Thanksgiving foods

olybee
olybee Member Posts: 85
in Head and Neck Cancer #1
What is your favorite thing to eat this time of year?
Maybe the easiest to go down, the best comfort food, whatever makes you happy.
I'm trying to figure out what to do for Bob that would make him feel "normal" this Thanksgiving. I think it's got to be so hard seeing everyone else eating things that used to be favorites and now they either taste bad or are too much work to swallow.
So I look forward to reading what everybody else thinks sounds good to them - and then I'm hoping that you do get to eat your favorite things on the day of thanks!

Comments

  • KTeacher
    KTeacher Member Posts: 1,103 Member
    #2
    We are all different
    We just all have had cancer treatment. Last year I was so excited that eggnog was in the store, I drink it plain. I am sure that helped put back some of the pounds. This year after a second treatment, I don't like the taste, go figure. Mashed sweet potatoes, potatoes with gravey, I even ate stuffing with gravey last year. Pumpkin pie tasted like crisco. I constantly had to ask my husband to check dates on cartons to make sure things were fresh. I didn't like milk for a long time last year and this year, after second treatment, I like milk, the whole glass. Really creamy, creamed corn. You just have to try and be willing to toss food, my husband has a hard time with that. While I had thrush I wouldn't let him finish my plate. Try yogurt, the greek yogurt has more protein. Smoothies with yogurt and fruit, I remember picking out strawberry seeds last year. Enjoy the day, enjoy whatever can go in and stay in. Enjoy being alive!
  • hawk711
    hawk711 Member Posts: 566
    #3
    KTeacher said:

    We are all different
    We just all have had cancer treatment. Last year I was so excited that eggnog was in the store, I drink it plain. I am sure that helped put back some of the pounds. This year after a second treatment, I don't like the taste, go figure. Mashed sweet potatoes, potatoes with gravey, I even ate stuffing with gravey last year. Pumpkin pie tasted like crisco. I constantly had to ask my husband to check dates on cartons to make sure things were fresh. I didn't like milk for a long time last year and this year, after second treatment, I like milk, the whole glass. Really creamy, creamed corn. You just have to try and be willing to toss food, my husband has a hard time with that. While I had thrush I wouldn't let him finish my plate. Try yogurt, the greek yogurt has more protein. Smoothies with yogurt and fruit, I remember picking out strawberry seeds last year. Enjoy the day, enjoy whatever can go in and stay in. Enjoy being alive!

    olybee
    Mashed potatoes and lots of milk to wash it down, and pumpkin pie with lots of milk.
    He'll find a way to eat what he can for sure. Just make soft stuff, like Kteach said.
    Remember to give thanks for being here to eat on thursday too...
    Keep plugging and stay positive.....

    Milk shakes are great too.............
  • longtermsurvivor
    longtermsurvivor Member Posts: 1,842 Member
    #4
    hawk711 said:

    olybee
    Mashed potatoes and lots of milk to wash it down, and pumpkin pie with lots of milk.
    He'll find a way to eat what he can for sure. Just make soft stuff, like Kteach said.
    Remember to give thanks for being here to eat on thursday too...
    Keep plugging and stay positive.....

    Milk shakes are great too.............

    Milk is for the health-conscious:)
    I use half and half.
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #5
    Hard question, but I will
    Hard question, but I will spit out some thoughts related to swallowing and some taste issues.

    For turkey, slice thin, or mince and add home made gravy made with home made broth or no salt stock.

    If that is still too hard to swallow, maybe cooking a thigh in a crock pot to keep it super moist and juicy. I'm going to cook a thigh on top of stuffing in the crock pot.

    If things like that are too difficult to swallow, how about a turkey soup? You could even make a creamy potato soup, adding herbs like thyme and sage, to give it that poultry seasoning / stuffing kind of flavor and mince some turkey to garnish the soup.

    I could swallow super thinly sliced deli ham or turkey. Not exactly fresh ham or turkey, but it's better than tube food.

    Mashed sweet potatoes. If plain mashed is too thick, you can thin with cream or stock, or again, make a soup.

    Acorn or butternut squash, roasted. Again you could mash it, or purée or make soup.

