Turkey alternatives?

I like turkey if properly cooked.  The dry chewy kind I can see as a turn off.  But what would you have if not turkey>

Though I'm pretty sure I could live on good Thai & Malaysian feed.

Done a goose in the past and the only downside is that there is not much meat on a goose.

Single-serving game hens was fun, but too much to eat   for one person when you factor in the fixings so figure half/person rather than the full one we did for presentation reasons.

This year we are doing a mexican theme so the turkey is going to look like a big plate of nachos.

I know several folks doing a big ol' ham.   Turkey for us.  Wifey immerses our bird in stock for a day or two in the fridge.  Never dry, always delicious.

Trade mayo for horseradish sauce...

I wish I was having duck instead of turkey.

one is a 30 day the other a 60 day brine, I forget which is which so I let the buyer choose theirs. I smoked them yesterday, whichever one I wound up with is being served today. 

I'm a traditionalist for Thanksgiving, so if the centerpiece meat can't be turkey, the other meat that fits the story would be venison. Grilled back strap if possible...

I'm doing a big pan of red chile chicken enchiladas.

As a bird substitute, we've done a normal fed chicken- not a grocery one; and a muskovy duck.

The chicken was more like a modern turkey in terms of taste, but it has the same cooking risk as a turkey.  

The duck was a shocker- that specific kind of duck was far more like a beef standing rib than any other poultry.  Not a cheap bird if you can find one, but holy cow, was an amazing dinner that was.

But eat what you want.  For me, my mom's standing rib would be pretty awesome- but she would almost always do that for Xmas dinner.

Something that makes you feel special for a special day.  

My family have decided on theme holiday meals lately. It is fun. Last Christmas was Chinese food, Thanksgiving this year is Italian and we are deciding between Korean and Peruvian for the upcoming Christmas.

I was up early this morning finishing up assembling a traditional Lasagna Bolognese! 

Sure beats an overcooked bird or Prime rib. 

Just came to say every holiday is better with Tacos. 

I've never cared about Thanksgiving, just not a big deal to me.  One time in the Navy we were in port and I didn't go home, went to Bennigans and the waitress apologized for nothing with turkey.  I said that's not a problem, I'll have a burrito.

Right now I have chicken and noodles in the crockpot since 6am to be ready at 2pm.  Just chicken breasts, cream of chicken soup, broth, stick of butter and a bag of frozen noodles.  I've been thinking about it since Saturday.

Wife's family doesn't like turkey. I've done the traditional Thanksgiving Walleye and also brisket for them. 

alfadriver said:

As a bird substitute, we've done a normal fed chicken- not a grocery one; and a muskovy duck.

The chicken was more like a modern turkey in terms of taste, but it has the same cooking risk as a turkey.  

The duck was a shocker- that specific kind of duck was far more like a beef standing rib than any other poultry.  Not a cheap bird if you can find one, but holy cow, was an amazing dinner that was.

But eat what you want.  For me, my mom's standing rib would be pretty awesome- but she would almost always do that for Xmas dinner.

Something that makes you feel special for a special day.  

Yeah muscovies are pretty renowned meat ducks. I loudly remind mine of this every time one of them takes a dump in the garage. Doesn't seem to be sinking in, though.

JG Pasterjak said:

alfadriver said:

As a bird substitute, we've done a normal fed chicken- not a grocery one; and a muskovy duck.

The chicken was more like a modern turkey in terms of taste, but it has the same cooking risk as a turkey.  

The duck was a shocker- that specific kind of duck was far more like a beef standing rib than any other poultry.  Not a cheap bird if you can find one, but holy cow, was an amazing dinner that was.

But eat what you want.  For me, my mom's standing rib would be pretty awesome- but she would almost always do that for Xmas dinner.

Something that makes you feel special for a special day.  

Yeah muscovies are pretty renowned meat ducks. I loudly remind mine of this every time one of them takes a dump in the garage. Doesn't seem to be sinking in, though.

In general, I see ducks floating rather than sinking.

Lamb leg for us this year. 

Nohome:  We've done Cornish Game Hens before.  Leftovers make pretty good soup, especially if you can find a box of Thai Chicken Broth. 🍷

We're doing a reverse char prime rib roast

We are having beef.  No one in the family is much of a fan of turkey, it's a PITA to cook and with a good piece of beef the less you do to it the better it tastes.  So less work and much tastier!

Prime rib update

JG Pasterjak said:

Yeah muscovies are pretty renowned meat ducks. I loudly remind mine of this every time one of them takes a dump in the garage. Doesn't seem to be sinking in, though.

They pretend they don't understand when they don't like what you said.

Leftover smoked chicken wings here. 

We are doing personal Cornish Game Hens

dean1484 said:

Just came to say every holiday is better with Tacos. 

and tamales !