Thanksgiving questions

[ssmjlm]

I already roasted butternut squash yesterday and it's sitting in the fridge for Thursday.

Pumpkin pie will be tomorrow night along with cake mix cookies.

Wednesday is pumpkin pie cheesecake and mini apple pies.

Most of the food cooking is done Thursday for us though.

What is crockpot stuffing? Although I'm doing the turkey breast in the crockpot.

[mpc]

My ex-bf's family used to do rice instead of mashed potatoes. bunch of crazies. I vote mashed potatoes are as important as the turkey. lol.

[justjen]

Can I sneak a few questions in here too? This is my first time hosting and I'm not known for my cooking skills...

I was following a thread on my local board about mashed potatoes, and a bunch of them recommended the Pioneer Woman recipe--but that has cream cheese, which sounds super weird to me. Is it?? Or am I just naive a about what makes mashed potatoes delicious?

Otherwise I was looking at a Martha Stewart one that's just potatoes, butter, cream, etc., but then nutmeg? Would that be better?
Also-- if the potato recipe serves 10, and I'm having 16, I should just double it, right?

Pity my family. At least my mom is making the turkey

[MNH2013]

Nov 24, 2014 8:41:31 GMT -5 justjen said:

Can I sneak a few questions in here too? This is my first time hosting and I'm not known for my cooking skills...

I was following a thread on my local board about mashed potatoes, and a bunch of them recommended the Pioneer Woman recipe--but that has cream cheese, which sounds super weird to me. Is it?? Or am I just naive a about what makes mashed potatoes delicious?

Otherwise I was looking at a Martha Stewart one that's just potatoes, butter, cream, etc., but then nutmeg? Would that be better?
Also-- if the potato recipe serves 10, and I'm having 16, I should just double it, right?

Pity my family. At least my mom is making the turkey

The PW mashed potatoes are the only ones I make now! They are sooo good. You don't really taste the cream cheese, it just gives it a slight tang. I brought them last year to a Thanksgiving and so did someone else (theirs were plain). My bowl was licked clean and the other was hardly touched.

Edited for typos

[rex]

mashed potatoes are my favorite food. you cannot have thanksgiving without them!

[babyrn]

Mashed potatoes are essential.

I've never made PW's mashed potatoes but I always add cream cheese when I make them. It makes then extra yummy. And I HATE cream cheese otherwise.

[kershnic]

Who hates pioneer woman? Her food is delicious.

Also good choice @this. I don't even love mashed potatoes but I know you can't have thanksgiving without!

[spk926]

Nov 24, 2014 8:48:53 GMT -5 @this said:

Goddammit.

Fine, I'll add mashed potatoes.

Good choice! It's a Thanksgiving staple!!

[Deleted]

I demand both mashed potatoes and sweet potatoes at Thanksgiving!

We're traveling to the lake place for thanksgiving. Its way easier to make something at home and freeze it than try to pack all the crap to make something. I'm in charge of breakfasts, so I made and froze two quiches, raspberry muffins and a pumpkin cheesecake. I'm making bread today.

[ladygrey]

What do you put gravy on if there aren't mashed potatoes?

And ditto those who recommended PW's mashed potatoes. They are perfect for making ahead of time. justjen, the cream cheese adds a nice richness and creaminess - even if you don't like cc, you won't be able to tell.

[cricketwife]

@this, Trader Joe's sells frozen mashed potatoes!!!!!! No peeling, no boiling and they're pretty good! So far, we've only had them on weeknight meals but you could doctor them up with whatever you normally put in your mashed potatoes to make the extra delicious. I'll be serving them for Thanksgiving without even doctoring them up, lol.

[spk926]

Okay I'm going to ask a question too. I'm making two apple pies. I need to refrigerate them after making them, right? So I could make them Tuesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday or Wednesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday and it would be ok?

[h]

Team Mashed Potatoes. They are my favorite Thanksgiving food and the thing I would miss most. But I think it depends on your group. If no one cares, it is not like the Thanksgiving police will come after you if you skip them.

[bearbaby]

My mom has already made the stuffing and it is frozen - I would say that's definitely a safe bet.

[simpsongal]

Nov 24, 2014 9:16:16 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Okay I'm going to ask a question too. I'm making two apple pies. I need to refrigerate them after making them, right? So I could make them Tuesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday or Wednesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday and it would be ok?

I think you'll get a better result if you freeze the pies unbaked and then bake them the night before or day of Thanksgiving.  It will keep fine in the fridge but the crust may get a bit soggy.  If you bake the pies Tuesday night, I would probably leave them on the counter (but I live dangerously).

For those asking about doing things in advanced, some things should wait until the night before or day of.  But consider doing components in advance.  For instance, I'm chopping all the veggies for my stuffing tomorrow and roasting the nuts too.  I won't make the stuffing until Wednesday night.

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2014 8:41:31 GMT -5 justjen said:

Can I sneak a few questions in here too? This is my first time hosting and I'm not known for my cooking skills...

I was following a thread on my local board about mashed potatoes, and a bunch of them recommended the Pioneer Woman recipe--but that has cream cheese, which sounds super weird to me. Is it?? Or am I just naive a about what makes mashed potatoes delicious?

Otherwise I was looking at a Martha Stewart one that's just potatoes, butter, cream, etc., but then nutmeg? Would that be better?
Also-- if the potato recipe serves 10, and I'm having 16, I should just double it, right?

Pity my family. At least my mom is making the turkey

My mom's mashed potatoes, which are amazeballs, have mayo in them. I'd totally give cream cheese in mashed potatoes a try.

