What's on your table for Thanksgiving?

**nancycg56** · 11-22-2009, 11:18 AM

I just started a new medication that is kicking my butt so my DD is taking over most of the Thanksgiving duties when she comes home. We also have to eat much earlier than we usually do because DS has to go to work at 3pm. Normally everyone gets to choose a favorite dish and I add it to the list but not this year ~ I have no energy for it. I'll do the turkey and gravy and DD is doing everything else.

Here is what we are having (subject to change):

Roast turkey
Make ahead gravy ~ this recipe is a godsend!
My Mom's stuffing
Holiday mashed potatoes (make ahead)
Green bean casserole (yes, THAT casserole)
Peas/corn
My Mom's mac & cheese
My awesome bread machine rolls
Cranberry dipping sauce
Regular old cranberry
Cinnamon pears

Sugar free pumpkin pie
Full of sugar pumpkin pie
Chocolate pie
Pecan pie

What's on your menu this year?

**McD** · 11-22-2009, 11:23 AM

What a timely post! I was just coming to ask you guys what your thoughts on my situation were.

Every year, we host Thanksgiving for just our little family unit, plus our neighbor who doesn't have family close by. The menu this year consists of:

appetizers:
meat/cheese tray
little smokies
veggie tray

main course:
ham
green bean casserole
sweet potato casserole
pasta salad
rolls

desserts:
mini-glazed lemon cakes
no bake snickers cheesecakes

Problem we are having is that Maggie may be making her appearance between now and then. Neighbor is WAY looking forward to this as otherwise it leads to him spending a holiday alone, which I hate the thought of. He suggested that I make up a list of everything that needs done and he and Zac will cook me Thanksgiving dinner if I'm not up to it. GREAT IDEA...however, neighbor and Zac get a little squirrely together and I'm nto sure I trust them together in my kitchen.

So now I'm stuck trying to figure out what to do, what I can make ahead, etc. etc. etc. Any ideas ladies and gentleman?

**Lady_V** · 11-22-2009, 11:32 AM

This year we are having a delayed feast.

DD will be with her dad and g-parents at a restaurant. They promised her turkey. She would rather have a home-cooked meal, but Nana isn't much of the cooking type.

The Old Man is working. As of right now, there are only 2 jobs scheduled for the office, but that is bound to change. Not knowing if he has to go in at all, or work all-day stinks.

I will be home alone Thursday. I will spend that time getting the house in order for the holidays, getting the tree and things. I will most likely eat a 'new england sandwich' (sliced turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce)

We postponed everything until the following Sunday. DD will be home by noon and it's Old Man's day off.

The menu as of right now is (subject to change)

Perdue roaster chicken (chicken in a bag is a wonderful thing!)
mashed potatoes
cornbread stuffing
mashed sweet potato casserole
cranberry sauce
veggies

For dessert will be traditional Indian Pudding as made at Plimouth Plantation.

The Old Man had wanted duck (we're not big turkey eaters) but I haven't been able to find the half-ducks and DD and I do not care for duck. If I can find the half-duck, I will happily make it for him because we are thankful to have him in our lives.

**Neeley** · 11-22-2009, 11:38 AM

Well, nothing is on my table because we have to go to three different houses on Turkey day.

Stop #1: MIL & FIL (eat at 11:30)
Turkey
Ham
Dressing
Green Beans
Potato salad
cranberry sauce
Rolls
A couple of different desert pies

Stop #2 My mom's side of the family (eat at 1:00)
2 turkeys (1 fried 1 baked usually)
1 ham
dressing
mashed potatoes
asparagus
sweet potatoes
devil eggs
cranberry sauce
rolls
corn bread
ambrosia salad
olive tray
a couple of different desert pies

Stop #3 - My dad's (eat when we get there - usually around 3:00-3:30)
Turkey
Ham
dressing
corn
mac 'n cheese
cranberry sauce
rolls
potato salad
a few various deserts
plus, whatever else my step-mom decides to cook up

By 4:00 we are stuffed and ready for a nap.

