Need advice to keep marriage intact

[castle key]

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and my whole family will be at my house. My wife and I have differing turkey tastes and this is where the conflict arises.

We will cook two birds. My perfect choice is one fried and one smoked with a bacon weave on top. She says that one bird will be roasted in the oven with stuffing. The stuffing issue is the deal breaker. I DON'T like simply roasted turkey and I am indifferent about stuffing. The fried bird can't really do stuffing and a smoked bird with stuffing will likely lead to ptomaine or some other food borne nightmare.

So, since I must decide on either a fried turkey or a smoked turkey with bacon weave, which one is it.

It may be simpler to divorce and make my own *(&@$% decision.

And, I will not eat the roasted bird on general principle.

[wmenorr67]

Do two smaller birds fried and smoked and then a big roasted one.

[Balog]

That's an odd principle.

I don't see the problem here. One bird in the oven, one in the deep fryer, one in the smoker. Do three, keep them all small (get a heritage breed so it's extra fancy), have lot's of leftovers.

[SADShooter]

Smoke the bird for flavor, then fry, put bacon in oven-baked dressing. Let wife's oven-dry bird be a conversation killer. Bases covered.

[roo_ster]

This turkaholic also sees the widom of the three bird approach.  I love turkey taters and gravy in july from the freezer.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

Or go all coop. Get a neighbor to smoke one you fry one. You get 1/2 his bird and he z1/2 yours.
Let wife roast hers

[castle key]

Smoke the bird for flavor, then fry, put bacon in oven-baked dressing. Let wife's oven-dry bird be a conversation killer. Bases covered.

That is both cooking and marital advice!!

With that in mind, what would happen if a bird was both smoked and fried? Timing issues? I know if I stumbled on such an undertaking I would never hear the end of that!

[Chuck Dye]

...I am indifferent about stuffing.

If it does not tread on your wife's cherished family stuffing recipe, explore new recipes.  There are two kinds of stuffing:  Those intended to be eaten as a side dish, and those that only flavor the bird but are, must, be discarded when the bird is done.  I favor the side dish variety.

Turkey stuffing in my family is almost never made from a detailed, measure every ingredient, recipe.  Available ingredients such as chestnuts, wild mushrooms, locally baked breads, or home grown herbs, feature when we find them.  I have had birds stuffed with two different mixtures, one on each side of the cavity.  The attempt to use three did not work so well from the physical side but the flavors were great.  

[charby]

This turkaholic also sees the widom of the three bird approach.  I love turkey taters and gravy in july from the freezer.

I can buy whole birds year round at the supermarket, turkey whenever I want it.

[onions!]

Three birds.
Don't cook stuffing in the carcass.Cook it in the oven in its own pan.Enjoy the corner crispies instead of the soggy glop.

[charby]

Thanksgiving is fast approaching and my whole family will be at my house. My wife and I have differing turkey tastes and this is where the conflict arises.

We will cook two birds. My perfect choice is one fried and one smoked with a bacon weave on top. She says that one bird will be roasted in the oven with stuffing. The stuffing issue is the deal breaker. I DON'T like simply roasted turkey and I am indifferent about stuffing. The fried bird can't really do stuffing and a smoked bird with stuffing will likely lead to ptomaine or some other food borne nightmare.

So, since I must decide on either a fried turkey or a smoked turkey with bacon weave, which one is it.

It may be simpler to divorce and make my own *(&@$% decision.

And, I will not eat the roasted bird on general principle.

Do you have to have the thighs and drumsticks? If not fry a turkey breast and smoke a turkey breast.

Or fry the breast and smoke the rear end, of course only after proper nitrate/nitrite treatment.

[BobR]

I am glad I don't have these conumdrums.

