What to make for thanksgiving, help needed!

For culinary school, we have to make a turkey or ham based dish along with a ''holiday'' desert, its a huge part of the course because I was one of the few students selected to prepare this meal for some of the top chefs (who are teachers) in the school.  Im really nervous and i dont know what to make.  Im undecided to either do something simple but good or something difficult and risky.  Here are my options that i plan to make.....The Simple Dish-Classic Turkey with Cranberrry and Maple glaze.  Its a turkey that uses all the basic turkey flavors such as; black peppers, salt, a citrus, bayleafs...ect but i plan to kick up the flavor with some maple sauce that has some lemon juices that are going to be marinated into the turkey itself.  Then to top it all off im going to glaze it with a maple cranberry recipe that will give the turkey a sweet and tart flavor.  For the dessert i plan to make a classic Pumpkin and sweet Potatoe Pie.   A classic pie with a twist of sweet potatoes that i plan to roast and marinate in vanila and brown sugar coating.  Now here is the more complicating dish...The more difficult dish-Honey glazed Ham with a spiced dry rub.  I plan to slow cook a ham that will be coated with a light honey glaze, but to give it a huge kick of flavor i plan to use a risky recipe of spices that include; Cinnamon, Chili powder, peppercorns...and about 3 other spices. It will have a much more bold flavor compared to the Turkey but im not sure if they will come together well. For dessert i plan to make a lemmon blueberry cheese cake with sweet roasted pumpkin seeds on top.   A little tricky cheesecake recipe that i know of. The flavor is not sweet but more suttle and the lemon brings out the blueberrys flavors at its fulliest.  I plan to use pumpkin seeds to not only give it texture (like a crunch) but also to give it that thanks giving feel. Its tricky because its very easy to over stir the blueberry mixture, not only that but burring in the crust is comon amongst this dish since it has nuts and 2 different types of sugar.I really need peoples opinions, i only have until thursday. If you have any questions just ask.  What to make for thanksgiving, help needed!
Sounds very epic.Its great to take risks, but don't be afraid of doing something simple that tastes great.What to make for thanksgiving, help needed!
[QUOTE=''vidplayer8'']Sounds very epic.Its great to take risks, but don't be afraid of doing something simple that tastes great.[/QUOTE] Its very epic for me. This is my chance to let my teachers and other chefs see what i can do...but your advice wasn't much help :P Should i take the risk?
i like turkey better :P
I'd go with the simpler dish. Go with something you know for a dish this major. You'll be able to bring out the flavors more with the first dish. You can always test out your ham during your free time though. By the which school do you go to? I did go to Sullivan University but i transfered to the art institute.
[QUOTE=''Iced_Earth_Rulz'']I'd go with the simpler dish. Go with something you know for a dish this major. You'll be able to bring out the flavors more with the first dish. You can always test out your ham during your free time though. By the which school do you go to? I did go to Sullivan University but i transfered to the art institute. [/QUOTE] I was going to go to Art Institute but I currently go to PCI-Professional Culinary Institute. And the reason i don't want to do the simple dish is because im affraid i wont seperate myself from the competitiion. But i think i will go with the simple dish...ahh im so stressed out right now.
I'd go with the more simple dinner. The ham and cheesecake both sound risky, especially with the chili powder (not Thanksgiving-y, and an odd choice for ham).Try it out, but do it some other time without teachers at the table. Good luck with the course.
You can still set yourself apart with the first dish. You just have to make it perfect, take your time and fully concentrate. But if you do go with the second dish the chefs will notice you tried something different and if you pull it off and the spices with the ham meld together, than your in like zen. If it was me i would go with the first dish. At Sullivan my basic pastry class had us choose beween six dishes and i chose to make the chocolate soufle. I was the only one to make it and i didn't take into account the humidty in the room and my soufle was an epic fail but i still got a B from my chef for taking a chance.
[QUOTE=''Cherokee_Jack'']I'd go with the more simple dinner. The ham and cheesecake both sound risky, especially with the chili powder (not Thanksgiving-y, and an odd choice for ham).Try it out, but do it some other time without teachers at the table. Good luck with the course. [/QUOTE] Yea i will stick with the Turkey after all. Well, we will see how it goes... All i can do now is try to be calm about it.
They both sound delicious, to be quite honest. How about coming to my house and cooking for me? ;)
[QUOTE=''Iced_Earth_Rulz'']You can still set yourself apart with the first dish. You just have to make it perfect, take your time and fully concentrate. But if you do go with the second dish the chefs will notice you tried something different and if you pull it off and the spices with the ham meld together, than your in like zen. If it was me i would go with the first dish. At Sullivan my basic pastry class had us choose beween six dishes and i chose to make the chocolate soufle. I was the only one to make it and i didn't take into account the humidty in the room and my soufle was an epic fail but i still got a B from my chef for taking a chance.[/QUOTE] Yea thats what i plan to do, perfectly make my turkey so that it enhances the flavors ten fold. And ive made soufle before and although it wasn't a ''disaster'' it was a tricky dish indeed. But your right, i will go with the Turkey, thank you so much for your imput. It really helps.
[QUOTE=''stevenk4k5'']They both sound delicious, to be quite honest. How about coming to my house and cooking for me? ;)[/QUOTE] I would love to cook for a stranger (seriously ive done it before) It is pretty fun....as long as you don't talk crap about my food. :P
[QUOTE=''mexicangordo''][QUOTE=''stevenk4k5'']They both sound delicious, to be quite honest. How about coming to my house and cooking for me? ;)[/QUOTE] I would love to cook for a stranger (seriously ive done it before) It is pretty fun....as long as you don't talk crap about my food. :P[/QUOTE]



If your cooking isn't crap then I won't talk crap. Lol.