Feeding Frenzy

By Stan

November 14, 2008 11:50 AM | Link to this

I was talking to my wife about this last night and we came to the same conclusion. I found chef Rathbun’s dishes to be very intresting but as soon as I saw there was no traditional turkey, I figured that would be a common gripe. Though I would bet that the stew would be perfect if you have a lot of left over turkey.

Overall I give pretty high props to the menu he came up with, and for him strickly adhereing to the rules by even buying salt and sugar.

By David S

November 14, 2008 11:57 AM | Link to this

Give the animals a break this year. Consider your health and the health of the planet. Switching to a vegetarian diet is the #1 thing you can do to help the environment according to UN studies (and numerous others as well). From massive water usage, water pollution, energy consumption, transportation, etc. the production of animals for food is horrifically wasteful.

Consider a Tofurky. Don’t laugh, they are far tastier than you would imagine. PETA and hundreds of other vegetarian groups have thousands of wonderful meal suggestions that don’t involve the senseless killing of any animal. They are far healthier for you, the environment, and the poor animal you would be eating.

Face it, the stuffing, gravy (plenty of vegetarian options there too), cranberry sauce, yams, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie (no egg, no milk recipes taste exactly the same), are really what make the mean anyway.

I wholeheartedly agree. Don’t mess with the turkey this thanksgiving. Mess with a vegetarian option instead and do yourself and the planet a favor.

Bon apetite!

By Maniac is accurate

November 14, 2008 12:22 PM | Link to this

Gots to have a whole roasted bird. I love to cook turkeys at both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I’ve done it for all three wives and their families. The best was the Justin Wilson way, adding a generous shake or four of cayenne to the oiled skin. Yum.

By MHS

November 14, 2008 1:25 PM | Link to this

By David S

November 14, 2008 11:57 AM

From massive water usage, water pollution, energy consumption, transportation, etc. the production of animals for food is horrifically wasteful.

Unless I missed something all of these items also pertain to growing vegetables though to a lesser extent depending on the vegetable. It surely doesn’t jump from the garden to the table except if grown in your backyard.

By Steph

November 14, 2008 1:38 PM | Link to this

Turkey at Thanksgiving? Nope…we have steak for lunch and stew for dinner…Why? My mom and her cousin convinced his mom to fix steak for lunch, and turkey for dinner. Lunch became the big meal, no one ate turkey at my grandparents at dinner, so Grandmother now just fixes stew and has pizza/chicken for the youngun’s. :) I always get turkey at my inlaws, though this year we are going out on Saturday, so who knows!

By David S.

November 14, 2008 1:43 PM | Link to this

Its the amount of energy and water resources that are vastly different.

Animal based diets require 10-20 times as much land as vegetable based diets. Nearly half of all the world’s grains and soybeans are fed to animals. 90% of the water that is taken from the Colorado River goes to grow cattle feed. Animal production of carbon dioxide and methane gasses far exceed the transportation contribution from vegetable transport. The massive quantities of waste generated by animal farms washes into rivers and lakes and leaches into undergroud aquifers polluting drinking water supplies.

No, plant based diets are not free from their contribution to energy and water consumption. Plants however consume carbon dioxide, can be grown very locally, require little or no energy for processing (fresh produce), and have a significantly lower impact on the environment than animal agriculture.

I’m no fan of the UN, but their study is scientifically sound. Here is a link to it: http://www.biteglobalwarming.org/unreport.htm

Its not an easy transition, but there is no better contribution that you can make to the health of the planet than a plant based diet.

The turkeys and the other animals will thank you for your choice.

By David S

November 14, 2008 1:57 PM | Link to this

Here are some great recipes from Alicia Silverstone for a “Gentle Thanksgiving”:

http://www.gentlethanksgiving.org/guide/recipes.htm

By joey

November 14, 2008 2:14 PM | Link to this

David S.

Can you be any more shrill in your sermon to the carnivores, er, I mean the omnivores.

You like to shrilly quote studies, so here is one study finding: Early human’s increase in brain size clearly parallels their broadening diet with the addition of meat. You don’t think those stone axes, arrowheads, etc… were for stalking a tofurkey or carrots, do you???? It’s simple. Before we became omnivorous, we were pretty dumb animals, otherwise known as prey. Then, the brain grew, we invented Velcro, Frisbees…you can maybe guess where I’m going with this, right?

