The menu so far:
Crudites/Cheese/Crackers
Pumpkin Soup
Turkey
Stuffing
SIL's Green Bean Casserole
Roasted Root Vegetables
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes/Gravy
Cranberry-Orange Relish
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Cake
Mandelbrot
Fruit Platter
I eliminated the traditional stuffed cabbage since we're having 4 fewer people than expected, and we're going to have waaayyy too much turkey - and I loathe leftover turkey!
So, what's on everyone else's menu?
relish tray
cheese & crackers
buffalo chicken wing dip
turkey
mashed potatoes
gravy
stuffing
broccoli casserole
sweet potato casserole
green been casserole
rolls
apple pie
chocolate chip crumb bars
chocolate slush pie on oreo crust (kind of my own thrown together invention)
Can't wait, it's my favorite meal of the year!!
Quote from: momma2boys on November 22, 2011, 08:13:24 PM
Can't wait, it's my favorite meal of the year!!
Ditto! Mine too - as well as my all-around fave holiday.
Do tell about the Chocolate Slush Pie on Oreo Crust. Inquiring minds want to know!
I did Thanksgiving this past weekend, since my step-daughter is with her mom on Thanksgiving this year.
We had:
Spice rubbed Turkey Breast - which I did in the crock-pot. My biggest slow cooker will just hold a 9 pound, bone in breast.
Mashed Potatoes
Homemade Gravy
Corn casserole
Green bean casserole
Stuffing
Cranberry Salad (cranberries, grapes, pineapple, marshmallows, whipped topping)
Rolls with dill butter
Pumpkin Lush
Mini Cheesecakes
It was delicious...and we're still eating leftovers.
Appetizers:
Mini-weanies (pigs in blankets)
chips, hummus, salsa
veggies & dip
cheese & crackers
Mouthful of Christmas
Olives
Fig & goat cheese puff pastry?
Main meal:
Turkey
Gravy
Stuffing
Stuffed acorn squash (vegan)
Roasted vegs
Cranberry sauce (both canned and homemade)
Mashed potatoes
Breads and muffins
Corn?
Dessert:
Apple pie
Pumpkin pie
VNF chocolates
Cella's chocolate covered cherries
I'll also have a crockpot of hot cider going all day
At the last minute, our plans to go to my parents changed so here I am sitting without a turkey purchased. Both DS and DH said we do not need a turkey. I asked them what they preferred. We went through rabbit (I know where to get one), squirrel (DS said he could use his bow & arrow and get one from the yard. This idea was nixed when I told him he had to skin it, too, as I only cook from scratch, not prepare from scratch!), and duck. Finally they decided on Caribbean Jerk Chicken cooked on the outdoor roaster...and they wish to eat outside. I hope the rain stops and the temperature goes about 60! Must find good recipe (but will probably "wing it") and go-withs this morning. I will be making pumpkin pie and apple pie, though.
Years ago, my Thanksgiving plans changed more suddenly than yours, CookingMom. We were supposed to go to other houses, both sides of the family. Then DH woke up with the flu on Thanksgiving morning. I knew that A&P was open a half day (my boss's DH was the manager). So I got dressed, went out to buy a turkey and ingredients for sides. We cancelled with family and had our own little Thanksgiving, just the two of us.
I will post the recipe after I drop ds off at bball practice.
We are staying pretty traditional (and smaller than last year's feast):
Turkey (splurged on fresh organic free range -- OMG -- $5.00/lb!! YIKES!)
Homemade stuffing (toasted white bread, onion, celery, sage sausage, butter, turkey broth from cooking the giblets, seasoning)
Smashed Potatoes and homemade giblet gravy.
Green beans w/crispy onion topping
Roasted baby carrots
Angel Biscuits
And, cough-cough, 3 pies. Son keeps looking over my shoulder and saying "SEVERAL" pies. LOL -- he is the bottomless pit these days!
Homemade Pies: Apple, Choc Chess (possibly crustless?), Pumpkin
Crust for one or all will be L-L-L-Lard based. Of course. ;D
(Was able to get the REAL lard at Safeway in the meat section/cooler. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
Which reminds me -- I need to go roast the extra turkey drums I got to make more pan drippings for gravy and gives me extra meat to mince for gravy . . . & to save to mix into my personal minced meat pie (I'm the only one who will eat it this year).
If I had a bow and arrow I'd bag a deer in the woods out back and have he venison I need for my Minced meat pie as well. :misspeak:
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!
Ok here is how I'm making the pies.
2 oreo cookie crusts (I bought them)
mix 8oz softened cream cheese, 1 cup confectioners sugar and 1 1/2 cups of Cool Whip and spread over both crusts.
mix 2 packages instant chocolate pudding with 3 cups milk and pour over cream cheese layer
top with remaining Cool Whip
We are having:
turkey (also splurged on organic free range, but ours was cheaper than ajas, only $4.29/lb)
gravy
cranberry sauce
sweet potato bake (trying a new recipe and skipping mashed potatoes)
pineapple jello rings for the kids
brussel sprouts (also new recipe with bacon)
stuffing
relish tray (olives, gerkins, carrots, celery)
dessert will be
pumpkin mousse pie (new recipe)
apple crisp with homemade vanilla ice cream
I've baked the sweet potatoes, made the cranberry sauce, pumpkin mousse pie and pineapple jello rings.