**Lady_V** · 11-22-2009, 11:40 AM

Don't stone me... but, where you are so close to bringing Maggie in to the world, you may consider the price of cost vs. the price you physically will pay to do these things on your own. When it's crunch time here, I sometimes take corners. I said SOMETIMES (quit clucking at me, I am a frugaltarian, not perfect

)

Originally Posted by MrsMcDowell

appetizers:
meat/cheese tray -- can be ordered at deli or sold pre-made
little smokies -- not sure what they are
veggie tray -- can be ordered at deli or sold pre-made

main course:
ham -- made that day
green bean casserole -- make ahead and freeze
sweet potato casserole -- make ahead and freeze
pasta salad -- can be purchased at deli
rolls -- get the pre-made, just heat type

desserts:
mini-glazed lemon cakes -- can you make just one large cake?
no bake snickers cheesecakes -- I love cheesecake too much to say not to make them

**McD** · 11-22-2009, 12:51 PM

Originally Posted by Lady_V

Don't stone me... but, where you are so close to bringing Maggie in to the world, you may consider the price of cost vs. the price you physically will pay to do these things on your own. When it's crunch time here, I sometimes take corners. I said SOMETIMES (quit clucking at me, I am a frugaltarian, not perfect

)

I've thought of that. My mom suggested I do a pre-bought dinner from a local grocery store, but I dont want to do that.

Hubby has offered to handle the making of the ham. I think I can trust him with that.

The meat/cheese tray is going to be made up using leftover odds and ends of various blocks of cheese and such in the fridge. I've been having cheese cravings like crazy through this last trimester and I wanna use up the cheese. So now all I really need to do is buy the crackers and I can pre-slice the cheese and meat.

I am thinking of scrapping the veggie tray idea altogether. The little smokies are cocktail weinies. We have the weinies already bought, they just have to be thrown in the crockpot with some grape jelly and bbq sauce.

I am also thinking of scrapping the little mini-glazed cake and just doing the cheesecake (SO SO SO EASY!)

**Maine Girl** · 11-22-2009, 01:06 PM

i am invited to dinner at my bff's mom so i am making cranberry cheese cake bars to take with me.

On Friday
I am going to make chicken breasts
stuffing
squash
cranberry sauce.

Nichole i hope all goes well for you. Congrats on the upcoming birth of your daughter!!!

**Luckybustert** · 11-22-2009, 06:29 PM

We made reservations at one of our favorite restaurants. There's only the two of us, and we both are trying to lose weight and don't need a ton of our favorite leftovers hanging around and tempting us to indulge. So we'll go out and have a fabulous meal, and the next day it's right back to dieting.

**Contrary Housewife** · 11-22-2009, 10:15 PM

Breakfast:

cinnamon rolls (the canned kind)
tea

Lunch/snacks:

smoked salmon (purchased)
crackers
artichoke dip (from the deli)
pickles
salad w/apple and blue cheese

Dinner:

turkey (DH does this)
cranberry salad
baked mixed veg
popovers
deviled eggs
broccoli
gravy

Dessert:

gingerbread
pie (maybe)

So, breakfast and lunch are easy, I will cook the sides during the afternoon while DH messes with the turkey. The pie is up in the air, depends on how much energy I have.

**phoeny_moonstar** · 11-23-2009, 12:24 AM

I am going to my in-laws and making

Turkey
Ham
Mashed Potatoes w/ Gravy
Lil smokies wrapped in bacon
Cranberry Sauce
Dressing
Rolls
Apple Pie
Blueberry Pie
Key Lime yogurt pie
Pickel Rolls
Deviled Eggs

**pollypurebred39** · 11-23-2009, 02:15 AM

Going to my Grandmother in-laws for an early Thanksgiving lunch. There will be 50+ people and the food will be overflowing in quanity and variety, I can't even begin to name the dishes that will be there. Except that I know that my MIL will be making her fabulous potato filling and her ALWAYS moist turkey. I will be bringing homemade chocolate pudding & brown sugar glazed carrots.

For our Thanksgiving dinner at home I'm making:

Roast turkey stuffed with Daisygirl's stuffing recipe

cauliflower with a homemade cheese sauce

Homemade mashed potatoes and gravy

Brown sugar glazed carrots

canned cranberry sauce

a raspberry pie & more homemade chocolate pudding

**sunshine** · 11-23-2009, 08:39 AM

My table with have dust on it for the holidays. I'm working, 12 hours on Thanksgiving.

**thefrug** · 11-23-2009, 11:08 AM

I'm making a spiral cut ham, roasted sweet and regular potatoes( together with olive oil and salt and pepper),succotash, garlic and herb crescent rolls,apple pie

Thats it. I don't understand having 30 different things. Have a nice dinner and give thanks for it. *shrugs*

**imagine** · 11-23-2009, 11:17 AM

Meat -Turkey breast
Grain -Stuffing
veggie-Green bean casserole
Sauces -Cranberry sauce,Gravy
Bread- rolls
Dessert - pecan pie or pumpkin pie
Drink -water with ice is pretty glasses

**Palooka** · 11-25-2009, 08:34 AM

Going to MIL house and everyone brings a dish. She asked me to bring broccoli rice casserole again. I guess it's just tradition and I'm known for making it.

They all love, after all these years, they still crack jokes with me being a vegetarian and they all try to get me to eat the turkey.