Thanksgiving menus/recipes?

[Brie]

So I've decided to make Thanksgiving dinner this year. It will likely be a small group--5 or 6 people--but I want to make a lot so we have leftovers.

So, what's on your menu? What are your favorite recipes?

I think I'm doing:
-turkey
-mashed potatoes
-sweet potato casserole (mashed sweet potatoes topped with toasted coconut, pecans, and brown sugar--so good)
-cranberry-orange sauce (the Williams-Sonoma recipe)

Dessert will probably be pumpkin pie, pecan pie, and maybe something chocolate.

I am on the hunt for a good stuffing or dressing recipe (I'm not a huge fan) and some sort of vegetable dish. And maybe a festive cocktail.

[lindyanne]

I am not a stuffing fan but everyone in my family absolutely loves this. m.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Harvest-Stuffing-107551

[dexteroni]

I've been making these green beans on Thanksgiving for a few years and they're easy and delicious. The original recipe is here but I adapted it to a stove top recipe since the oven is always over capacity on Thanksgiving.

Green Beans with Garlic, Shallots, and Almonds
1 lb. fresh green beans
2 shallots, peeled, and cut into thin slivers
1 - 2 medium cloves garlic, chopped
2 T olive oil
salt and pepper to taste
1/4 cup almonds, chopped
1/4 cup flat leaf parsley, finely chopped
1 tsp. lemon zest

Steam the green beans. While beans are cooking, heat oil in skillet and saute shallots and garlic until they start soften and brown lightly, which only takes a few minutes. Add almonds and stir/toss frequently until almonds start to brown, which should only take a couple minutes. Add beans to skillet, season with salt and pepper, toss until everything is mixed. Sprinkle with lemon zest and parsley, stir again to mix, and serve. I sometimes make this for a weeknight dinner and have left out the lemon zest and/or parsley on occasion, and it's good either way.

[joenali]

I love cranberries and I make this every year:

I bag of cranberries
I cup of sugar
I cup of orange juice
Bring to a boil and then let simmer until the berries start to pop
Pour into a casserole dish and coo in the fridge
Garnish with grated orange peel or satsuma slices

It's really good! I love the cran/orange flavor!

Not to mention its super easy!!

[macmars45]

BFF and her H are hosting for their immediate family (and H and me) this year. I offered to help however needed.
There will be (as of now):
mashed potatoes
ham
some turkey type thing
some dessert yet to be determined
sparkling cider

BFF & her H and my H & I live in apts about 5 minutes from each other.

[fuddyduddy]

I'm glad you posted this. I need to come up with something to bring to a friend's Thanksgiving dinner.

[bunch]

Alton brown has an awesome from scratch green bean casserole.

[joenali]

I've also done ham with a fig glaze. Again super easy, yet delicious. The menu is on the Food Network website.

[hilwithonelary]

I'm not generally a fan of dressing/stuffing, but since I found this recipe, it's my favortie dish at Thanksgiving.

1.5 sticks of butter or margarine, or 1/3 cup oil (we use butter)

1 cup diced onions

1/2 cup diced celery

1/4 cup carrots, diced small

1 1/2 cups peeled and diced apples (some kind of red apple)

6 cups diced or cubed bread (we set out slices of bread to dry the day before, then break into pieces right before preparing the dish)

3/4 cup dried cranberries

3/4 cup finely-chopped walnuts

1/4 cup chicken broth

1/2 teaspoon basil

1/2 teaspoon lemon juice

1 1/2 teaspoons salt

3/4 teaspoon black pepper

Preheat oven to 350. In a large pan or cooking pan, saute onions, celery, and carrots in butter, oil or margarine. Saute vegetables until just soft. Add the diced apples, cranberries, and walbuts to pan. Saute for 3-4 minutes, stirring frequently. Add bread cubes and remaining ingredients. Gently mix all ingredients together until uniformly moist. Do not overmix. If stuffing is too dry, add a small amount of water or chicken broth. If stuffing is too wet, add some more bread cubes. Place the stuffing in a lightly greased baking pan or casserole dish and bake at 350 for one hour. Occasional basting with shortening or chicken broth may be desired or required.

[ssmjlm]

Here's the menu I was originally planning (until MIL told us she wanted to host, then backed out but let us know she bought a 24lb turkey. Umm yeah, she'll be cooking that thing.)

Appetizers:
-Crab Dip
-Hormel Tray

Main Course
-Turkey
-Turkey Breast in the crockpot with lemons and onions
-Stuffing with onions and sausage
-Mashed Potatoes
-Green Bean Casserole
-Butternut Squash Casserole
-Corn Pudding
-Cranberry Sauce
-Rolls

Dessert
-Pumpkin Pie
-Pumpkin Cheesecake
-Apple Pie-lets (basically mini Apple Pies)


The recipe for the butternut squash is here: www.wivesunscripted.com/2011/11/30/the-holiday-work-potluck/. It's roasted butternut squash that you then mix with crushed pineapple and coconut.