Should work on apple crisp next and think about making stuffing, but since it's really dressing in this house, there is no hurry.
Oh my, Momma2, that sounds delish!
Hezzier, I've been wanting to do Brussel Sprouts with bacon for years, but my aunt would never touch anything with pork so.... I'll have to make it for a regular family dinner one day. Just thinking about it makes me salivate.
Quote from: ajasfolks2 on November 23, 2011, 01:18:54 PM
We are staying pretty traditional (and smaller than last year's feast):
Turkey (splurged on fresh organic free range -- OMG -- $5.00/lb!! YIKES!)
Homemade stuffing (toasted white bread, onion, celery, sage sausage, butter, turkey broth from cooking the giblets, seasoning)
Smashed Potatoes and homemade giblet gravy.
Green beans w/crispy onion topping
Roasted baby carrots
Angel Biscuits
And, cough-cough, 3 pies. Son keeps looking over my shoulder and saying "SEVERAL" pies. LOL -- he is the bottomless pit these days!
Homemade Pies: Apple, Choc Chess (possibly crustless?), Pumpkin
Crust for one or all will be L-L-L-Lard based. Of course. ;D
(Was able to get the REAL lard at Safeway in the meat section/cooler. Yippee!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)
That LARD will get ya faster than a non-organic turkey will! If the chylomicrons get together and decide to party---BAM!!
Traffic Jam. JUST KIDDING! Sorta...I've got a bag of cooked jumbo shrimp calling my High Density Lipoprotein.... :smooch:
We have:
Cheeseplate & crackers
a 22lb. Turkey that DH is prepping right now. :happydance:
Mashed potatoes
stuffing
yams
cranberry jello salad
Another jello mold
Green Bean casserole
rolls w/ butter
Pumpkin pie
Apple Pie
Chocolate cake
Chocolate pudding pie
Good local wines
Punch
Starters:
Variety hummus (kalamata, garlic, roasted red bell pepper, and traditional) with toasted whole-wheat flatbread wedges and veggies
Olives
tzatziki
Main:
Rosemary and garlic roasted leg of lamb w/ tzatziki
rosemary red potatoes and sweet onions
Quinoa-stuffed mini-peppers
wilted greens (spinach and kale) with garlic, cranberries, and feta
Dessert:
shortbread with fruit
pear-cranberry tart
pear-hazelnut tart (DD was really hoping for hazelnut Baklava, but I just don't have time)
It's just 3 of us, but I've still done a lot of cooking. Everything down to the bread in the dressing is homemade.
-Salad of baby lettuce, baby kale, goat cheese and toasted pumpkin seeds
-Mashed potatoes
-Dressing
-Cornbread made in the cast iron skillet
-Chicken pot pie with biscuit topping for the 2 non-vegetarians
-Lentil pot pie with gouda biscuit topping for the vegetarian)
-Roasted brussels sprouts
-Apple pie with shortbread crust
-Homemade vanilla bean ice cream
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
I am so upbeat about last night's dinner! I nailed it! DS said he liked eating late because after a good meal, he only wanted to go to bed (not good, I know but...we've all been there!). He said it was the best meal and perfect for us. DH (who never gives compliments) said when he falls asleep after eating, it has been a good meal. Funny...it wasn't a heavy meal at all and no one over induldged.
We did not eat outside. It never got above 55° and by the time I had everything ready, it was dark and chilling down.
The menu:
Caribbean Jerk Chicken, cooked in the outdoor roaster (Caribbean Jerk seasoning rubbed inside and outside of the chicken and cooked over a can of light beer)...it was so crispy-skinned and so moist meat
Garlic Mashed Potatoes, done in a slow cooker...oh my, these turned out perfect...DS said they were the best mashed potatoes I've ever made and DH took a huge helping, agreeing with DS
Brussels Sprouts & Carrots in a sweet orange glaze, done in a slow cooker...perfect compliment to the meat
Harvard Beets...great color on the plate
Salad...romaine, sweet onions, brined black olives, garlic stuffed green olives, shredded carrots, tomatoes with assorted dressings
Rolls, homemade
Apple Pie, homemade
Champagne (Sparkling Apple-Mango Cider for DS)
Most of the clean up was easy, especially since DH cleaned the roaster for me. ;D However, the apple pie spilled out juices into the oven...which is not self-cleaning :( but DH said he would help me on Sunday (his day off) with it.
Hope everyone had a wonderful day yesterday...and a wonderful meal, too!
Everyone's menus sound so delicious that I want to do it again, LOL!
We went to a potluck; brought -
Winter vegetable shepherd's pie
pumpkin-thyme dinner rolls
apple hand pies
Ooooh, the winter veg shepherd's pie sounds amazing!
Thank you everyone for all these ideas. :thumbsup:
Every Thanksgiving I think of this board because a thread was started over you know where about Thanksgiving meals, and prepping and cooking turkeys, pie recipes, etc. You guys got me through the first Thanksgiving I hosted about 7 years ago, quite successfully I might add <sniff, sniff> (wipes tear away) ;) This board taught me how to cook! ;D
I didn't host this year, and I have to say "our" turkey (prepped with olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, onions) is better!
Awwww My3guys, that's so nice!