    I'm having roasted cauliflower. You can also add soft cooked cauliflower to a little bit of mashed potato. Makes it much easier to swallow. Make a cauliflower mash.

    I don't like pumpkin pie, but maybe a crustless pumpkin pie, a pumpkin mousse, pumpkin custard, a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin pudding. Or savory, like baked pumpkin, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli (use wanton skins), and bread pudding made with added canned pumpkin. Sweet or savory.

    Traditional green bean casserole! One of the first things I was able to eat! I used low salt canned green beans, (or you can cook fresh or frozen until very tender) use low salt cream of mushroom soup and the Durkee French fried onions. Or Green Giant makes green bean casserole in a microwavable 2 servings package.

    Corn Pudding/Baked Corn/escalloped corn. I always though baked corn was gross, but I tried it in a restaurant and I was surprised that I liked it now, and I could swallow it.

    Stuffing can be hard, but as I said, I'm doing it in the crockpot. Hoping it will be moist that way, the recipe also has apples in it, thinking that could help with the moistness. That recipe is on my Thanksgiving thread. I may live dangerously and add some chestnuts.

    That's all I can think of at the moment.
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #6
    sweetblood22 said:

    Hard question, but I will
    Hard question, but I will spit out some thoughts related to swallowing and some taste issues.

    For turkey, slice thin, or mince and add home made gravy made with home made broth or no salt stock.

    If that is still too hard to swallow, maybe cooking a thigh in a crock pot to keep it super moist and juicy. I'm going to cook a thigh on top of stuffing in the crock pot.

    If things like that are too difficult to swallow, how about a turkey soup? You could even make a creamy potato soup, adding herbs like thyme and sage, to give it that poultry seasoning / stuffing kind of flavor and mince some turkey to garnish the soup.

    I could swallow super thinly sliced deli ham or turkey. Not exactly fresh ham or turkey, but it's better than tube food.

    Mashed sweet potatoes. If plain mashed is too thick, you can thin with cream or stock, or again, make a soup.

    Acorn or butternut squash, roasted. Again you could mash it, or purée or make soup.

    I'm having roasted cauliflower. You can also add soft cooked cauliflower to a little bit of mashed potato. Makes it much easier to swallow. Make a cauliflower mash.

    I don't like pumpkin pie, but maybe a crustless pumpkin pie, a pumpkin mousse, pumpkin custard, a pumpkin smoothie, pumpkin pudding. Or savory, like baked pumpkin, pumpkin soup, pumpkin ravioli (use wanton skins), and bread pudding made with added canned pumpkin. Sweet or savory.

    Traditional green bean casserole! One of the first things I was able to eat! I used low salt canned green beans, (or you can cook fresh or frozen until very tender) use low salt cream of mushroom soup and the Durkee French fried onions. Or Green Giant makes green bean casserole in a microwavable 2 servings package.

    Corn Pudding/Baked Corn/escalloped corn. I always though baked corn was gross, but I tried it in a restaurant and I was surprised that I liked it now, and I could swallow it.

    Stuffing can be hard, but as I said, I'm doing it in the crockpot. Hoping it will be moist that way, the recipe also has apples in it, thinking that could help with the moistness. That recipe is on my Thanksgiving thread. I may live dangerously and add some chestnuts.

    That's all I can think of at the moment.

    Speaking of Sliding Down Easy ~ Oysters
    LOL, Dawn do you have a good Oyster Dressing Recipe...

    My mom makes great oyster dressing (which I love), but not sure if she's making it (to our house) this year.

    While Shelley is a pretty decent cook, LOL... Oyster Dressings is not one of her specialties. Her momma taught her Sausage Dressing, and while it's OK...it's not my Momma's Oyster Dressing.

    Best,
    John
  • fisrpotpe
    fisrpotpe Member Posts: 1,349 Member
    #7
    Forward
    For me I look forward to sweet potatoes/yams with brown sugar and marshmallows, mashed potatoes with lots of gravy, green bean casserole, funny but the only bread is very warm crisonts and lots of butter..... i keep the meat off plate unless i see very moist dark meat with gravy, then stuffing is a must with gravy

    to top it off it is Choc. Silk pie with cool whip

    all the above is what i call slider and comfort food

    john

    Have a wonderful meal everyone with your loved family and friends
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #8
    Skiffin16 said:

    Speaking of Sliding Down Easy ~ Oysters
    LOL, Dawn do you have a good Oyster Dressing Recipe...

