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Honored Contributor
Posts: 9,861
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

Here's mine -

WinkTurkey breast rather than a whole turkey (we don't like the dark meat anyway)

WinkStove Top Stuffing, with some embellishments

WinkFrozen whole green beans

WinkApple pie from Coco's Restaurant/Bakery (a friend gave me a g/c last month)

WinkMake-ahead mashed potatoes (pop 'em in the oven on Thanksgiving Day)

Do you have any shortcuts to share?

~ house cat ~
Trusted Contributor
Posts: 1,578
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

Eat out.

You'll find my heart at the Rainbow Bridge. Smiley Sad
Super Contributor
Posts: 3,125
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

In recent years ... one of the local restaurants will prepare an entire Thanksgiving meal (you pick the menu) - for the number of people expected for dinner.

Just go buy early Thanksgiving day - pick up the food ... re-heat and serve. No fuss, no muss and you have leftovers. Cost isn't much more than if you did it yourself.

Regular Contributor
Posts: 167
Registered: ‎03-30-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

The local casino buffet! MMMMMM.......very GOOD!

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 6,250
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

We gather at my sister's home. She makes 2 turkeys. The rest of us bring something.

I made the cranberry sauce today. Thanksgiving morning I make zooped-up StoveTop stuffing. I'll also bring a small plate of petit-fours.

Happy Thanksgiving to all!

Frequent Contributor
Posts: 138
Registered: ‎03-30-2012

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

I prepped everything I need for the dressing last week and popped it in the freezer (celery, onion, sausage, cornbread). All I have to do is thaw, mix, and bake it.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 2,621
Registered: ‎04-14-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

I enjoy cooking, and many Thanksgiving dishes can be prepared the day before. Cranberry sauce is made ahead of time, as are mashed potatoes, which can easily be reheated in the oven. Pies are made the night before. I have already blanched and frozen my green beans, they will be thawed the night before and sauteed on Thanksgiving day with garlic and olive oil. Stuffing and roasted vegetables are cooked in the oven with the meat. The one thing I don't make is rolls. I buy a good quality frozen roll and heat in the oven.

Trusted Contributor
Posts: 2,621
Registered: ‎04-14-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

On 11/23/2014 Dee in OK said:

I prepped everything I need for the dressing last week and popped it in the freezer (celery, onion, sausage, cornbread). All I have to do is thaw, mix, and bake it.

I also chop and prep vegetables the day before.

Esteemed Contributor
Posts: 5,018
Registered: ‎09-23-2012

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

On 11/23/2014 twocent said:

Eat out.

Best answer of all.

Honored Contributor
Posts: 20,648
Registered: ‎03-09-2010

Re: Post your secret, or not-so-secret shortcuts this Thanksgiving.

I guess mine is more about spreading the work load out over a few days than taking shortcuts with the food. I'd rather inconvenience myself and make outstanding food than to shortcut the food.

But, boy do I spread it out! I make up a little schedule for Mon through Thurs of what I need to do each day and it makes it super easy for me. I use mostly my own recipes that have been refined to the point that we find them perfect. I love making really great food. It's my only creative talent.

Well, ok - just one embarrassing shortcut is that when I make pumpkin pie I use frozen crust. I just don't have it in me anymore to make pie crust. If I were making a two-crust type of pie or something I'd probably go to the trouble. Otherwise, the frozen ones are fine for pumpkin pies. I won't buy a pumpkin pie, though, because ,for some weird neurotic reason of mine, pumpkin pie made by anybody else grosses me out. Sometimes they are this weird color and I just know that others probably don't take that gross white thing out of the eggs when they bake. I know - that's just on me. I'm a nut when it comes to food stuff.