[ssmjlm]

Nov 24, 2014 8:41:31 GMT -5 justjen said:

Can I sneak a few questions in here too? This is my first time hosting and I'm not known for my cooking skills...

I was following a thread on my local board about mashed potatoes, and a bunch of them recommended the Pioneer Woman recipe--but that has cream cheese, which sounds super weird to me. Is it?? Or am I just naive a about what makes mashed potatoes delicious?

Otherwise I was looking at a Martha Stewart one that's just potatoes, butter, cream, etc., but then nutmeg? Would that be better?
Also-- if the potato recipe serves 10, and I'm having 16, I should just double it, right?

Pity my family. At least my mom is making the turkey

I put sour cream in mine, so I'm guessing PW's are similar.

Do not double the recipe!  I would just add a bit more.  You will have so many mashed potatoes left over you will never want to see them again.

[spk926]

Nov 24, 2014 9:21:51 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

Nov 24, 2014 9:16:16 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Okay I'm going to ask a question too. I'm making two apple pies. I need to refrigerate them after making them, right? So I could make them Tuesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday or Wednesday night and put them in the fridge til Thursday and it would be ok?

I think you'll get a better result if you freeze the pies unbaked and then bake them the night before or day of Thanksgiving.  It will keep fine in the fridge but the crust may get a bit soggy.  If you bake the pies Tuesday night, I would probably leave them on the counter (but I live dangerously).

For those asking about doing things in advanced, some things should wait until the night before or day of.  But consider doing components in advance.  For instance, I'm chopping all the veggies for my stuffing tomorrow and roasting the nuts too.  I won't make the stuffing until Wednesday night.

Oh I didn't think of that. So I could prep the pies Tuesday or Wednesday and just put them in the fridge and then bake them Thursday morning. Hmmmm I think I'll do that!

[orval]

My inlaws never do mashed potatoes. Guess what I am bringing to Thanksgiving this year?? It is not turkey day without them!

[ginkgoleaf]

Yes, you have to have mashed potatoes! I made them for our Friendsgiving and the recipe had sour cream and cream cheese. Plus potatoes, butter, salt and pepper. Delicious.

Ds ate only the mashed potatoes and canned cranberry jelly lol.

[zarapipe]

@this no potatoes at thanksgiving is on par with swizz only having two towels. You need potatoes. End of story.

[justjen]

Nov 24, 2014 9:08:24 GMT -5 @peggyolson said:

Am I the only one who doesn't use a mashed potato recipe? My recipe: peel and cut up potatoes, boil, drain, throw in kitchenaid stand mixer on low. Add 1/2 stick of butter (I like butter), a little salt and then milk until the consistency looks right. Taste as I go.

Listen, some of us don't know what we're doing in the kitchen and need explicit instructions. Don't hate

[spanikopita]

Can I make ahead & freeze macaroni and cheese (homemade)?

[Deleted]

Nov 24, 2014 9:46:49 GMT -5 spanikopita said:

Can I make ahead & freeze macaroni and cheese (homemade)?

I'd be afraid the cheese sauce would separate.

[tacokick]

Nov 24, 2014 9:46:49 GMT -5 spanikopita said:

Can I make ahead & freeze macaroni and cheese (homemade)?

No

[Willis Jackson]

I'm not serving mashed potatoes. ::ducks::

In my defense, it's just my nuclear family and DH doesn't care.

[mpc]

As for prep ahead of time, I usually do similar to simpsongal and do as much component prep ahead as I can - like chopping all the veggies tonight but waiting til tomorrow or Wednesday night to bake the casserole, for example.

[simpsongal]

Nov 24, 2014 9:28:42 GMT -5 spk926 said:

Nov 24, 2014 9:21:51 GMT -5 simpsongal said:

I think you'll get a better result if you freeze the pies unbaked and then bake them the night before or day of Thanksgiving.  It will keep fine in the fridge but the crust may get a bit soggy.  If you bake the pies Tuesday night, I would probably leave them on the counter (but I live dangerously).

For those asking about doing things in advanced, some things should wait until the night before or day of.  But consider doing components in advance.  For instance, I'm chopping all the veggies for my stuffing tomorrow and roasting the nuts too.  I won't make the stuffing until Wednesday night.

Oh I didn't think of that. So I could prep the pies Tuesday or Wednesday and just put them in the fridge and then bake them Thursday morning. Hmmmm I think I'll do that!

I'm not sure how they would do in the fridge, I've only ever read about freezing pies in advance (baked or unbaked).  Here's one of many threads on the topic on chow.  Incidentally, I find the chow boards a very helpful resource - lots of experience, advanced cooks & bakers.

[simpsongal]

Nov 24, 2014 9:46:49 GMT -5 spanikopita said:

Can I make ahead & freeze macaroni and cheese (homemade)?

I think it's a safer bet to make it 1-2 days ahead in the refrigerator and bake the day of.  Reserve any topping (e.g., breadcrumbs) for just before baking.

ETA: If you do this, I would make the pasta a little more al dente and add a little more milk to the bechemel sauce (since things tend to dehydrate in the fridge).

[ktw]

Nov 24, 2014 9:46:49 GMT -5 spanikopita said:

Can I make ahead & freeze macaroni and cheese (homemade)?

Are you baking it? Before G was born, I made it and froze it (before baking) and it was fine. You could also make it ahead, put it in the fridge, and bake on Thursday. I probably would do this Tuesday evening at the earliest. I use Annie's Eats' recipe (http://www.annies-eats.com/2011/03/24/classic-mac-and-cheese/) which has a ton of sauce and that keeps it from drying out.