Tell me about your Thanksgiving menu

[spinbaby]

And how much leeway do you have to change things up? I usually cook Thanksgiving dinner and my family is neurotically attached to having it the same every year. My menu:

Turkey, Butterball, roasted unstuffed
Stuffing, Pepperidge Farm herb, made with celery and onions and baked in a casserole
Mashed potatoes, plain
Gravy, nothing fancy
Rolls, white
Green bean casserole, the classic recipe
Sweet potato casserole, I have recently convinced the family they do not require marshmallows
Peas, plain
Cranberry sauce, from the can. Homemade sauce almost caused a mutiny one year.
Pumpkin pie, must be from the recipe on the pumpkin can
Pecan pie

[TEB]

1. I'm just into the pie

I love pumpkin pie

[NRaleighLiberal]

5. we alternate pumpkin and pecan - one for Tgiving, one for Christmas

[TEB]

8. Pecan is under lock and key

In the pie safe to keep me from it

[NRaleighLiberal]

9. probably by far the most delicious pie in creation - but SO SWEET!

the vanilla ice cream is used to tone down the sweetness.

[TEB]

10. I cook but never pies or cakes

A novice lasagna or meatloaf spaghetti but my sister in law makes pecan pie and it is like syrup I find it delicious

[TEB]

13. That and shoo fly pie

My sister in law makes a awesome pie man I’m hungry just thinking about it I have work tonight a blueberry pie already made in fridge I imagine if I cut a slice CSI investigatory wife division would probably figure it out fast but it be a nice snack to get a pre work nap.

[The Polack MSgt]

20. That's the Pennsylvania Hills TEB - Pennsylvania Hills.

Get ready to explain Shoofly Pie to flatlanders.

[Lugnut]

35. Ooooo!

Shoofly pie! I like the wet bottom the best. Lots of molasses. Yummy!

[Ohiogal]

18. I love pecan pie

But I am the only one .... so we don't have it.

My son is bringing pumpkin pie this year that he made from a Japanese pumpkin.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kabocha

[The Polack MSgt]

21. Kabocha is much smoother and slightly sweeter than field pumpkin (Jack O'Lanterns)

Last edited Tue Nov 20, 2018, 05:09 AM - Edit history (1)

And firmer fleshed,but not quite as sweet as the Sugar Pie pumpkins (the small greyish ones)

Kabocha make the BEST soup, and is delicious roasted as well. Should be dandy in pie.

I strongly recommend Pumpkin Soup as a side for any event, holiday, party, or pretty much any cold gloomy day. I love that stuff.

Here is a rambling very wordy recipe for Kabocha soup:
https://www.democraticunderground.com/115774658

Edited to fix link

[NJCher]

31. check link, pls

'Cuz when I click on it, it says "You are not the author of this post."

[The Polack MSgt]

37. I fixed it

I don't know how I managed to do it, but I linked to an open edit this post window...

I didn't even know that was possible.

[NJCher]

39. LOL

thank you.

[TEB]

2. Why did the homemade sauce

Almost cause a mutiny I gotta know friend

[spinbaby]

15. Grandma served canned sauce

Never mind she died in 1985—we must have canned sauce and it must be left intact so the rings show.

[TEB]

16. I love it

[Freddie]

24. Me too

There’s an art to getting it out of the can just right so the rings show.
I have a special dish I use once a year for this. Now that my parents are gone I don’t think anyone eats it but it must be on the table. The can is chilling in the fridge already.

[Fresh_Start]

3. we have the basics and switch up the others

basics
turkey
mashed potatoes
gravy
pumpkin pie
sparkling wine
homemade cranberry sauce - trying with cherries this year

2nd entree
lasagna this year

sides
bread side - cornbread and bread sticks this year
vegetables - peas, carrots, harvard beets, roasted sweet potatoes
salad or soup - green salad with pomegranate and orange pieces this year

[NRaleighLiberal]

4. Just my wife and I - basic and traditional

roasted Trader Joe brined turkey (best we've had - that includes Whole Foods birds) - I roast it on Wed.
home made sausage stuffing using turkey breakfast sausage, whole wheat bread, onions, celery, Bells seasoning, turkey drippings - will make this Wed as well
Mashed Yukon gold potatoes with home made gravy using the pan drippings (my wife's main task - hers is so good)
Peas (Trader Joe frozen baby peas)
cranberry sauce (another job for wed- home made, so easy! the leftovers are used as jam for toast)
home made Pecan pie (even the crust) with Talenti vanilla bean ice cream

bottle of sparkling Rose

We will wake up, I will make pumpkin buttermilk Belgian waffles, then we will take a long walk with our dog around a nearby lake, and have the big meal mid afternoon.

