Thanksgiving at the In-Laws

My wife's family always has a big Thanksgiving family get-together. Because of the differences in culture and observance, on Shabbos, I prefer to have a cholent. My mother-in-law is usually pretty psyched for my cholent. She doesn't usually make it herself, and I think having a cholent in her house reminds her of her salad days (oh, the irony of "cholent" being in the same sentence with "salad").

I wanted to make a core cholent, to show that a cholent can be tasty and not fatty, fatty, fat-fat. I was out-ruled by those in the house that required cholent to also have kishke. Of course, I didn't fight too hard. Who doesn't love kishke in the cholent?

This is what I remember throwing in the cholent:

• Flanken (short-ribs)
• chuck
• barley
• small, red potatoes
• sweet potato (in honor of the chag)
• turkey broth (also for the chag)
• kishke
• beef bullion
• canned kidney beans
• baked beans
• Lowry's seasoned salt
• cayenne pepper
• crushed red pepper
• honey
• rosemary/garlic spice mix
• dried, minced onion
• garlic powder
• barley
• turkey salami
• Woodford Reserve (yummy bourbon)

I was worried about overdoing it, and adding too many ingredients. But, I must say that this cholent was freakin' amazing.

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I have a tradition that I like to have a l'chayim with the cholent whenever I add alcohol. I highly recommend adopting this tradition as your own.