Let's talk turkey

[ssmjlm]

The MM Thanksgiving food posts make me depressed. No one in wants to branch out to anything fancy. MIL is hosting this year, so most of it will be inedible. I wanted to host as it's our holiday, but just didn't think we could with E. I'm regretting that decision.

I am still cooking a small turkey on Friday for DH to have his turkey leftovers. Then we'll do green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, butternut squash with pineapple, rolls, pumpkin pie and some other dessert TBD.

[Deleted]

I think we're going to be driving on Thanksgiving and it won't be a big dinner this year.

My favorite think for Thanksgiving is pecan tartlets. You use mini muffin pans and make a crust inside each one and basically pecan pie filling. They are nice and little and not so overwhelmingly sweet like pecan pie.

[emilyinchile]

For hors d'oeuvres my family always has a cheese plate, spinach dip in a bread bowl and shrimp with cocktail sauce. Not sure if one of the latter two helps you.

I am SO EXCITED to go home for Thanksgiving and do the big family gathering! We usually have around 30 people at my aunt and uncle's up in Napa. Lots of homemade wine (they have a winery, so it's good stuff) and so much food.

[Deleted]

We're going away again this year so no cooking for me!

I really like Pioneer Woman's whiskey glazed carrots. I made those the years I hosted and they went over well.

Shrimp cocktail is always an all hit - I like Ina's roasted shrimp cocktail recipe.

Maybe some charcuterie to go with the cheese?

Your menu sounds yummy!

[rubytue]

Hosting 7 adults and 2 kids.

Menu has not been decided (we should get on that), but it will probably be traditional. We will make turkey, gravy, oyster stuffing, cranberries, and bread. Step-sis will bring veggie and desert. Hmm, probably need some sweet potatoes in there.

[simpsongal]

If you've never hosted before, definitely make lists a week out and do as much ahead of time as possible. If you have a separate dining room, set the table days ahead. If you have time, you could make cute place cards with Lu.

This is the best pumpkin pie I've ever had: you don't even need whipped cream.

ETA: In-laws are hosting 20+ this year.  I'm usually responsible for dessert.  I'll bring the pumpkin pie above, an apple pie, and maybe a cheesecake.  Not sure yet... 

[keweenawlove]

I tried sweet potatoes with bananas for the first time last year and it was delicious. I think I used a recipe similar to this one.

[sjh722]

Nov 8, 2013 12:39:55 GMT -5 ssmjlm said:

The MM Thanksgiving food posts make me depressed. No one in wants to branch out to anything fancy. MIL is hosting this year, so most of it will be inedible. I wanted to host as it's our holiday, but just didn't think we could with E. I'm regretting that decision.

This is why I always host, too. Boring food is such a sad way spend Thanksgiving!

We are having MIL and FIL, BIL and SIL, and their 2 boys + us, so 8 people + a baby? Also, 2/3 of the guest list are pretty unadventurous eaters.

So far:

Cheese/sausage/cracker tray

Turkey (we might smoke it)
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Stuffing
Homemade cranberry sauce
Veggie side (SIL)
Veggie side (MIL)

Pumpkin Custard 
Apple Pie? (I would much rather pecan pie, but I think I'm the only person who would eat it and I do NOT need 7/8 of a pecan pie left at my house or I'll be eating it for breakfast and lunch all weekend)

Nothing too creative, but at least it will all be homemade and delicious! 

[sjh722]

Nov 8, 2013 12:50:49 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

If you've never hosted before, definitely make lists a week out and do as much ahead of time as possible. If you have a separate dining room, set the table days ahead. If you have time, you could make cute place cards with Lu.

Yes. And start cooking like 1.5 hours before you think you need to, LOL. I speak from experience.

I set the table, pre-chop veggies, cut bread for stuffing, make cranberry sauce, etc all on Wednesday night. Lay out all of my serving pieces with post-its of what goes where so we have enough dishes.

[sjh722]

Nov 8, 2013 12:58:18 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 8, 2013 12:54:47 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

Yes. And start cooking like 1.5 hours before you think you need to, LOL. I speak from experience.

I set the table, pre-chop veggies, cut bread for stuffing, make cranberry sauce, etc all on Wednesday night. Lay out all of my serving pieces with post-its of what goes where so we have enough dishes.

Yes, definitely! Some of the stuff other people will be bringing, but I am definitely making to-do lists. I already have our housekeeper coming on Wed to help me with cleaning and setting tables and stuff.

The two kiddos could throw a wrench into things but I'll just keep throwing back the wine to avoid getting stressed lol.

I pour my first glass at about 11 a.m.

[ESF]

We are going to be at my MILs.  There will be just 3 or 4 of us.  We still cook the whole meal because we are insane like that.