Use that large brain that developed with the help of meat, and if you don’t wanna, leave the rest of us alone that don’t want the species to devolve back into prey.

By South in my mouth

November 14, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

No ‘mam, I wouldn’t dare serve stew on Thanksgiving to family, friends or even pets. Maybe make a turkey soup with the leftover carcass, which is always yummy. Besides, if wild turkey or other game was good enough for the pilgrims it certainly should be good enough for their descendants. Where is your patriotism much less your American and southern heritage?

By clyde

November 14, 2008 2:32 PM | Link to this

Once during my Army time we were served sort of a turkey stew thing for Thanksgiving.They busted the cook all the way down to dirt.

By Get It Right

November 14, 2008 3:13 PM | Link to this

Looks like David S missed the stories that gloabal warming was a farce - even the UN agreed. Anyway, he has inspired me. Instead of just turkey, we’re adding chicken and ham, too. I’ll make sure to have extras to balance out the tofurkey at David’s house.

By South in my mouth

November 14, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

For Clyde, Good for those soldiers! The cook needed to be busted for what an inane idead to begin with. Much less do it! Stew is for cold winter nights by the fire. Not T’day,

By South in my mouth

November 14, 2008 3:29 PM | Link to this

I’m with y’all. Turkey stew is an inane idea much less actually execute it! And that Army cook needed busting.

By Grammaw

November 14, 2008 3:59 PM | Link to this

We will have turkey as my family loves it, and it’s very healthy. They always insist that I make the turkey, homemade stuffing, and my own giblet gravy. They could eat those 3 things and nothing else! But I also make fresh turnip greens seasoned with a hamhock, homemade biscuits and fresh yams. Nothing out of a can or package on Thanksgiving. I fix everything with lots of love, because I know how they love it, and appreciate it.

By Are You Kidding

November 14, 2008 4:11 PM | Link to this

Tofu turkey? Oh, YUCK. That’s not traditional, and you’ll never catch my family eating it, much less me preparing it! I don’t think the Pilgrims had tofu for the first Thanksgiving Dinner. That just seems sacrilegious to me! Turkey is just as healthy, if not more so, than yucky tofu! That’s like eating white mud.

By David S

November 14, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

First, whether or not global warming is a farce, the statistics on resource use and environmental destruction are valid and well documented. The waste contamination of drinking water supplies is as well (the EPA just issued new guidelines to supposedly reduce the problem).

As for evolution - empathy, compassion, and a greater respect for the lesser species are all products of our evolution or at least I would like to believe that. If you are honestly afraid of devolving by not eating meat then you don’t give the species enough credit. Our advances in agriculture, technology, nutrition, etc. have now given us a real choice of what we must rely upon for sustenance. The choice of plants versus animals is just the next logical step, especially if a cleaner environment is important.

As for shrill, I would definitely have to say that the responses to my humble suggestion and stated facts are far more “shrill.” You would have thought I was advocating eating one of your relatives for dinner as opposed to a “cheese” made from soybeans (essentially what tofu is).

Personally I am thankful this holiday season that so many people have embraced vegetarianism that wonderful, tasty alternatives are easily available to my wife and I at numerous stores around the Atlanta area.

By Scorpio

November 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Thanksgiving is a day of Thanks! So whatever you serve on Thanksgiving make sure you give thanks and be thankful you have the means to serve something on that day. I always serve turkey, and I’m thankful for that blessing. But if I couldn’t afford to do so a good old fashion oven stuffer chicken will do also.

By David S

November 14, 2008 4:46 PM | Link to this

Are you kidding? -

Just what is a tradition? Do you eat exactly what the pilgrims ate? Are we positively sure of exactly what they ate? No I am not suggesting they are tofu, but calling it sacraligious? Turkey is now part of the religion of Thanksgiving? Thanksgiving is a religious holiday?

Some people eat beef roasts, some turkey, and some eat vegetarian alternatives. Some have nothing to eat on thanksgiving and would be happy for a little slice of pie.

