I am spending my first Christmas in a home that my boyfriend and I purchased in May. I think it will be quite an experience. My bf had his first Christmas stocking this morning, and was happy with the contents.

 

Right now at 1 pm in Ubon, my bf and two of his friends are putting together goodies to Bar-b-que tonight including shrimp, squid, clams and pork, and all the fixings for a large spicy thai salad. I have just put an 18 lb Butterball turkey in the oven in a roasting bag. The bird is full of stuffing, and I plan to add mashed potatoes and gravy to the menu this evening. The bf has ordered some things from a beach restaruant (fried rice, Tom Yum, and Fish I know of) which will be delivered this evening.

 

We are expecting maybe 15-20 people, mostly my bf's family and friends, and a couple of new friends of my own.

 

We have a hut (bamboo structure) in the back yard where dinner will be served this evening. Another table has been set up with the bar, so all looks well for a very interesting and fattening Christmas dinner.

 

I will let you know how things turn out. Stay Tuned!

This sounds like a wonderful way to spend Christmas. Merry Christmas.

Where did you find a Butterball Turkey? We are also having a Butterball but then in the deep cold of Pennsylvania it is not hard to find one here.

Where did you find a Butterball Turkey?

I don't know where he found one in Ubon, but I'm pretty sure I've seen them in Pattaya at Villa Market.

Where did you find a Butterball Turkey? We are also having a Butterball but then in the deep cold of Pennsylvania it is not hard to find one here.

 

I found some nice Butterball Turkeys at MAKRO in Ubon. And today, Tessco had some turkeys in the frozen food section, which I have never seen there before. Makro, however, has Butterballs all the time. It has been in the oven 2 hours now, and is starting to smell good. I use the roast in a bag method...I brought the roasting bags from the US with me.

For Thanksgiving I bought a Butterball at Villa Market here in Pattaya. A 12 pound turkey was just over 1100 baht. Expensive, but it was superb. They even defrosted it for me, since my fridge was packed, so it was ready to cook when I picked it up.

The bf has ordered some things from a beach restaruant (fried rice, Tom Yum, and Fish I know of) which will be delivered this evening.

A 'Beach Restaurant' .... in Ubon Ratchathani?

You must be at least 250 kilometres from the nearest beach!

A 'Beach Restaurant' .... in Ubon Ratchathani?

You must be at least 250 kilometres from the nearest beach!

 

You don't have to have an ocean to have a beach. We have some great restaurants on the beach at Moon River here in Ubon. You park near the water, go into a "restaurant" and order, and walk out on a dock to floating decks/barges/pontoon bamboo structures. Then they bring your food and drink out to you, and you have your own private little dining area. It is pretty neat when the weather isn't too hot, and the food is good.

We have a hut (bamboo structure) in the back yard where dinner will be served this evening. Another table has been set up with the bar, so all looks well for a very interesting and fattening Christmas dinner.

 

I will let you know how things turn out. Stay Tuned!

 

How do you cook a turkey in Thailand? Does you place have an oven?

And please posts some photos of your place and your party. Sounds great to me.

I brought the roasting bags from the US with me.

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen roasting bags in Thailand at all. I haven't been looking for them, but I think I would have noticed.

 

Has anyone spotted them anywhere?

Now that you mention it, I haven't seen roasting bags in Thailand at all. I haven't been looking for them, but I think I would have noticed.

 

Has anyone spotted them anywhere?

Roasting bags are not necessary to roast a juicy turkey. Mix an herb butter and spread it under the breast skin and rub the breast skin with it.. It will keep the breast moist and flavorful. Baste the turkey frequently with the pan juices. You can also roast it with the breast side down and flip it for the last hour or so of roasting, but it is difficult to turn it over to get a nice brown crispy skin on the breast. The herb butter method works the best for me.

Roasting bags are not necessary to roast a juicy turkey.

If anyone knows cooking, it's certainly you. But there are times when I would like to use a roasting bag for other things. So, I'm still curious if anyone has spotted them anywhere.

If anyone knows cooking, it's certainly you. But there are times when I would like to use a roasting bag for other things. So, I'm still curious if anyone has spotted them anywhere.

 

Thank you for that. What else would you use a cooking bag for?

Thank you for that. What else would you use a cooking bag for?

 

The only other thing I have used on for is to roast chickens...usually two to a bag. But you can also use for ham, and I really want to try a prime rib roast in a bag....should be really juicy.

 

Cooking without the roasting bag is ok, but I like the put in oven and forget for about three hours...no basting, checking, etc. It is so easy, and no mess either. There was some great broth for gravy in the bag when I took the turkey out of the oven.

 

In preparing for Christmas Dinner, there were lots of local fruits from the Thai Market

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And some fresh greens for making spicy salad and to use to eat Issan Food!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And my bf picked up some flowers and turned them into this display. The stand had two plants in it on the front porch, but he put in flowers instead, and made what looks to me like a professional arrangement.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And even our dog Lucky had a new bone with red and green trim for a Christmas Treat.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The bar was pretty much ready for business.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everything was being moved to tables in the back yard where the party would be held.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the Christmas Tree was ready to greet the guest!

 

When dinner time arrived, there was plenty of food, such as these large pots of fried rice and Tom Yum.

 

 

 

 

 

There was a table loaded with food.

 

 

 

 

 

And plenty of guest to do justice to all the eats.

 

 

 

 

 

I sat in our "hut" and devoured turkey and dressing (like I need all those calories!!)

 

 

 

 

 

As the evening went on the food gradually disappered.

 

 

 

 

 

As did the goodies at the bar!!

 

The whoe day was a great experience. Everyone seemed to have a good time, and there was enough food for most to take home some major leftovers.

 

Now I myself was partial to the turkey, and as I write this the afternoon of the 26th, I am enjoying my second turkey sandwich of the day.

 

All the guest have gone home and my bf is driving his parents home, so the house is nice and quite (needs a good cleaning though lol) and I can reflect that it was well worth the time, money, and effort.

 

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year

And a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to you. Thanks for sharing your Christmas in Ubon Ratchathani. Looks like you have a little bit of heaven on earth!

 

Nice photos! It looks like a lovely party. Thanks for sharing.

Great photos GaySacGuy but where was the turkey? I bet you ate it before taking the photos.

Great photos GaySacGuy but where was the turkey? I bet you ate it before taking the photos.

 

The turkey came out of the oven, and while it was "resting", I made gravey. Then I carved off a bunch of turkey which was taken out to the crowd. By the time I finished the potatoes, gravey, and dressing, and took the rest of the turkey out to the party, the first plate was gone...and no one took any photos....so you are correct...it got eaten first.

 

I did save a small chunk of breast so I can have a few turkey sandwiches (sometimes better the second day).

 

What else would you use a cooking bag for?

I used to use them for roasting a whole chicken, making a brisket, and a few other things. I used to like the way the food would come out.

 

By the way, I was in Villa Market yesterday and I looked for them. I couldn't find any.

 

I was given an electric pressure cooker by a friend. I cooked a brisket, from which I trimmed off a lot of the fat and it turned out extremely tender and delicious. Worth the investment for anyone who likes to cook.