Much quieter with our daughters distant and having their own dinners....but we've grown used to it being us and dogs and cats and nice music!

have a wonderful Thanksgiving, all!

[snpsmom]

6. Menu

Our pasture-raised turkey, stuffed with chorizo-cornbread stuffing and rubbed with Southwest spices
Chipotle-honey gravy
Garlic mashed potatoes
Roasted dumpling squash and sweet potatoes (home grown)
Green and yellow pole beans with pepitos and Manchego cheese
Mexican Christmas salad
Pearl onions in cheese sauce
Fresh cranberry-orange relish
Crusty rolls
Nanny's pecan pie
Dutch apple pie
Relish tray with a variety of olives and my homemade sweet gherkins

[Liberty Belle]

7. This year we're eating out (Mimi's $20 ea.) due to a relative who can't drive far, but when I cook..

I would mix things up with variations, ie some additions to the stuffing such as apples and walnuts. Turkey cooked with stuffing on the side nowadays.
I make a homemade cranberry-orange sauce with whole cranberries and some cloves and cinnamon.
I've sometimes made a corn chowder with bacon, onions and potatoes.
Never plain rolls -- sometimes cornbread or blueberry muffins or whole grain rolls
Always yams -- we do half with and half without the marshmallows to settle that feud.
We do the classic green bean casserole.
We buy Julian apple pies usually, a local bakery that's wonderful.
My theory is make lots of dishes and if someone doesn't like one, there is plenty else for them to eat. But the kids always got to pick one favorite dish each that I'd make (I only have 2 kids, so this wasn't hard)
i'd also serve sparkling apple cider or sparkling grape juice for the non-drinkers and wine for those who imbibe.

Mimi's deal, by the way, gets you soup or salad, turkey, stuffing, yams, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce and choice of pies, maybe more but that's what I recall from last time. If you only have a few people it can be about the same to eat out as to buy it all and cook, though you don't have those yummy leftovers. But one relative can no longer drive far, so we're going to eat at a Mimi's near his home this year. Last time we did this, I'd had emergency surgery days before Thanksgiving and just wasn't up to cooking.

[rsdsharp]

11. Were keeping it simple this year.

Turkey breasts -- two
Ham
Sage and Onion dressing
America's test kitchen make ahead mashed potatoes.
Gravy
Sauteed green beans with bacon, mushrooms and onion.
Creamed corn.

My wife will do rolls (frozen this year)
Cranberry pear chutney
Pecan pie
Chocolate pie.

[Cairycat]

12. Just three of us

none of whom are that attached to turkey, so we're having a small boneless leg of lamb. Also
mashed potatoes and gravy
Pepperidge Farm stuffing, made with celery and onions and baked in a casserole. Was fairly advanced in years before I understood some people make homemade, or use cornbread
Roasted vegetables
We all three like different pies, so I decided to make tarts and freeze what we don't eat right away - pumpkin for sure, apple maybe with some cranberries, and perhaps also pecan
My son will insist on having jellied cranberry sauce from a can. Need to figure out some way to use the leftovers

If I had more people coming, I'd make buttermilk potato cloverleaf rolls

[Bayard]

14. This reminds me...

I better start thinking about transferring turkey from freezer to fridge. The first year I ever made Tday dinner, I gave my guest food poisoning by thawing the turkey in the sink for 3 days.

This year:
Roasted turkey
Cornbread dressing with celery, onions, and giblets
Cranberry salad with fresh berries, cubed pears, almonds, and lots of sugar
Sweet potatoes from an old recipe--sliced fresh potatoes with unsalted butter, honey, pecans, and nutmeg
Corn pudding
Haven't decided what other veges yet--will Not be that awful green bean casserole
Maybe mashed regular potatoes, homemade gravy
Homemade yeast rolls
Pumpkin pie with graham cracker crust and a cream cheese layer on bottom
Derby Pie (choc chips and pecans)
Maybe apple pie, or Granny's Apple Cake, if I can find the recipe again (Cooks.com)

And of course, Diet Coke. And Tums.

[gopiscrap]

17. 15 of us will be here

24 lb turkey
Home made mash potatos
Home made yams
green bean casserol
fresh garden peas
home made stuffing and dressing
green salad
pumpkin and aple pie
cranberries out of a can

and various assorted snacks

spakling water and apple cider

[spinbaby]

28. Pre-dinner snacks are an art form

You have to give them something they like to nibble on without ruining their appetite for dinner. I’m going with veggies and ranch dip, Boursin and crackers, and nuts.

[Ohiogal]

19. There will be seven of us here

I guess we're pretty traditional.

I have been making the Thanksgiving meal for over 30 years. Some things must remain the same .... other things get switched up now and then.

