topic Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu? in Community Chat

What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Plaid Pants2 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:51:14 GMT

My dad likes to go out to eat on Thanksgiving, but unfortunately, his favorite restaurant closed.

So I thought instead I would make a simple dinner.

I am planning on having Cornish game hens (one for himand one for me), garlic mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dinner rolls, and pumpkin cheesecake.

How about you?

Going out?

Staying in and cooking?

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

JaneMarple — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:54:12 GMT

Going to my youngest daughter and son in law's home, I'll be assisting in the kitchen.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Noel7 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:56:53 GMT

@Plaid Pants2

It can be a lot of work to make Thanksgiving dinner. Here's a tip: a lot of grocery stores sell turkeys and sides already cooked and ready to go. You can buy a side of handmade mashed potatoes, cran sauce, sweet potatoes, desserts, etc.

Where I live, Safeway makes an entire dinner to take home, the more upscale grocery stores will make fancier sides and pack it up for you to take out that day or the night before.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

QVCkitty1 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:57:49 GMT

I have a small group, so I keep it simple. Turkey breast, dressing, squash, green beans with mushrooms. I will make a pumpkin and an apple pie. I like going out for Thanksgiving, but this year we'll be home.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Mom2Dogs — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 21:57:59 GMT

@Plaid Pants2enjoy the holiday with your dad while you are still able, my parents are gone...Dh and I will travel out of town, we have no relatives/children close by so we go away for a few days....not our idea of a fun holiday but it is what it is...and we do have a good time.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Plaid Pants2 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:03:11 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
@Plaid Pants2

It can be a lot of work to make Thanksgiving dinner. Here's a tip: a lot of grocery stores sell turkeys and sides already cooked and ready to go. You can buy a side of handmade mashed potatoes, cran sauce, sweet potatoes, desserts, etc.

Where I live, Safeway makes an entire dinner to take home, the more upscale grocery stores will make fancier sides and pack it up for you to take out that day or the night before.

@Noel7

Oh, I totally agree that it can be work to make dinner, and I have the meal kits before.

I have already ordered my garlic mashed potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake.

They'll sit in my freezer until I am ready to use them.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Kachina624 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:05:12 GMT

My parents and I started going out to eat at Thanksgiving when I moved to New Mexico in 1999. We ate at the most exclusive restaurants in Santa Fe and Albuquerque and had some of the worst meals in our collective memories. The places that prepare French Cuisine or some kind of fusion, don't know diddley about cooking a turkey and dressing or a pumpkin pie.

Sadly, they are both gone now, but I've since discovered that I can get a wonderful meal of all the traditional favorites at one of our local Indian casinos. It had never occurred to me to suggest a casino while they were alive but they're definitely an option.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

BirdieGal — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:05:12 GMT

Small turkey

Boar ham with my secret glaze

Dressing

My family’s favorite yams

Apple/cranberry mold

Gravy

Rolls

Green beans amandine

Apple pie

pumpkin pie

All done by me.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

GCR18 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:06:43 GMT

That's a good question. I'm traveling to see family. I like Turkey with all the trimmings. If that's what we do, we will likely get a prepared meal.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Tinkrbl44 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:07:50 GMT

I'm cooking, but not sure of the head count of guests yet, so I'm just mulling it over for now.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Noel7 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:09:25 GMT

We used to have friends and family over, but our parents are gone now, as are DH's brother and my best girl friend. I thought a smaller group would be depressing, but it isn't. The three of us plan for weeks and then cook together, although we definitely don't make as much food as before.

Always a turkey, which DH makes, DD makes the gravy. We work on stuffing together.

I make a sweet potato casserole and fancy cranberry sauce. Also a pecan pie. Veg are up for grabs, they love a salad I make with candied pecans, pomegranate seeds, crumbled blue, etc. I always put black olives and marinated green olives on the table, also midget gherkins. Oh, and rolls with butter. I think that's it.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

Noel7 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:11:57 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
My parents and I started going out to eat at Thanksgiving when I moved to New Mexico in 1999. We ate at the most exclusive restaurants in Santa Fe and Albuquerque and had some of the worst meals in our collective memories. The places that prepare French Cuisine or some kind of fusion, don't know diddley about cooking a turkey and dressing or a pumpkin pie.