Menu is:
brined turkey

this stuffing, which is amazeballs - www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/New-England-Sausage-Apple-and-Dried-Cranberry-Stuffing-812

gravy

This, but subbing shallots for the leeks -- www.marthastewart.com/940562/smashed-root-vegetables-and-caramelized-leeks

roasted brussels sprouts

cranberry sauce

and rutabaga, because my MIL loves it and insists that we have it, even though I hate it, and would much rather have carrots or sweet potato for an orange vegetable.

Dessert - ice cream sandwiches made with these:

www.marthastewart.com/857663/chewy-chocolate-ginger-molasses-cookies

www.davidlebovitz.com/2009/11/pumpkin-ice-cream-recipe/

[nomad100]

Alton Brown's Roast Turkey is the bomb!  5 years in a row that the turkey has turned out a-freaking-mazing.

www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html

That is all I can contribute since we haven't started pulling together our menu yet.

[msmerymac]

I don't eat meat, so no one will let me host, lol.

We always go to my in-laws. My MIL actually makes 1 or 2 new dishes each year, which is nice. She likes to experiment with food, in a good way.

[jennistarr1]

Last and only time I hosted I ended up behind our shed holding a spoon and bawling my eyes out

Turkey
Dressing (mom)
Mashed potatos
Roasted Garlic Brussel Sprouts
Green Bean Almondine
Honey Carrots
Corn
Sausage/Saerkraut
Homemade cranberry sauce and canned

My mom will make a dessert, I am trying a Baltimore bomb pie which is berger cookies in a cream chess

[simpsongal]

I'm curious to see the turkey recipe recommendations. I've only made the bird once, so I don't have a lot of experience. It turned out well -- I rubbed butter & herbs under the skin, filled the cavity with aromatics, roasted breast side down, etc. All of my gourmet recipes recommend breaking the bird down (e.g., Cooks Illustrated). I understand why that seems like the best approach, but how many people actually do that?

[1yeartogo]

Hosting 14 ppl and it is Hanukkah too! Turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry sauce, potato latkes, sweet potato soufflé, pumpkin bread, cornbread, broccoli, corn (for kids), and desserts brought by sil. We may make other Jewish foods too but that is up to my DH.

[ESF]

Nov 8, 2013 13:30:05 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I'm curious to see the turkey recipe recommendations. I've only made the bird once, so I don't have a lot of experience. It turned out well -- I rubbed butter & herbs under the skin, filled the cavity with aromatics, roasted breast side down, etc. All of my gourmet recipes recommend breaking the bird down (e.g., Cooks Illustrated). I understand why that seems like the best approach, but how many people actually do that?

My husband is the turkey master, so I don't know the specifics on cooking time and temp, but I do know that we definitely do butter and herbs under the skin, butter and olive oil and s&P on top of the skin.  And we cook right side up, and covers the breast with tinfoil for most of the time, and then removes the tinfoil when there's only about 30-45 minutes left to go.  Breast stays moist that way.

[crashgizmo]

We aren't hosting this year, but we have the last few.

I made these Sweet Potato Bites for appetizers last year and they were a HUGE hit. We had a sweet potato casserole in years past and there was always a ton leftover, so this was a great substitution and it gave me another appetizer!

dineanddish.net/2012/09/game-day-with-alexia-recipe-sweet-potato-casserole-bites/

[orangello]

I know people are loyal to their stuffing recipes, but if anyone wants to switch it up, this is OMG so good - I hate stuffing, and I will eat this. I made it into stuffing muffins last year, and EVEN BETTER.

:: drools ::

www.sunset.com/food-wine/holidays-occasions/thanksgiving-side-dish-recipes-00400000056366/page10.html

[Deleted]

Our house is too small to host so we usually make our own meal the week before. We have to go to two dinners (well lunch and dinner), my families menu varies but always has potatoes and stuffing. My inlays make a decent turkey but have been known to make canned or frozen vegetables and rarely make anything new. I am asked to bring the same dish to EVERY gathering and I do it but it drives me insane! Last year I made jalapeño popper dip as an appetizer and it was a huge hit.

[barefootcontessa]

Nov 8, 2013 12:58:18 GMT -5 jenny1980 said:

Nov 8, 2013 12:54:47 GMT -5 sjh722 said:

Yes. And start cooking like 1.5 hours before you think you need to, LOL. I speak from experience.

I set the table, pre-chop veggies, cut bread for stuffing, make cranberry sauce, etc all on Wednesday night. Lay out all of my serving pieces with post-its of what goes where so we have enough dishes.

Yes, definitely! Some of the stuff other people will be bringing, but I am definitely making to-do lists. I already have our housekeeper coming on Wed to help me with cleaning and setting tables and stuff.

The two kiddos could throw a wrench into things but I'll just keep throwing back the wine to avoid getting stressed lol.

