UNPOPULAR OPINIONS, Thanksgiving edition

[WillTravelForFood]

Can we be real for a second? Let down your guard and tell the people how you feel about it?

What is an opinion you have about the Thanksgiving meal that you know others will completely disagree with?

This is a no judgement zone, all replies and opinions are valid. (When in doubt, go for the funny)

I'll start:

"If the traditional Thanksgiving meal was that good, we'd have it more than once a year."

[CaptainMike]

"If the traditional Thanksgiving meal was that good, we'd have it more than once a year."
[/QUOTE]

I started thinking that as a boy.

For me, I find it annoying for all of the Christmas related things happening before Thanksgiving. Well, I used to, anyway; I have a lot other things that annoy me more these days.

[Jfrosty27]

I’m not a big turkey fan to begin with. So the whole thing is kind of a chore I put up with to please my wife. She is all about the tradition of having the meal. Not necessarily actually eating it. She eats like a bird and just picks at the meal. So we spend tons of time, energy, and of course money on it only to have tons of leftovers she will never eat and get trashed after a few days.

In fact last year I cooked the entire meal myself only to have her say she wasn’t feeling well and go to bed for the day mid afternoon. She slept right through and ate none of it. Not a bite.

Thankfully this year I talked her out of it completely. There you have it. How I really feel like it or not.

[shify]

Sweet potatoes suck regardless of how they are prepared

[Old Glory]

I like them savory but the maple marshmallow crapola can take a hike

[Sweaty Paul]

Hate those marshmallow and maple syrup covered pasty glue like things.

[treesmacker]

Agreed!

[Michael_in_TX]

Traditional green-bean casseroles. Ugh. It's like something out of the early 70s sponsored by Kraft. Also, as I get older, I just can't do the carb and sugar overload of traditional Thanksgivings. (Although I do love a good cornbread dressing!)

Looking back, I was kind of lucky growing up. We never did traditional Thanksgiving. My dad would always carve up a turkey and cook the pieces individually on indirect heat on a grill (which was a PK clone) with some hickory wood chips, basted with Kraft Hickory Smoke BBQ sauce. I'm sure there was a side or two, but I don't remember what they were. That was some good turkey.

[Bkhuna]

Made from scratch can be pretty good, but the stuff with canned soup and store bought onion rings is pretty bad.

[RichieB]

I got nothing. I enjoy family, food and sports. Football and NCAA BB in particular.

[Oak Smoke]

We’ve invited several people that had no where to go for Thanksgiving to our house. These aren’t strangers, just people we’ve met since we moved here that because of distance or limited time off can’t go see their families. I admit I enjoy cooking for a group especially if I catch a compliment or two. It will be two turkeys, one ham, and cornbread dressing prepared by the wife and I with the kids and guests bringing all the sides. I’m thankful that we’re so blessed with friends and family. Thanksgiving is my holiday.

[Sid P]

As a turkey lover, I’m tired of hearing complaints about dry turkey. Smother it with gravy or cranberry sauce and enjoy. I love leftover turkey on sandwiches with mayo and bread and butter pickles or turkey salad with same. If the turkey is dry, help it out!

[FireMan]

Yup, they whine & whine & whimper. Just tell em to shut up.

[MBMorgan]

I am not a turkey fan. Frankly, I'd rather have chicken, or fish, or beef, or pork, or ... never mind, I was going to say tofu but that wouldn't be true . What is true is that no turkeys (feathered ones, anyway) would ever cross the threshold if SWMBO (who doesn't like them either) didn't mandate that we suffer through at least one traditional Thanksgiving "feast" every year. She still doesn't buy my argument that we should simply change the tradition a bit. Nope. This year like every other we're going to "enjoy" another sad, soggy turkey ... steamed in a plastic oven bag just like the Pilgrims did theirs ... even if it kills us (like it probably killed a bunch of Pilgrims).

I do like the sides ... at least some of them. Not the orange ones, though. No amount of marshmallows melted on the orange ones can make them edible.

[FireMan]

Or squirrel mebbee.

[Panhead John]

MBMorgan Smoked camel tongue makes a great side dish, topped with a little Miracle Whip!

[RichieB]

Thanks Panhead John. Now excuse me while I go puke.

[rickgregory]

This year like every other we're going to "enjoy" another sad, soggy turkey ... steamed in a plastic oven bag just like the Pilgrims did theirs ... even if it kills us (like it probably killed a bunch of Pilgrims).

I really don't mean this meanly but... look up how to cook it? It's not the bird's fault if you stick it in a bag and cook it poorly. (this goes for people who dry it out too).

[rickgregory]

Do you seriously think I don't know how a turkey should (and shouldn't) be correctly cooked? That wasn't the point ...

Sorry - I just see this stuff SO much and, well, I take some stuff at face value that I likely shouldn't.

[MBMorgan]

Thank you. I shall now return to the corner where I will sit facing the wall, moaning quietly and rocking gently while another turkey (after suffering an undeserved short, crappy life) is given a hopelessly inappropriate, steamy sendoff ...

[FireMan]

MBMorgan , do you wear a hat when you sit in the corner?

[MBMorgan]

FireMan - Yep. That one is more cone-shaped, though.

[USMCCrashCrew89]

The leftover Turkey sammich on white bread with bacon and Swiss is better than the prior days meal.

[ecowper]

Red Man I could do dressing instead of cranberry sauce.

[Murdy]

Both, my lord, it ain't that hard.

[Dewesq55]

A piece of white bread on a plate rolled with as but of crumbled leftover dressing, then dark meat turkey smothered in hot gravy. Eat with a fork. This is Nirvana!

[xaugievike]

Cranberry in a can is the best component of the meal.

[USMCCrashCrew89]

No meal is complete without that jiggly glob of cranberry still carrying the imprint on the can.

[DavidNorcross]

I actually cook turkey several times per year. I guess I am weird. Always purchase on sale right after Thanksgiving and Christmas, freeze and cook several throughout the year....oh well.

[Michael_in_TX]

If I had the freezer space, I would do this. I actually really do like turkey. The turkey I smoked last year was phenomenal. (Thank you, PBC.)

[CaptainMike]

Our local supermarket ran a buy a ham and get a free turkey special last week, couldn't pass it up. I double smoked the ham then parceled it out and popped them in the freezer. Probably going to do the gobbler when we get home from grandma's next week.

[Old Glory]

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Loved the Homecoming when I was in college seeing family and friends. The night before was always a get together for all my high school buddies. Hanging with family sharing the meal. Love all the traditional sides and the bird. My Mom was an excellent cook. I took over when she passed.

This year is a tough one. First major Holiday since my Dad passed. First time in 20 years I am not hosting. (Though I am cooking the birds).

Unpopular opinions:
Hate whole berry cranberry sauce
Not a fan of cornbread stuffing, sausage stuffing, or potato stuffing.
Pearl Onions in cream are terrible
Candied yams no thank you please

[DaveD]

This is me, love the holiday, love the food, cranberries are vile, pearl onions are torture, no sweet potatoes. Feel you on those first milestones after our parents leave us, too...

[shify]

With you on everything but the sausage stuffing. I love the stuff and every year I wonder why I dont make it more often. In fact, I'm making twice as much this year as I really need solely so I can make sure I have plenty of leftover - which I'll reheat in a waffle iron. Stuffing waffles might be my favorite thing for Thanksgiving