Alternates for Thanksgiving meal (easy)

scottmandue · 11-16-2018, 12:53 PM

Looks like it will just be the wife and I for Thanksgiving so I would like to make something special but not too elaborate.

Found a recipe for pork loin that I made a few weeks ago and it was fantastic!
Brown loin in a pan with a little oil, once brown tuck it in oven with some green beans to finish cooking. Dice up a potato, toss in some oil, add rosemary, lay out on a sheet pan and toss in oven.
While all of that is cooking in the oven toss a finely sliced shallot in the browning pan with a little oil, when shallots gets soft deglaze with chicken stock & a touch of balsamic vinegar, finish with spoonful of fig jam.

Problem is I can't find fig jam anywhere... ordered some online but won't get here until 23/24 which is cutting it a little close.

I'm looking at other recipes for a nice dinner for two (that is not turkey).

So you foodies hit me with some ideas!

onewhippedpuppy · 11-16-2018, 01:14 PM

Maybe you could just eat out instead?

id10t · 11-16-2018, 01:15 PM

Any kind of "fall fruit" jam or preserve would do well I'd think - apple, fig, pear, persimmon, etc. Or anything more on the savory side than sweet - cherry, etc. may be good too. Perhaps even ginger.

Alan A · 11-16-2018, 01:23 PM

Orange Marmalade

If you are feeling adventurous stuff the loin by cutting it into a sheet (think peeling an apple but keep going) adding a layer of marmalade and then a layer of stuffing. Tie it back up so the meat is on the outside with butchers twine and cook - takes about 45 minutes at 350.

ckelly78z · 02:16 PM

My wife makes a killer roasted rack of lamb (Costco) that is better than most steaks, and just absolutely melts in your mouth. We usually have either Basmati rice with some seasonings, or egg noodles with butter/herbs as a side dish.

VincentVega · 11-16-2018, 01:36 PM

Or you could just skip it, not required for a sauce, only a nice addition. You are cooking, not baking, so feel free to wing it/modify.

My first choice is beef, just get a decent roast and finish with a pan sauce. Cant be simpler. Or if you really simple, crockpot pot roast. Always pleases and a 1 pot meal. Or, put a ham in the oven, glaze with brown sugar, bourbon, whiskey or whatever you have or like. Cant go wrong. Again, always a crowd pleaser. Left overs are great too.

Instrument 41 · 11-16-2018, 01:41 PM

We are having a southern Louisiana Thanksgiving. Turkey smoked briefly stuffed with Garlic Boudin after the smoker then fry it. Chicken and smoked sausage Gumbo, standard side dishes, and then pecan pie for dessert.
As for the Fig preserves we just canned about 2 dozen jars along with white muscadine berry preserves.

Scott Douglas · Scott Douglas's Garage

This made me think of my recently departed mother-in-law as she was always good for stuffed flank steak. Lucky for me my wife takes after her mom in respect to cooking. Her apple pie is just a touch behind my dear departed Grannie's though as being my favorite.

scottmandue · 11-16-2018, 02:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by id10t

Any kind of "fall fruit" jam or preserve would do well I'd think - apple, fig, pear, persimmon, etc. Or anything more on the savory side than sweet - cherry, etc. may be good too. Perhaps even ginger.

I accidentally picked up some apricot jam but now second guessing myself.

I know you are joking Matt but we have actually gone out for Thanksgiving... first when it was just my mom and the two of us and it didn't seem prudent to prepare a meal for just three. Now that mom is gone we have gone out the last couple years but just doesn't feel right... for one thing we have always been pretty zealous that "no one should have to work on Christmas or Thanksgiving!!!" and here we are making people do just that.
The other thing is I take my wife to a nice place in an effort to make it 'special'... but she has sticker shock when she sees the tab.

"faw raw-raw-raw faw raw, raw, raw

Vincent: I like the crock pot idea, but that is my wife's arena... however it is not rocket science, get the ingredients, dump them in the crock pot, set and forget, right?

flatbutt · 11-16-2018, 02:40 PM

I did tapas one year and it worked out well.

Alan A · 11-16-2018, 05:11 PM

Apricot jam goes well with pork loin. We used to use that all the time until there wasn’t any and we tried marmalade as a stopgap. Now it’s the go to.

You can use the other half of the apricot jam as a glaze - with butter - for baby carrots.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

I also suggest going out. It is different, yet you can have all of the favorites.

craigster59 · craigster59's Garage

Make this and people will think you went to the Culinary Institute. I make it with all chicken thighs, cheap and excellent...
https://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/chicken-with-tarragon-and-white-wine-recipe-1921791

javadog · 11-17-2018, 03:59 AM

If you can't find a fig jam, do it one step better and use actual figs. Here's a recipe that is in one of Thomas Keller's books, I think you'll find it fairly exquisite.

Sugar & Spice by Celeste: Ad Hoc's Fig-Stuffed Roast Pork Loin & HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Baz · Baz's Garage

Quote:

Originally Posted by VincentVega

Or you could just skip it, not required for a sauce, only a nice addition. You are cooking, not baking, so feel free to wing it/modify.

My first choice is beef, just get a decent roast and finish with a pan sauce. Cant be simpler. Or if you really simple, crockpot pot roast. Always pleases and a 1 pot meal. Or, put a ham in the oven, glaze with brown sugar, bourbon, whiskey or whatever you have or like. Cant go wrong. Again, always a crowd pleaser. Left overs are great too.

VV is onto something here with the slow cooker pot roast......

Super easy to make and who doesn't love pot roast?

Use those little baby potatoes.....reds or gold, although the gold ones seem to be softer after cooking.

Mmmmmmmmmm........................

scottmandue · 07:04 AM

Not trying to be a jerk but that is the stuffed pork loin recipe (that sounds fantastic!) this is the fig jam recipe (that also sounds fantastic)
the fig jam looks so simple now I feel like an idiot for not just making my own.

Forgot the link (posted pr coffee):

http://sugarandspice-celeste.blogspot.com/2010/01/ad-hocs-fig-and-balsamic-jam.html

onewhippedpuppy · 11-17-2018, 06:59 AM

My parents are terrible at cooking but used to always feel obligated to try, after years I’ve finally convinced them that we should eat out for the holidays. Because of course, “you get more time with the grandkids that way”.

scottmandue · 11-17-2018, 07:06 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by onewhippedpuppy

Maybe you could just eat out instead?

Ya know that makes me wonder, why aren't more Chinese restraints open on thanksgiving?

javadog · 11-17-2018, 07:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scottmandue

Not trying to be a jerk but that is the stuffed pork loin recipe (that sounds fantastic!) this is the fig jam recipe (that also sounds fantastic)
the fig jam looks so simple now I feel like an idiot for not just making my own.

Forgot the link (posted pr coffee):

Sugar & Spice by Celeste: Ad Hoc's Fig and Balsamic Jam

'You're probably talking about a pork tenderloin, my recipe is for a pork loin roast. You could make a fig jam, but what's in the recipe I posted is a little more suitable for a stuffing.

It's not hard to make, you should give it a try.