and stuffed.
For Christmas, my family always votes for prime rib or a tenderloin pork rolled and stuffed, so Thanksgiving is my one chance for gobbler. (I am not too big on red meat or pork, but the majority rules.)

PS. If you live on the mainland still I know apples sound ho-hum, but after six years of having all the fresh mangoes, papaya, pineapple, lychee, bananas, etc.. -- I am more excited by an apple straight off the tree, or a fresh-picked strawberry, or a great nectarine or melon.

We crave what we can't have ...[]

[DickWilson]

Kathy, if you thaw in the fridge, 2 days should do it. Never thaw on counter. If Mr. Turkey does'nt thaw completely in the 2 days, you can finish him up in the sink in cold water, with a towel over him. Keep him as cold as possible while thawing. Roast and enjoy[] you can also use those apples to make a great stuffing.

dick wilson

[missydog1]

Thanks, Dick!

I am one who freaks out at having poultry defrosting on the counter myself.
OK as of Monday night or Tuesday morning, Mr. Turkey will start hogging the frig space, which means clearing out a bit.

yes, those apples can multi-task! What I'm surprised at is they're crisp and not mushy, grown in the tropics. The prior owner did his research on which varieties to plant.

[DickWilson]

Kathy, most welcome, have a great turkey day.

dick wilson

[pslamont]

I thaw in the fridge starting on Sunday.... but we cook the turkey overnight on WEDNESDAY NIGHT and take it out in the morning to cool. The day is spent roasting leg of lamb and then pies....

If your turkey isn't thawed enough by Wed night (assuming you cook all day Thursday) you can put it in the sink overnight in cool water and that should finish it up.

Aloha!

[Guest]

Don't forget the spiral-sliced honey backed Spam.

[csgray]

Kathy,
Do you know what variety the apples are? I grew up surrounded by small scale apple growers who grew "heritage" varieties before it was trendy, and I am a sucker for a good tart crisp apple. I used to love going to roadside stands during apple season, we knew who had our favorite apples and would make the rounds depending on what was being picked. My mom designed the house we lived in to include a good "cold room" to store bushels of apples, along with the squash and potatoes from her garden. She still gardens over an acre even though she is in her 80s; she bought a little Mantis tiller last year because my Dad can't do it for her anymore. I sure hope I'm going that strong at her age!

Carol

[Guest]

Take that bird out of the plastic and soak it in salt brine.

That way you brine it while it thaws.

I alway cook mine in a paper sack. Make sure the paper ain't touching the breast skin or it will mess it up.

Remove the sack and baste it with an egg wash with a little shoyu then back in to brown for the last 30 min..

Since It hate turkey dark meat I have been just cutting the breast off and cooking it. Turkeys here are free or darn near, so why waste heat cooking something we aren't gonna eat.

[Chuysmom]

Okay everyone on Punaweb is heading for David & Sophie's House!!!
Carrie Rojo

"The sun and moon collide. Isn't gravity a funny thing? The universe explodes apart. All the children sing..." Todd Rundgren