Thanksgiving: Traditional or Modern?

How do you like your Thanksgiving dinner?  Do you go with the traditional roast turkey and all the fixings, do you buck tradition in little ways like deep frying your bird, or do ignore tradition entirely and head out for exotic cuisines from far off lands?  While Thanksgiving is mostly about family and food, there are other traditions.  Football, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and many other events vie for our attention on that fourth Thursday of November.
Traditional vs. Modern ThanksgivingThis November, BigOven is starting a #FoodFight, asking cooks to sound off on the big Thanksgiving questions on our blog, Facebook and Twitter. BigOven will propose a Thanksgiving-oriented debate each day, and America’s cooks will weigh in. Results will be posted with related recipes, menus and tips from BigOven, a top-rated recipe and organization website and app with a database of 350,000+ recipes.

The #FoodFight encompasses both food and social debates:

  • TV allowed or no TV allowed?
  • Do you like to host or visit others?
  • Are sweet potatoes better with marshmallows, or does this classic belong locked in the 1950’s?

BigOven will ask cooks to sound off on:

Go on over & join the conversations!

The Califunky Hot Brown

Submitted by randilicious
Serves 2

Ingredients

5 tbsp canola oil 3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1½ c. milk 6 tbsp Parmesan cheese, freshly grated
3 tbsp sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1 egg, beaten
½ tbsp pepper ½ tbsp oregano
1 tsp paprika 1 tsp Old Bay seasoning
1 c. mushrooms, sliced 8 stalks asparagus
1 tomato, thinly sliced 4 slices of bread, toasted
1 avocado leftover turkey slices and/or ¼ lb. pork roast thinly sliced

Directions

  1. To prepare sauce, in a large skillet combine 3 tbsp canola oil & flour little by little & mix to create a roux.  Stir in flour to absorb the oil.  Slowly whisk in the milk, & add Parmesan cheese & cheddar cheese.  Stir in the egg to thicken the sauce, but do not allow to boil.  Season with pepper, paprika, & Old Bay seasoning & remove from heat.
  2. In a separate skillet, heat 2 tbsp canola oil.  Saute mushrooms in the oil until soft.
  3. In the same skillet, saute the asparagus.
  4. Preheat the oven broiler.  For each serving, put 2 slices of toast on a broiler-safe dish.  Cover toast with layer of slices of turkey/pork roast & mushrooms.  Smother each serving with sauce.
  5. Place dish in broiler until the top of the sauce in speckled brown & bubbly.  Remove from broiler, add tomatoes, & cross cross 4 stalks of asparagus (per serving) over top, & serve.
  6. For each serving, slice up half an avocado & add as garnish.

Chef’s Note: The Kentucky Hot Brown retains a special place in my heart, as I was born in Kentucky.  Of course, I had to add in more of a California flavor (and a dash of my Maryland side too) to make it healthier.

Turkey Chilaquiles

chilaquiles by Masa Assassin on FlickrNeed a creative way to get rid of all that leftover turkey from Thanksgiving?  Check this out for a nice twist on the regular turkey sandwich leftovers!

Provided by Sandra Lee
Serves 6

Ingredients

2 tbsp vegetable oil 1½ c. red onion, chopped
4 oz. green chiles, diced (1 can) 10 oz. tomatoes & green chiles, diced (1 can)
3 c. leftover turkey, shredded 16 oz. chunky salsa (1 jar)
salt & black pepper 5 c. tortilla chips, crushed
1½ c. shredded Mexican 4-cheese blend ¼ c. cilantro leaves, chopped
¼ c. sour cream

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 400°F.
  2. Heat vegetable oil in a large oven-safe skillet, over medium-high heat. Add onions & saute until soft. Add green chilies, diced tomatoes, leftover turkey & salsa. Adjust seasoning with salt & pepper, to taste. Top with tortilla chips & then cheese. Place skillet in oven & bake for about 20 minutes.
  3. Remove from oven. Garnish with cilantro & serve immediately with side of sour cream.