My thanksgiving table looks just like yours without a big roasted dead animal in the middle of the table. We have pumpkin pie, cranberry sauce, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, yams, green beans, etc. Just like both our mothers used to do - more or less.

My wife and I prepared a totally vegan Thanksgiving dinner one year for both our families and our friends - all meat eaters. Everyone without exception loved what they had to eat. Sure the main course was different than they usually have, but it tasted great, was cholesterol free, and didn’t require any turkeys to die.

Traditions are what you make of them.

Start a new one.

By joey

November 14, 2008 4:50 PM | Link to this

David S

I notice you didn’t touch the meat-brain size connection, because vegs can’t argue that one, even a shrill one like you. It’s rather indisputable when you look at the factual timeline comparison.

However, you postulate something that would probably help the planet. The omnivore humans could dine on the vegetarian “prey” humans, thus eliminating competition for plant resources, which would mean more plants left to soak up carbon dioxide. The glaciers grow, much less whining, shrill background noise, and the vegetarians get to ultimately help the planet.

That is a really forward looking, compassionate argument, which you propose. Didn’t they make a movie about that called “Soylent Green”?

By Andie1958

November 14, 2008 5:23 PM | Link to this

Pumpkin pie tried to be sweet potato pie, but didn’t make it. Just like pink tried to be red and paled. Give me the real thing every time. Sweet potato pie it is!

By Troglodyke

November 14, 2008 11:08 PM | Link to this

I am a meat-eater and not ashamed of it, and David is preachy, but he isn’t shrill. The reactions to his thoughtful posts (albeit annoying due to placement here) are far more shrill.

I tried to be a vegetarian years ago. I really, really tried. But I craved meat, and my body craved it too. I believe you should listen to your body. I finally did that, and I feel a heck of a lot better being an omnivore than I ever felt as a vegetarian.

In fact, I know quite a few vegetarians and vegans, and none of them are very healthy. They still get all the aches and pains and illnesses that other people do, and many of them are overweight and out of shape.

The omnivores I know are definitely healthier.

So you can preach about veg. being the best diet and all, but it isn’t necessarily so for everyone.

Is it better for the planet? Probably, though non-factory-farmed meat that is humanely raised and slaughtered seems like a perfectly workable solution to me.

I’ll be brining and roasting a big bird on Thanksgiving, along with all the traditional trimmings. And I refuse to feel guilty about it.

It is more than possible to live an omnivorous diet and be healthy and live long. One can make omnivorous choices, too that are humane. PETA and those fascist-terrorist orgs like it need to wake up and smell the bacon, as it were. People will ALWAYs eat meat, and trying to turn the whole world vegan is never going to work.

By Sherry

November 15, 2008 9:09 AM | Link to this

I wanna go to Grammaw’s house for Thanksgiving!!! Are you in the Atlanta area by any chance Grammaw? :) No matter what we all eat lets just give thanks that we have food to eat whether it be meatless or not. Happy Thanksgiving to all!

By Danny G

November 15, 2008 11:34 AM | Link to this

Go hug a tree David S. Whole turkey cooked the way you like it, with all of the trimmings.

By Tom

November 15, 2008 1:56 PM | Link to this

Most “environmentalists” always seem to want to blame humans for the woes of the world, regardless of whether any outside factors (i.e. increased solar activity, repeats of previously discovered natural increases in temperature/carbon, etc). Every time there is a “dominant” species on the earth, something comes along and wipes it out. The dinosaurs were done in by a meteor, maybe humans will be done in by “global warming”, then the turkey can become the next dominant animal in the upcoming cycle, then the environmentalists will be happy because that will be “natural” and not “man made.” Me, I plan on eating turkey and continuing to contribute to a carbon footprint that you couldn’t steer the Titanic through. Oh wait, maybe if there had been more coal burning, there wouldn’t have been an iceberg…….

By Mike In Woodstock

November 16, 2008 7:20 AM | Link to this

All I really care about this year is what games will be on…Who is the idiot that keeps scheduling the Detroit Lions year after year?

The women folk will handle all the cooking and they know better than to try to tinker with Thanksgiving dinner. That is one thing that simply would not be tolerated.