[vtdiamond]

My mom uses this stuffing recipe and adds wild rice and sausage to it, it's really good.

www.pepperidgefarm.com/RecipeDetail.aspx?recipeID=60428

[ESF]

We're having 2-4 other people over, but I love Thanksgiving and love leftovers so we're still doing the full spread.

Brined turkey stuffed with this stuffing:

www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/New-England-Sausage-Apple-and-Dried-Cranberry-Stuffing-812

It is the best stuffing recipe I've ever had.

Then I'm going to try a new recipe from the November Martha Stewart --

Smashed root veg (I'll replace the leeks with shallots, since the stuffing is full of leeks)

www.marthastewart.com/940562/smashed-root-vegetables-and-caramelized-leeks

This recipe for roasted delicata squash with apples is also in that issue, and I think I want to make it too, though it may be way too much food.

www.marthastewart.com/940563/roasted-delicata-squashes-and-lady-apples

Still undecided on a green veg but probably some kind of Brussels sprouts dish. And some kind of cranberry sauce.

Dessert - leaning towards pumpkin pie. I may try a shortbread crust to mix it up a little bit.


If you want a cocktail, I made this recently at a party. It was absolutely fantastic. Not too sweet, and just boozy enough that you feel like you are drinking a cocktail but not so boozy that you have to stop at one.

www.marthastewart.com/354108/shaken-and-stirred-big-apple

I'll probably do it for TG too with some cheese and nuts for an appetizer.

[jayhawkbecca]

here's our menu; not exactly gourmet or super exciting, but what we like:
cheese
sausage
crackers
taco dip
chips
puppy chow
chex mix

fruit cup
cranberry conserve! my fav
roasted turkey with herbs
mashed potatos
dressing
broco cheese casserole
squash
corn
rolls with butter
poppy seed bread

cherry pie
pumpkin pie
pumpkin cups
ice cream
more puppy chow!

[cilantro]

Lots of the typical stuff, but what I most look forward to is when my Aunt brings over sweet potatoes fried up in syrup and butter. So much better than the usual sweet potato casserole, IMHO. Probably a million more calories, too...

[mbcdefg]

I'm probably hosting, but I need to confirm with Mom. Probably 6 of us (me and MH, Mom, sibs, FIL) unless someone has a guest.

Apps: baked Brie in puff pastry, maybe something else

Turkey with gravy, homemade stuffing, Stove Top, mashed potatoes, mashed turnips, carrots, corn, a green vegetable, rolls or biscuits, and a vegetarian entree for my sister unless she wants to bring her own dish

Dessert: cheesecake and probably some pies

I'm trying to start a Friendsgiving tradition with our closest friends for the day or two after, where we eat the leftovers and everyone wears their pajamas.

[womet]

We're having:
-turkey with sage, garlic, thyme butter slathered all over to make the skin tasty and crispy
-mashed potatoes with gravy
-stuffing
-sauerkraut
-roasted asparagus and carrots with thyme
-broccoli rice casserole
-peas
-rolls
-dessert: pecan pie and a pumpkin pie from a local ice cream shop
-beverages: local hard cider, beer

[stretchad]

My dad always makes a broccoli casserole using frozen broccoli, some velveeta, old english cheddar cheese, and crushed ritz crackers on top. That's usually the only remotely green vegetable thing on his dinner table!

I personally like green beans cooked with bacon & onions. Fry up about 6 slices of bacon until crispy. Drain of almost all the grease (save a tablespoon or so) then fry the onions. Add the green beans and some water enough to steam them a bit and cook till they're as done as you like. Add crumbled back to the top.

A couple of thanksgivings ago, my sister in law did a salad like this:
dinnerdelish.blogspot.com/2011/01/mediterranean-israeli-couscous-salad.html

[bleubook]

I'm making turkey, gravy, oyster stuffing, roasted Brussels sprouts, carrot mousse, mashed potatoes. And cranberry sauce. We will serve champagne and mulled wine. My mother is bringing pie.

[bleubook]

Maybe I'll do ginger glazed carrots instead of the mousse...

[gt7301b]

We are doing Thanksgiving with my family and there are probably 30 of us so it is potluck style.

We are bringing:

Mac and Cheese
www.muellerspasta.com/recipes/baked-mac-and-cheese
and this Lemon Meringue Pie
www.myrecipes.com/recipe/lemon-meringue-pie-10000000608399/

I make green beans on the stovetop by just eating up some olive oil till hot, throw in diced garlic, and then the green beans. I cook till the green beans are a little crispy, mmmmm.

[cmarie11]

Not trying to whore out my blog, but we REALLY love these honey yeast rolls. In fact, I just made them today.

stickafork.net/2010/10/honey-yeast-rolls/
(Disregard the old picture...I really should update it!)