Cooks Illustrated has a make-it-ahead book that has excellent recipes you can freeze to ease the burden in the days leading up to TG.  Back when I used to be a pushover and let my ILs decide at the last minute if they wanted to come, I used this approach to make sure I would have enough food.  I quit inviting them and now I use it so I can enjoy things more.  

[kermit]

My family is all about meat and carbs and no veggies except mashed potatoes and corn drowned in butter and cream cheese. I'm planning on making roasted broccoli anyway, SO and I will eat it even if no one else does. I need something healthy!

[delawarejen]

My family doesn't get together for Thanksgiving. (When my sister married, her various inlaws claimed Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, and Christmas morning, so we consider them all to be holidays for visiting inlaws. This means singles like me are alone.) I usually end up going into the office then stopping by Boston Market.

Some years we get together for Thanksgiving on a different day (like Friday or Saturday), but that's entirely dependent on whether my sister wants to host (she's the only one with a large enough house). We eat all the classics - turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, rolls, pie.

[kittycatlove]

We always host. One of the big things that has helped me is to make the mashed potatoes early and keep them warm in the crockpot. It's a time saver when trying to get everything out at once and hot.

[mlvmd]

I love hosting but we're going to my mom's this year. She is an amazing cook so I don't mind too much. We keep all the old Thanksgiving editions of Bon Appetite magazine and then go with a kind If theme, southwest inspired, New England inspired, etc. I can't wait to find out what this year will be. We still do the basics, mashed potatoes, turkey, pumpkin pie, the flavor will just vary.

[flygirl22]

I'm so excited to finally have a chance to make a real Thanksgiving dinner:

Cheese Plate, spinach and artichoke dip with crackers, relish tray

I'm brining my turkey (first time), and roasting
Mashed potatoes and Gravy
Stuffing-I'm using a new recipe
Green bean cassole-non cream of crap
Some type of salad

Some type of pumpkin dessert

[HoneySpider]

My parents surprised us this week and said they are coming to visit for Thanksgiving! Yay! It's just going to be the 4 of us and super laid back.

We do a very traditional meal:
Turkey
Stuffing
Mashed potatoes
Twice-baked potatoes (we have 2 potatoes because one is mine and one is DH's and neither wants to give it up, so whatever)
Broccoli cheese casserole
Cranberry sauce (in a can! Love it)
Rolls/croissants/bread product of some sort

Dessert will be apple pie and pumpkin pie and possibly one other thing (we like dessert in our family)

[jackpackage]

We're hosting again this year and we usually have about 15 people too.

Appetizers:
Hot onion dip
Shrimp cocktail
Baked Brie bites (these were demolished last year before I could try them) similar recipe:
www.plainchicken.com/2011/09/ile-de-france-cheese-baked-brie-bites.html

Main:
Roasted Turkey 
Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
Cornbread Stuffing with sausage
Alternate stuffing for gluten-free/vegetarians
Corn Casserole
Glazed Carrots
Yeast rolls (served with herb butter or honey cinnamon butter)
I need to find a few more sides. We have a few dietary restrictions-two people are vegetarian, another is dairy free and another is gluten-free. 

Dessert-
Pumpkin Dessert (H's coworker has made this twice for their office already this fall. It's so good)
www.tasteofhome.com/recipes/pecan-pumpkin-dessert
Bread Pudding with bourbon cream sauce
Someone usually ends up bringing pie.

Drink is going to be champagne and Chambord garnished with cranberries. We usually keep a few bowls of spiced nuts around the house as well as chocolates (salted caramel & turtles).

[Redpoppy]

FIL will have the following planned as he makes the same exact thing every year:

Apps: mixed nuts and sometimes veggie tray
Turkey
Stuffing that is bread and seasoning only
Gravy
Mashed potatoes
Pre packaged rolls
Squash soufflé (this is gross and DS made a comment made a comment lat year so we will have a chat about filters and being polite before going over this year)
Canned cranberry sauce
Steamed green beans and a decent salad will be made by SIL.

I only brought a dessert the first year and was saddened by the lack of corn and good food.

I now bring 2-3 additional sides, one with corn, one sweet potato, and something else. This year it will be chipotle corn casserole, glazed carrots with walnuts, and a sweet potato banana pecan dish. I bring assorted cheese and toppings for appetizers. I also bring dessert. This year it will be bourbon pecan pie and apple pumpkin gallete. They are all from the Food network magazine this month but sound good. DH wants to do a trial run next weekend but I think I'm doing sides only and a turkey breast.

Best of all is my brother, SIL, and nephew are coming up Friday of Thanksgiving weekend so I'm making Thanksgiving dinner my way that weekend.

[sporky]

We're hosting around 20 people. I don't have a finalized menu yet, since I'm still waiting for some people to decide which sides they're bringing.