By lovelyliz

November 16, 2008 7:34 AM | Link to this

I don’t even serve my Thanksgiving meal on Thursday. With all the marriages, divorces, custody agreements, etc. It’s easier to not cook for that day. Besides, who needs 3 huge meals on one day? This year my niece will be with her father so my sister and I are going to find a soup kitchen to volunteer for. We’ll do our Thanksgiving Day meal on Friday. Everybody will stop by and no one will be overly stuffed or stressed because they have so many other families to visit.

By lovelyliz

November 16, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

As for the vegetarians, I say go for it. It takes a lot less energy & land to create a vegetarian meals than it does to do meat, meat, meat.

Besides, if one can make compromises for those who won’t eat brussel sprouts, carbs, those who are diabetic, what’s one more.

As long as you don’t even think of smoking in my house.

By Donna P.

November 16, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

My husband makes the turkey in the slow cooker with this delicious honey glaze (we only buy the turkey breast not the whole turkey). It is soooooo good. As far as the rest of the meal, we go traditional. Thanksgiving to me is watching the Macy’s parade, eating the meal, and being with friends and/or family (the guys watch football). My ancestors were at the first Thanksgiving and that makes the celebration even more special.

By Scott

November 16, 2008 12:03 PM | Link to this

LOL. I’m thinking David S just might be an actual Turkey.

Deep fried Turkey is sounded really good right now. Can’t wait.

By David S

November 16, 2008 12:35 PM | Link to this

Wow. Its just food. These are just facts. Again, you would think that I was suggesting eating a relative. In fact one of you suggested cannibalism. Diet has more of an impact on personality than one would have thought.

All I suggested doing was to stop killing helpless creatures for food.

By Pi$$onaDawg

November 16, 2008 1:53 PM | Link to this

Dad is the greatest cook. Crown Roast for Christmas but always Turkey on Thanksgiving with dressing, sweet potato casserole, green beans, jibblet gravey, biscuts, cornbread, some other veggie, with Pumpkin and Pecan pie. So, David eat your veggies but I want FOOD thank you very much.

By joey

November 16, 2008 4:38 PM | Link to this

David S

Puh-leeze! Facts, indeed.

There is no concensus on humans causing global warning. Actually, the warming has been taking place for over 10,000 years. We don’t know if humans are speeding up the warming, but it, global warming, certainly has been happening. This interstadial warming period might or might not last, truly we don’t know. I highly doubt you or I will be around for the answer.

Plus, when it started, us omnivores had already used meat to achieve a degree of intelligence that just might let us use our big, protein fed brains to survive whatever is in store for the future…at least for a time.

By You got to be kidding me

November 16, 2008 8:43 PM | Link to this

i HATE YOU STUPID VEGETARIANS! You do know that plants are living things too, right? Who’s to say they dont feel pain? IDIOTS!

By Becky

November 17, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

No, I wouldn’t serve stew..I cook turkey, ham, green beans, dressing(not stuffing) cream potatoes, corn, collards, corn bread, homemade biscuits & banana pudding..

By Noelle

November 17, 2008 3:46 PM | Link to this

Okay, I just saw the Thanksgiving dinner quiz and I have to ask — who wrote that?? Most of the questions were fine, but sweet potatoes and yams are the SAME THING in the United States, folks. Real yams are a completely different vegetable and very rare in the US.

The difference between the two items pictured in the quiz was in the recipe — casserole vs. candied. Both of them contained sweet potatoes.

By Mark

November 17, 2008 3:50 PM | Link to this

David S.

The items that you mentioned are what food eats!

By erin

November 17, 2008 4:57 PM | Link to this

Turkey stew on Thanksgiving? Ummm, no thanks. I’ll stick with a traditional meal, thankyouverymuch!

Actually, we usually get a turkey breast and then do up a bunch of yummy sides like mashed potatoes (from scratch!), small peas, jellied cranberry sauce (which is my favorite side!), green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole with the marshmallows on top, dressing, gravy, a dish of black olives and those little puffy-topped rolls. Oh, and of course, pumpkin pie for dessert.

Thanksgiving’s the BEST!!! OH, and of course, gotta watch the parade, eat, watch football, watch the Great Tree (I moved from Atlanta about 9 years ago and that’s what I miss most from life there!) and somewhere in all of that activity, go into a long turkey-induced nap.