In Denmark we dont have Thanksgiving as a tradition, but more and more are buying Turkeys to celabrate. Because they know som americans who visits them, are related or for some other reasons.
But for Christmas some families eat Turkey. I have never prepared a whole bird, so I need some help.
I would like to give the best service every time, and Turkey is probarly the one thing I know less about. So to improve my self, I would like to invite som friends and family over to some thanksgiving Turkey. And of course, I go Large! I need to know whats in a whole Thanksgiving dinner (I can google recepies, since I know its to much to ask for recepies), but must important, I need a guide to cook the perfect bird (from 8 pounds to 36 pounds).
Also, is it possible to cook the bird one day ahead and reheat it with out its gonna be dry?
I would like more cooking tips. Whole, De-bones and stuffed, stuffed with out de-boning and so on!
I sell tons of Fresh Turkeys in my market. Well over 25 on a normal week and I have 1500 on order for Thanksgiving here.
Always best to cook the Turkey the day you want to serve it but to be honest lots of people do it the day before. You just have to be careful not to dry out the white meat, and there are tons of ways to do it. From cooking it breast down to cooking it parted out.....and on and on
I think the most definitive guide to turkeys is the entire Plainville Farms Website. They have charts to help with cooking, recipes for the Turkey, Recipes for the sides, recipes for the left overs and much more
So what do folks eat on christmas day in Denmark?? any traditional foods?
Around the NorthEast (usa) the Rib-eye roast(called prime -rib by most) is probably the number one entree consumed-then ham, turkeys, pork roasts - crown pork roasts, some folks eat lamb on christmas day, some ducks, geese, turkey breasts, chicken roasters, A Capon (castrated rooster)
and if someone in the family was lucky during hunting season, maybe some venison
some folks with go out to eat at a restaurants and treat themselves to whatever they want- like lobsters..
We celebrate Christmas the 24th in the evening, with dinner, games and presents.
the menu is normally: Whole roastet Duck Back of Pork with Crackling Medister (Like Cumberland Sausages) White potatoes Brown Potatoes (Caramel) Gravy (Sauce) Red cabbage in a Brine Red Currant gel Apples boiled in Sugarwater with Redcurrant Gel in the middle French potatoes (Thin slices of potato deepfried)
Some eat Goose or Turkey instead of Duck. Some only eat duck or Pork.. Above is my families tradition.
For desserts we eat something called Ris ala Mande.. Its a kind of Rice pudding, in which you mix Whiped creme, vanilla and choped almonds. And then we put in a Whole Almond, the finder gets a present. We top it with Cherry sauce.
The 25th and 26th is used with your families. Normally with a feast called Christmas lunch... Here we are special because we eat and drink like Vikings
Normally the table is set like this: First for starter Fried Flunder with a cold pickles sauce (remoulade) Marinated heerings Fried Heerings Shrimps
Then cold slices and different kind of meats. With topping. and Leverpostej with Bacon (Kind of pate, but only made of liver, fat and spices - Tast better then it sounds, every child in denmark loves this. And every Dane who has been abroad looks forward to have a slice of Dark Rye bread (also danish speciality) with leverpostej when they return). Can submit recipes for both Leverpostej (easy) and Ryebread (takes a couple of days the first time you make it) on request.
Then the warm disches.
Meatballs Roast of pork Smoked Ham Served with Brown potatoes, Greencabbage in Creme and redcabbage
Then some Ris ala mande
And finally some Cheese.
And then we drink Snaps (Aquavit) Water of life... Its a strong drink with lots of tastes made from Potatoes... Like Grappa (grapes), Weinbrand (wheat) and Slipovic (plums). And beer (carlsberg - my brand)....lots of them and wine.
We allways eat lot of pork and fish around christmas
And when christmas is over, time to plan the new year feast. And after that there is all ways a good sale on Fitness subscriptions.
its tough not to overeat around the holidays- although being in the colder climate region,,,,maybe its good to have a few extra pounds.....keeps the heat in