Sadly, they are both gone now, but I've since discovered that I can get a wonderful meal of all the traditional favorites at one of our local Indian casinos. It had never occurred to me to suggest a casino while they were alive but they're definitely an option.

What a great idea, @Kachina624 !

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

aunt bea — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:22:19 GMT

Not sure if it's just me or if my brother and his daughter will join me. I was invited out but there is something about this day that I just need to cook and smell the turkey cooking while watching the parade!

Purchased Martha Stewart's dinner with the mashed potatoes and dressing. Ordered Stonewall Kitchen's New England Cranberry Relish (I love that stuff). Going to make some pecan sweet potatoe casserole and I will be set. If others join me I will add some type of biscuit and a desert. Enjoy what ever you are going to do!

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

catwhisperer — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:26:49 GMT

It's just DH and myself, so I usually buy a small turkey breast roast and cook it in the crock pot. Then I make homemade stuffing/dressing, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin pie.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

TenderMercies — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:37:05 GMT

Keeping it traditional and boring. Roast turkey with giblet stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry relish, pumpkin pie, and lots of wine. Lots.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

GinzTonic — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 22:57:48 GMT

We started ordering the whole meal prepared about 3 years ago. It is really worth it for us, there is always a crowd here . dh and I both work in jobs that involve black Friday . its just easy and less stress. I love to cook too. I'll make a cool desert and buy the rest. We get the Brady bunch package!!m

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

PA Mom-mom — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:03:50 GMT

@Plaid Pants2 The dinner with your Dad sounds quite lovely! My SIL made Cornish game hens one time many years ago, and I still remember them!

I've had the Thanksgiving duty for the past 20 years or so since my Mom was no longer able. We have between 14 and 21 people each year, and it is sit down! I know! If my daughter wasn't here to help me, I couldn't do it anymore. It's the hardest day of my year! I actually start to work out in preparation at least one month prior. It starts 2 days before - yes, I take off from work. We make 3 pies ( my SIL aslo makes one) and they must be made the day of... so pumpkin pie goes in at midnight..., two fillings, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts or other green veg., corn, turkey and gravy. There is also homemade applesause and bread.I have one oven, so I make use of the slow cooker and sometimes neighboring kitchens. My bread machine is great because I can put it anywhere. Every year I tell my DH I just don't know how I can do it, but I keep on keeping on.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

ChazzyLady — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:19:19 GMT

@Noel7 wrote:
We used to have friends and family over, but our parents are gone now, as are DH's brother and my best girl friend. I thought a smaller group would be depressing, but it isn't. The three of us plan for weeks and then cook together, although we definitely don't make as much food as before.

Always a turkey, which DH makes, DD makes the gravy. We work on stuffing together.

I make a sweet potato casserole and fancy cranberry sauce. Also a pecan pie. Veg are up for grabs, they love a salad I make with candied pecans, pomegranate seeds, crumbled blue, etc. I always put black olives and marinated green olives on the table, also midget gherkins. Oh, and rolls with butter. I think that's it.

Err, @Noel7, with that delicious menu, maybe you should be planning a dinner for four. I await my invitation! And I love to cook too.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

FrostyBabe1 — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:21:42 GMT

I'll be at the beach, so it'll probably be shrimp and/or stone crabs.

I don't care for the majority of the traditional Thanksgiving foods. I'll eat turkey, but that's about it.

Re: What's On Your Thanksgiving Menu?

gmkb — Sun, 22 Oct 2017 23:26:35 GMT

Two of my children live nearby and one daughter will be coming from Ct. The daughter here will hold Thanksgiving. It will be turkey and all the trimmings. My DIL bakes the pies. I ordered Martha's Brie and two of her sides, which I will provide.

Thanksgiving has always been my favorite holiday.