Yes, Hopeless, that is the way I learned too.

Since my hubby doesn't like gravy.... I don't make it anymore.:rolleyes: End of that story, but sugar...never have had it that way.

I have a Nesco countertop Dutch Oven. My grandmother used to
use it instead of an oven, and gave me one for my wedding years ago. Its cord died, so I bought a new one unit. When you put turkey parts in there, some seasoning/broth/light garlic in the bottom with the turkey on the elevated grill included, you can cook the most flavorful meal with carrots, or yams, or potatoes on top of the turkey, all at once and it comes out tender, steamed and really doesn't need gravy. I baste every 15 to 20 minutes while it goes, and it takes about an hour or so depending on how much you put in there. I taught hubby how to use it when I was working so many hours...in the past.
So I just buy a package of thighs, and a small turkey breast and do it that way. No more struggling with the "carcass" for the days after.

Here are the ovens... as you can see they have become rather fixey today. Mine is a plain old white one.
http://www.nesco.com/products/Roaste...-Roaster-Oven/

My grandmother used to cook the most tender beef chuck roasts in hers.

In deference to my and many others dietary restrictions--
 

--we always start the Thanksgiving meal with a huge salad--broccoli, tomatoes, lettuce of various pedigrees, onions, celery. Oil and vinegar for those who want to dress it--I never do. Those who want to, eat a lot of this to fill up enough to keep from overindulging on everything else; this helps keep me to turkey, cranberries, and a sweet potato--these we just bake, like regular potatoes, not melted with marshmallows and such--for the rest of the meal.

Desserts are served much later, and fruit is an option, along with all the brought over baked goods (which I can't have anyway).

What often amazes me most at these get-togethers is the enormous amount of coffee and tea people drink. As I have never developed a taste for either I find this fascinating/bewildering, but I suppose that if you drink a lot of liquids it fills you up enough to avoid that third piece of pumpkin pie.

and all that caffeine keeps one awake! ;)

I agree with you too, Glenn. I just hate that overfull, sick feeling one can get from eating too much at a time.

From the photo I put up, you can see the plate my husband is eating from. (that Tima has her eyes on). He is a slow eater too, so she was getting impatient with him. LOL

In that photo that side of the table, has a bench instead of chairs, and that is how she managed her vigil. (we bought that table and bench and chairs for their moving into their first house). My son says, they sometimes give scraps off their plates after the meal is over, so the cats are far from starved or forgotten. Tima developed a taste for human fare, living off dumpsters her whole beginning life. Our son says, she goes crazy if they bring in Kentucky Fried Chicken!;)

Louis CK a comic, said "The meal is not over when I'm full. The meal is over when I hate myself."

I traveled this year to be with my son & his wife. We had dinner at my daughter in laws parents house. They do not really know me or understand PN. I behaved fairly well. I did have a very small piece of pie and I think the sweet potato casserole had sugar even though it wasn't one of those marshmellow type. There was nothing green to chose from.

Today I'm feeling it a bit. I don't hate myself, that would be counterproductive, but I am seeing where I can improve for next time.

I now remember why last year we didn't make a bread stuffing. I am feeling it heavy, but I don't regret it. It was delicious. Not so delicious I am having more today, the rest came with me on the hobble to the office.

I hope it doesn't linger past today, I don't recall food related issues I identified lasting very long, but if I had to be useful today I would fall flat on my face.

Next year we are back to a whole grain version. I think it was some barley varient last year and it didn't hit me with this sort of bready awfulness.

I earned it.

Heh.

:)

Jon

I ended up missing out on Thanksgiving with some kind of stomach virus. So, while I avoided the great temptations I suffered in other ways. THis also seemed to amp up the SFN pain for some reason as well. The Holidays are always a time when i get sick in one way or another. Between the possible food indulgences, stress, extreme cold temperatures and viruses in the air I find I Just have to ride it out.

Oh Patrick,

I am so sorry you got sick. Hope you get to feeling better quick. Not a good way to miss the temptations of Thanksgiving food.

There is a saying that some eat to live and others live to eat. I used to fall into the later category. I lived to eat. It was the greatest pleasure on earth. Some say I have always been a "picky" eater as there are several foods I do not care for at all. I always thought of myself as someone that ate anything that did not eat me first. (My dietician is the one that says I am a picky eater.) Never have thought of myself as such.

Of course, it is much healthier to fall into the category of eating to live as those usually choose food to fuel the body and provide nutrition.

I happen to LOVE the taste of many foods and could easily succumb to temptation. Knowing this about myself, I do not bring food into my house that I should avoid or limit. To further limit my temptation, I avoid a lot of social activities that involve food.

I am so proud of so many of you that have the will power to resist temptation. My resistance can only go so far so my hat is off to each of you that can remain strong in the face of food temptations.

I do pretty good in most situations but I just find it easier to avoid the situation than fight the temptation. I take the "easy" way out. If it is not near me, I can't eat it. Desserts are not a problem for me but oh, look out for the starches, like potatoes. Or the casseroles. Those are my big weaknesses.

At home, I can have some plain steamed cauliflower, steamed broccoli, etc. Away from home, it isn't plain cauliflower, it is cauliflower au gratin with a cream sauce and cheese, or a broccoli casserole with ingredients that make it taste so good, but so bad for me to eat.

This post makes me sound like I am ALWAYS good. WRONG !!! I do have my little "cheats" now and then but I do try to keep them to a minimum. My Thanksgiving meal will usually consist of baking a turkey with NO seasoning at all, and a vegetable. The vegetable is where I may "cheat". Example,... instead of just boiled eggplant, I will make baked eggplant which has onions sautéed in butter, the boiled eggplant, and bread crumbs. Occasionally use boiled shrimp in it, too. Then I bake it in the oven and have destroyed my perfectly healthy vegetable and morphed it into something that tastes wonderful but has not only added calories, but the bread crumbs are a real NO NO.

It is a good thing that I don't "cook" too often. That keeps me to my steamed veggies and not veggies with added ingredients. I use the "excuse" that it is after all a holiday. THAT is when I indulge in veggies that are not just plain and healthy.

I ate small portions as I knew I would and didn't finish my slice of gluten free organic pumpkin pie, my daughter buys one each year at a vegan restaurant they go to. I took some baking soda before I went to bed. Feeling OK this morning, but not used to the rich foods anymore. Did bring some foods home so will warm some turkey and sweets for breakfast.

I just let 'er rip. I ate everything put out in any quantity I wanted. Even had pie and ice cream. Drank more alcohol than I have in a long time as well (which still wasn't a lot).

Thankfully the only ill effects last night I felt were from the alcohol which I can't metabolize. I didn't flare SFN-wise, thank goodness, and I spared myself checking my blood sugar when I got home.

It ended up being a 9 hour meal/conversation with wonderful friends, and was really good for the soul.

Today I'm back on the wagon and will do lots of yard work to ease my conscience.

Feel better soon, Patrick!!