    My mom makes great oyster dressing (which I love), but not sure if she's making it (to our house) this year.

    While Shelley is a pretty decent cook, LOL... Oyster Dressings is not one of her specialties. Her momma taught her Sausage Dressing, and while it's OK...it's not my Momma's Oyster Dressing.

    Best,
    John

    Oyster Dressing
    Yes. I keep forgetting that I want to try the oysters!

    From the Louisiana side of my family, has the Trinity (onions, bell pepper and celery) and a bit of spice:

    Oyster Dressing "Grand-Mère"
    2 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
    1 stick unsalted butter
    1 celery rib, cut into 1/4" dice
    1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4" dice
    1/2 small onion, finely diced
    2 large garlic cloves, minced
    2 tablespoons sweet paprika
    1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    2 large baguettes (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice (12 cups)
    4 dozen shucked oysters plus 1 cup oyster liquor, oysters halved (2 cups)
    2 scallions, minced
    2 tablespoons chopped parsley
    4 large eggs
    1 teaspoon hot sauce
    1 teaspoon kosher salt
    Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter a 10-by-14-inch shallow baking dish. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and let melt, then add the celery, green pepper, onion and minced garlic and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the paprika, garlic powder and cayenne and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Put the diced baguettes in a large bowl. Spoon the bacon mixture on top. Add the oysters and their liquor along with the scallions and parsley.
    In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the hot sauce and salt. Pour the eggs into the bowl and mix everything together. Scrape the dressing into the prepared baking dish and bake in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, until heated through and crisp on top.  Should be 165 degrees. 

    That recipe is too spicy for me,  I keep saying I want to try oysters and I looked up these almost a year ago to try.  I don't really have anyone that would want to eat it with me and I know it makes a lot.  These ones looked good to me:

    This looks like an oyster dressing and escalloped oyster cross.
    PAULA DEANS OYSTER DRESSING


    AN OYSTER DRESSING THAT LOOKED EASY AND NOT SPICY

    I am leaning towards trying the all recipes one, but Paula Dean always has good comfort food dishes, too.
  • olybee
    olybee Member Posts: 85
    #9
    KTeacher said:

    We are all different
    We just all have had cancer treatment. Last year I was so excited that eggnog was in the store, I drink it plain. I am sure that helped put back some of the pounds. This year after a second treatment, I don't like the taste, go figure. Mashed sweet potatoes, potatoes with gravey, I even ate stuffing with gravey last year. Pumpkin pie tasted like crisco. I constantly had to ask my husband to check dates on cartons to make sure things were fresh. I didn't like milk for a long time last year and this year, after second treatment, I like milk, the whole glass. Really creamy, creamed corn. You just have to try and be willing to toss food, my husband has a hard time with that. While I had thrush I wouldn't let him finish my plate. Try yogurt, the greek yogurt has more protein. Smoothies with yogurt and fruit, I remember picking out strawberry seeds last year. Enjoy the day, enjoy whatever can go in and stay in. Enjoy being alive!

    all so different
    is for sure. My husband is the same way with worrying about food being bad (like milk) and he always asks me to taste it. He's still not liking yogurt or greek yogurt or smoothies or mashed potatoes. I can't seem to figure out what it is he does like, but I guess that is normal, because it changes all the time.
    I'm glad I started this post, though, to help everyone think about what they like/don't like
  • olybee
    olybee Member Posts: 85
    #10
    fisrpotpe said:

    Forward
    For me I look forward to sweet potatoes/yams with brown sugar and marshmallows, mashed potatoes with lots of gravy, green bean casserole, funny but the only bread is very warm crisonts and lots of butter..... i keep the meat off plate unless i see very moist dark meat with gravy, then stuffing is a must with gravy

    to top it off it is Choc. Silk pie with cool whip

    all the above is what i call slider and comfort food

    john

    Have a wonderful meal everyone with your loved family and friends

    feast is coming
    I'll be trying out the oyster stuffing recipe, loved the idea of adding cauliflower to mashed potatoes, so cauli-mash and I don't know why I didn't think of green bean casserole, because he's been eating canned green beans lately.
    THANK YOU ALL!!
  • sweetblood22
    sweetblood22 Member Posts: 3,228
    #11
    olybee said:

    feast is coming
    I'll be trying out the oyster stuffing recipe, loved the idea of adding cauliflower to mashed potatoes, so cauli-mash and I don't know why I didn't think of green bean casserole, because he's been eating canned green beans lately.
    THANK YOU ALL!!