This year's menu:

Roast turkey
Homemade bread stuffing
Homemade gravy
Mashed potatoes
Brown-butter sweet potatoes (NO marshmallows)
Green Beans Amandine
Cranberry sauce
3 Bean salad
Cranberry Walnut bread (I make)
Kabocha (Japanese pumpkin) pie -- my son makes
An alternate dessert my sister brings because she does not like pumpkin anything
Cabernet Sauvignon wine

[The Polack MSgt]

22. My wife and I will be cooking for 6 adults

My 2 kids, their S.O.s and ourselves. Pretty standard menu
Turkey
stuffing
Mashed potato's and gravy
Sweet Potato Tempura
Roasted asparagus
French Bread
tossed salad
Pumpkin Pie
AND...
Green Bean Casserole -
I've been searching for a replacement for green bean casserole lately, because I am kinda sick of it TBH.

When I told my wife and son that I was going to make turnip greens instead, well I faced immediate and strong opposition. - Turns out I'm the only one tired of it.

[becca da bakkah]

23. It's Just My Adult Son, and I.......

.....We are both totally keto way of eating. So we skip over the sweet potatoes with marshmallows, the potatoes, the cornbread dressing, etc. And we both loathe turkey; too dry and flavorless, IMO. And it takes too damn long! We thought that way before switching to low carb about 2 years ago.

Instead, we're having rib eye roast, on sale at the local chain market, and sea food chowder with cod, shrimp, scallops and salmon. We used to add crab, but holy shit has that ever gotten super pricey!

I also have some keto friendly pie recipes, such as chocolate silk, and faux apple, I'll be making, IF my back doesn't bother me too much. It's just not TG without pies!

Vegetables will be steamed asparagus with garlic butter, and /or broccoli.

Enjoy your TG dinner, all you traditionalists and rebels!

[Freddie]

25. Just 5 adults, 2 little kids and a baby this year

The usual:
Turkey
Mashed potatoes
Filling (PA Dutch recipe)
Gravy
GBC
Cope’s Dried Corn (also PA Dutch)
Cranberry sauce from can
Coleslaw (bought, better than mine)
Rolls (made from frozen dough)
Pumpkin pie
Apple pie
Wine, beer, soda, coffee

My brother will talk about he never eats carbs except on “special occasions” while he loads his plate with potatoes and chugs his beer. Love him to pieces.

[Freethinker65]

26. First year I am skipping the Thanksgiving meal

I hope to make it a new tradition!

[lkinwi]

27. 16 of us

Traditional turkey, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, rolls, green bean casserole, Jiffy corn casserole, (heart attack recipe) and sweet potatoes. Cheesecake, pumpkin pie, apple pie.

[Nay]

30. I beg to differ -- sweet potato casserole DOES require marshmallows. LOL

Since I am getting to be an old bat and I hate cooking anyway, I am pleased to announce that my lovely DIL and my son will be making the feast this year!! I'm excited just to avoid the cooking and actually enjoy the day! I don't care what they fix. I'm happy.

[shanny]

32. No turkey--Mom was a lousy cook

and I've always hated it. Besides, the family only eats fish.

So. Baked salmon fillet with cranberry-orange glaze. Cornbread stuffing with more cranberries and nuts. Potatoes au gratin. Brussel sprouts with Dijon cream sauce. Baked acorn squash with butter and brown sugar. Wild Wild Rice with dried berries, toasted pecans, green onions, fresh mint and orange zest. Homemade cranberry sauce just in case it is needed. Dessert is two-fold: rum chiffon pie (old family recipe) and pumpkin cheesecake-to-die-for.

Oops: forgot the roasted corn and red pepper bisque to start. As if we needed it.

[drray23]

33. Here it is.

Farm raised fresh turkey
Fruit and nuts stuffing
Scalloped tomatoes
Mashed potatoes
Mincemeat pie
Pear claffoutis

[demgrrrll]

34. my husband is making white castle dressing this year.....running from the thread now.....nt

[Luciferous]

36. Going to my mom's for dinner but my daughter convinced me to make a dinner the day after

Roasted chicken (not big fans of turkey)
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Slow cooker dressing
Pumpkin casserole
Pumpkin cheesecake with caramel
Chocolate cream pie

I am also making those adorable pumpkin rolls posted the other day to take to my mom's and might do some plain dinner rolls using the same technique for my dinner

[Lunabell]

38. Your menu sounds amazing!

There's only 3 of us, so we're not having a full Turkey, just a Turkey breast wrapped in bacon. Dressing, gravy, cranberry sauce (canned) brussel sprouts, sweet potato casserole with pecans on top, corn, rolls and peach cobbler with ice cream for dessert.