[spankswife]

Cream cheese/rosemary/cranberry spread w crackers
Baked Brie
Prosciutto wrapped melon

Cajun turkey breast
WS stuffing with leeks
Butter pecan sweet potatoes
(garlic?) mashed potatoes
Spicey creamed corn (corn, cream cheese, cheddar, jalepeno)
Green bean casserole (classic)
Cranberry/orange sauce

Bourbon pecan pie
Pumpkin pie bites

Sangria-Pinot grigio, ginger brandy, apples, pears
(I have a red fallish sangria recipe too if interested)

[AAM2012]

Nov 11, 2012 17:44:48 GMT -5 joenali said:

I love cranberries and I make this every year:

I bag of cranberries
I cup of sugar
I cup of orange juice
Bring to a boil and then let simmer until the berries start to pop
Pour into a casserole dish and coo in the fridge
Garnish with grated orange peel or satsuma slices

It's really good! I love the cran/orange flavor!

Not to mention its super easy!!

Sounds yummy! Any idea how far in advanced I could make this?

[6fsn]

I just got the spreadsheet. We start Wed night with 40 last year and end Friday with close to 50.

Apps: shrimp, cheese, veggie, whatever anyone adds

Meal: turkey, stuffing (no clue the recipe, but it's got sausage and rocks), noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans (with bacon, onion, and almonds), jello salad, sweet potato casserole, green salad, dinner rolls, cranberries, peas, asparagus casserole.

Dessert: pumpkin and mince meat pie, cheesecake, praline pumpkin cake, peanut butter blossoms.

[sporky]

I just started working on this year's menu today. It looks like we'll have around 16 people this year.

So far, I'm planning on:
cheese, cracker, olive tray
another app (still trying to decide between ham puffs and sausage balls, and a couple other versions of similar items)
turkey
ham (provided by my mother)
rolls
mashed potatoes
sweet potato casserole
mac and cheese (provided by sis)
stuffing (provided by mom)
roasted fall veggies
some sort of green bean dish
some sort of orange-cranberry sauce
pumpkin pie
apple pie
spice cookies
possibly some sort of chocolate item

[magdala9]

Here are two that were a hit at Thanksgiving last year

www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Cumin-Seed-Roasted-Cauliflower-with-Salted-Yogurt-Mint-and-Pomegranate-Seeds-367178

www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/Spinach-Salad-with-Bosc-Pears-Cranberries-Red-Onion-and-Toasted-Hazelnuts-355430

[kittycatlove]

We host every year. this year we'll have 15 people.

Appetizers: spinach dip and vegetables and dip and usually cheese and crackers.

Main course:

Turkey
Stuffing - it's my grandma's recipe but no recipe on paper but we put apples and sausage in ours. it's delicious
Mashed potatoes
Cranberry-cherry sauce
Three bean salad - fresh green beans, chick peas and white beans - its a cold salad because the oven is always busy.
some sort of rolls/bread
Mixed green salad
corn

Dessert:
Pumpkin pie
rum cake
oreo balls

[cjeanette]

Nov 11, 2012 17:52:50 GMT -5 bunch said:

Alton brown has an awesome from scratch green bean casserole.

H makes this every year. SO good.

[moolarkey]

Seriously - do Stove top- the sage kind. Put it in a serving dish with a spoon. Takes 5 minutes and it's good. Probably do 2 boxes for that group and you'll have a little left.

I am doing
Relish tray
a salad, yet to be determined
Ham
Turkey
mashed potatoes/gravy
Stuffing
sweet potatoes
cheesy potatoes (DDs request)
Broccoli casserole (DDs request)
Dinner rolls
cranberries
Turkey & Noodles
Pumpkin pie
lemon meringue pie

I'm fixing so many things because different people have their favorites. I don't care if I have a lot left over, it means I don't have to cook the rest of the weekend as everyone will eat leftovers.

[isabel]

We'll be repeating a few recipes from last year and trying a couple new ones as well. We're not hosting anyone since I have to work on Thanksgiving day. We'll make our spread on Monday after T-Day. I LOVE Thanksgiving leftovers.

-Earl Grey Brined Turkey (DH did this last year and it was fantastic. The tea brine really gives it great flavor and a nice earthy note)

-This stuffing, also a major hit last year:
www.howsweeteats.com/2011/11/double-bread-stuffing-with-brown-butter-bacon-sage/

-Apple Cider Glazed Root Vegetables (this is new, and probably a figure it out as I go kind of thing)

-Green Beans with Sherry Mushrooms and Fried Shallots (another new one):
www.seasonalandsavory.com/2012/11/support-for-sandy-blogger-event-green-beans-with-sherried-mushrooms-and-fried-shallots.html

-Mashed Potatoes

Throw in some turkey gravy, bread of some sort, and dessert.