Turkey in Switzerland

Just to update - Migros has frozen Turkeys from 33chf for 2.8 kg and 45chf for a 3.8 kg.  I think there was one more but don't remember. They also have Goose and Duck.  Just make sure to measure your freezer/fridge and oven first!

Just a quick post - if you will be wanting a Turkey soon, and want to order one, start thinking about where to get one.

Migros have frozen ones - about 3-4 kg and the price jumps from about 45chf to 80 the closer you get to the end of November.  I used this option for the first Thanksgiving I was in Zurich.

Last year, I went to the Butcher and ordered one.  He was just a local one and only needed about 3 days.  I got the Turkey unfrozen and it was about 75chf for a Swiss one.  It was 4kg I think.

You can also order Turkey's at Jelmoli but they run higher. They will also provide you with side dishes and/or cook the Turkey.

There are various butchers in central Zurich (and I would imagine elsewhere) that will also order a Turkey for you and either brine it or not.  Even if they do not have them advertised, just ask.  The bigger shops you will need to order a few weeks in advance (So if you're thinking American Thanksgiving, go now!)

If you are having a lot of people and can perhaps split some costs (or just don't mind them) you can get your entire meal delivered.

Here are some websites:

Peace Foods - in Baar:
Main Page
Turkey Dinner pdf

This next place seems very reasonable, they need at least a week to deliver:
Gefluegel Gormet
Der Truthahn für die Festtage
I have not tried them, but may.  They have a range of sizes and prices, the first being 3-4kg for 50chf

Another one is Melt Catering:
Thanksgiving meals

If you would like to make your own dinner with a little help, you can get some staples from http://www.afoodave.ch/ - they have stuffing mixes, gravy, desert basics and lots of other good things.

I am going to attempt to make most things from scratch using Swiss ingredients so will probably only order a few things.

If you like cranberry sauce, there are packaged Cranberries in the fruit section at Coop now - Oceanspray brand.  I can't live without my jellied cranberry sauce so I will be having that from a can.  Nothing says Thanksgiving better than can shaped cranberry sauce :-D And no, I don't leave it in can form when I put it on the table

I will post the sides I will make in a week or so after I figure them all out :)

Happy Turkey Shopping!

Apples and Oma

This one is a bit of a collaboration.  My mom sent the book, but MIL made it with help from my oldest while I got to enjoy putting the baby to bed.  It was a wonderful treat and the hardest part is deciding if it was better as a dessert or as breakfast the next morning :-)  This is originally a Taste of Home recipe, tweaked a bit to be able to make it here.  Enjoy!

What you need:

1 Kuchenteig - it's a bit sweeter than pizza dough, great for desserts

Apple mixture:
4 cups sliced, peeled apples (the greener, the tarter)
2 tbsp butter
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp flour
1 tsp cinnamon


For the cheese part:
4 oz cream cheese (softened)
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 tbsp caramel topping

For the Streusel:
2/3 cup flour
1/3 cup sugar
1/4 cup cold cubed butter

Peel and slice your apples. Place in a large pan with the butter and cook over medium for 2 minutes. Combine the sugar, flour and cinnamon and mix in. Cook for 3 minutes. Reduce to low and cook until apples are tender - about 5 minutes.

Combine the cheese ingredients into a small bowl, and the streusel ones into another.  Mix the butter into the streusel with a fork until crumbly.

Roll the dough onto a cookie sheet, and pinch the edges up slightly. First spread the cheese topping, then layer the apple topping and sprinkle with the streusel.

 Bake at the temperature directed on the dough package.  Wonderful hot with a scoop of ice-cream, or also cold as breakfast - if you can save any that is.