    When at first you don't succeed, try & try again!
    Don't forget that things that don't work one day, can work the next, and vice-versa. Just have to keep at it. I am amazed at all the stuff I didn't like before treatment and now they are ok. So, he cannot be afraid to explore those things too. There is a lot of waste for a while! That's for sure! Just have to get over that, as much as no one like to, or should like to waste.

    Glad some of the ideas sound like they are worth trying. :)
  • Skiffin16
    Skiffin16 Member Posts: 8,305 Member
    #12
    sweetblood22 said:

    Oyster Dressing
    Yes. I keep forgetting that I want to try the oysters!

    From the Louisiana side of my family, has the Trinity (onions, bell pepper and celery) and a bit of spice:

    Oyster Dressing "Grand-Mère"
    2 ounces slab bacon, cut into 1/4-inch dice
    1 stick unsalted butter
    1 celery rib, cut into 1/4" dice
    1/2 green bell pepper, cut into 1/4" dice
    1/2 small onion, finely diced
    2 large garlic cloves, minced
    2 tablespoons sweet paprika
    1/2 teaspoon garlic powder
    1/2 teaspoon cayenne pepper
    2 large baguettes (about 1 pound), cut into 1/2-inch dice (12 cups)
    4 dozen shucked oysters plus 1 cup oyster liquor, oysters halved (2 cups)
    2 scallions, minced
    2 tablespoons chopped parsley
    4 large eggs
    1 teaspoon hot sauce
    1 teaspoon kosher salt
    Preheat the oven to 350°. Butter a 10-by-14-inch shallow baking dish. In a large skillet, cook the bacon over moderate heat until crisp, about 5 minutes. Add the butter and let melt, then add the celery, green pepper, onion and minced garlic and cook until softened, about 8 minutes. Add the paprika, garlic powder and cayenne and cook for 3 minutes, stirring occasionally.
    Put the diced baguettes in a large bowl. Spoon the bacon mixture on top. Add the oysters and their liquor along with the scallions and parsley.
    In a small bowl, beat the eggs with the hot sauce and salt. Pour the eggs into the bowl and mix everything together. Scrape the dressing into the prepared baking dish and bake in the upper third of the oven for about 45 minutes, until heated through and crisp on top.  Should be 165 degrees. 

    That recipe is too spicy for me,  I keep saying I want to try oysters and I looked up these almost a year ago to try.  I don't really have anyone that would want to eat it with me and I know it makes a lot.  These ones looked good to me:

    This looks like an oyster dressing and escalloped oyster cross.
    PAULA DEANS OYSTER DRESSING


    AN OYSTER DRESSING THAT LOOKED EASY AND NOT SPICY

    I am leaning towards trying the all recipes one, but Paula Dean always has good comfort food dishes, too.

    YeeeOhhh...LOL
    I'll definitely give yours a shot... I did see the Paula Dean one also when doing a search.

    Oly,one thing that Shelley does always make is just plain ole fresh green beans...I love them.

    As Dawn says too...I was really disappointed when I first started getting my taste back. I was finished with treatment mid-june 2009. By Thanksgiving I was getting some taste back and a little saliva.

    It was really disappointing in some ways, the green beans tasted just lke some green weed or plant.... a lot of the others didn't taste as weel either.

    But through all of that, I remember thinking to myself. Even if it doesn't get any better than this, I can survive. I can survive on what little I can taste, and I did....

    Now over 2 1/2 years out, I have nearly complete recovery of both taste and saliva, health, life and a beautiful wife, dogs and wonderful friends....and my boat, LOL.

    That in itself is my "Thanksgiving"........

    Best,
    John

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