We don't cook for turkey day, we go to the fancy hotel and do their buffet. We get shrimp, sushi, prime rib, turkey, last year was a yummy pork belly dish that I hope they repeat, among tons of other stuff. Then we walk around downtown and go home to a quiet house with no dishes. We will cook up a turkey breast a few days later for sandwiches. We have hit upon the ideal solution to differing tastes for T-Day for us.

bob

[MillCreek]

^^^That is a great idea; and I hope my wife and I can do that someday when it is just us.

[MechAg94]

If it does not tread on your wife's cherished family stuffing recipe, explore new recipes.  There are two kinds of stuffing:  Those intended to be eaten as a side dish, and those that only flavor the bird but are, must, be discarded when the bird is done.  I favor the side dish variety.

Turkey stuffing in my family is almost never made from a detailed, measure every ingredient, recipe.  Available ingredients such as chestnuts, wild mushrooms, locally baked breads, or home grown herbs, feature when we find them.  I have had birds stuffed with two different mixtures, one on each side of the cavity.  The attempt to use three did not work so well from the physical side but the flavors were great.  

My mother makes a very very good cornbread stuffing.  I don't think I have ever had any other stuffing I liked near as much.  Even my brother's wife started using her recipe.

[lupinus]

I approve of the three bird approach.

As for stuffing up the bird ass or in the pan, we solve the problem by having both stuffing and dressing. e.

[charby]

I am glad I don't have these conumdrums.

We don't cook for turkey day, we go to the fancy hotel and do their buffet. We get shrimp, sushi, prime rib, turkey, last year was a yummy pork belly dish that I hope they repeat, among tons of other stuff. Then we walk around downtown and go home to a quiet house with no dishes. We will cook up a turkey breast a few days later for sandwiches. We have hit upon the ideal solution to differing tastes for T-Day for us.

bob

We have done that for the past few years, but Wife's family wants to get together on Thanksgiving. Probably going to have crappy ham balls instead of turkey or rib roast.

[K Frame]

I know him and his wife. ..

She's going to win and he's going to drink his Thanksgiving dinner in response.

Then try to slice his finger off...

Again.

[cassandra and sara's daddy]

I thought wife winning was a given


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[BlueStarLizzard]

I would say have the dog under the table and, with a little slight of hand, you can clear your plate and look like your enjoying your dinner, making the wifey poo happy without actually having to eat it.

but that plan requires dogs that fit under the table...

[K Frame]

Stuffing not cooked in the bird is a waste of bread.

[K Frame]

And properly prepared, bird roasted stuffing is not soggy.

[onions!]

And properly prepared, bird roasted stuffing is not soggy.

Looking for an internet statistic then.
What percentage of people will be served soggy or over/under cooked stuffing that had been crammed up a dead animals carcass vs.those eating a similar(in theory),tasty dish cooked properly?

Don't fall for the assumption that because you might get good results that everyone else will.You're smarter than that.

Cooking it outside the bird gives a better assurance of a premium final product.

[K Frame]

"Don't fall for the assumption that because you might get good results that everyone else will.You're smarter than that."

Here's an internet statistic...

Anyone can (or should be able to), in seconds, lay hands on dozens of recipes created by people who know how to pick the correct ingredients that will guarantee a consistently flavorful, consistently moist, and consistently non-soggy roasted-in-bird stuffing.

Not a tasteless, crunchy, dried out pan of bread that should have been tossed to the birds.

So, let me say, just because you and yours apparently, by your own admission, can't cook, apparently can't do simple research, and apparently don't know the difference between gummy as *expletive deleted*it Wonder bread vs. real bread, don't fall for the assumption that everyone else is in that boat, too.

Happy Thanksgiving!

[K Frame]

Ahhhhh!

Let the battle of the holiday traditions begin!

[BlueStarLizzard]

you people, with all your drama and stress.

ha!

here's how you do it. you go about and get yourself invited to assorted holiday meals. you pick your favorites and then proceed to get yourself invited back next year.

if the food is excellent, but the company is substandard, make out like your going to starve but that you can't attend due to whatever obligation. enjoy the generous portions of food they insist you take home.

stress free holidays. I love me. :)