Please share your Thanksgiving menus -

L

lisainla

Well-known member
Did I somehow miss the thread for this year? If so, go ahead and whack me now....

I would like to live vicariously through you all, since mine will be very simple this year, cooking for just the 4 of us.

Steam Roasted Turkey

Cornbread Stuffing

Mashed Potatoes and gravy

Savory Sweet Potato Casserole (new to us recipe)

Mashed Turnips (for DH)

Richard's Cranberry Relish

Steve's Sweet Potato Biscuits

Parker House Rolls

Jello! (My kids love it, so it makes an annual appearance)

Corn

Something green (roasted brussels sprouts or green beans??)

Pumpkin Pie

Mini apple and pecan pies (method from LA Times)

http://www.latimes.com/features/food/la-fo-mini-pies-20121117,0,1378508.story

 
Ours is simple, too...

ETA: And I love how we think "simple" reasonably involves at least 13 menu items. smileys/smile.gif))

Crackers and cheese plate (outsourced to brother and his fiancee)
Crudites and dip
Salad with sugared almonds, mandarin oranges, and cherries (I don't care if it's not traditional; I love this salad)
Rolls (outsourced)
Gravy (outsourced to FreshDirect--it's better than I could make it, and I'm ok with that)
Mashed potatoes
Sweet-potato gratin (new recipe)
Richard's cranberry relish (sacrilege this year--no alcohol) smileys/frown.gif
Dressing
Turkey
Pumpkin pie (CI version--don't tell my mom)
Apple bars (outsourced to guests who bring them to any occasion, and I figured I'd pre-empt that and just ask them to bring them)
One more pie (as yet undecided!)

We should have green beans in there, but if I add one more item I will go insane.

 
Here's ours...I'm going "purchased & augmented" this year

WF 11 lb turkey, steam/roasted
WF bagged stuffing (augmented with onions, mushrooms, celery) >> baked outside after reading Susan's comments.
WF canned whole cranberry sauce (augmented with marinated dried apricots and fresh lemon)
"Imagine" organic turkey gravy (augmented with turkey drippings)
Mashed potatoes with caramelized onions & cream cheese
Leseurre canned peas
Homemade applesauce
I have 5 Garnet yams > they may/may not make the meal.

Cherry chocolate hot fudge cake (from a mix! see link. A friend raved about it so I'm giving it a shot)
Small rustic apple pies (code for: roll dough flat on cookie sheet, pile in apples, flip up raw edges and bake >> claim "rustic").

I'm making construction-grade gingerbread snowflake cookies and setting out icing for guests to decorate and take home.

http://www.soupsonline.com/p-2174-plentiful-pantry-cherry-chocolate-hot-fudge-cake.aspx?gclid=CIj6gM-G3rMCFcRa4Aodg1kArQ

 
Thanksgiving Potluck for 30...

Our contribution:
• Free range organic Turkey, steam roasted (is being dressed today, RIP)
• Mashed potatoes and gravy (stock from last month's turkey is in the freezer, thanks CathyZ for this most excellent and sane suggestion!)
• Dressing (regular and oyster)
• Italian Marzipan Rum Torte (Thanks Melissa!)
• Dinner rolls
• The Cranberry Relish
• Harvest Apple Punch in the punch bowl

The guests' contributions so far:
• Grand Marnier Cake
• Apple Cake
• Cranberry Salad
• Zucchini Casserole
• Dressed Eggs w. Paprika
• Black Olives
• Appetizer TBA
• Broccoli Salad
• Irish Car Bomb Cupcakes
• Wine
• Uncasseroled plain vegetable TBD
• Pecan pie
• Rolls
• cheese ball with crackers
• black raspberry brie bites
• spinach souffle
• green bean casserole
• red ball salad
• dinner rolls
• wine and beer
• pumpkin pie
• Cheesy Corn Casserole

 
I am doing Thanksgiving sunday evening....

So, hopefully everyone will have gotten their own personal favorite at their Thursday dinner. Here's what I have got so far:

endive leaves with sweet potato, bacon + creme fraich
crispy wonton cups with crab
roquefort cracker sandwiches with boresin cheese
pomegranate ginger martini
hot mulled cider if it's a chilly day

25 lb turkey!!!! I have never in my life cooked a bird this size*
moms Italian sausage dressing (not in the turkey)
whole wheat dinner rolls (I am going to practice these tonight)
Richards cranberry relish - I think this gets the prize for the most used recipe???
brussel sprout slaw w/mustard dressing and maple pecans
wild rice salad with cranberries
roasted purple carrots with a balsamic pomegranate glaze
citrus green salad - from a guest
some sort of potato gratin with broth i/o cream
wines--from guests

pecan pumpkin pie
sweet potato pie complete with marshmellows
chocolate almond pie
cookie platter
dessert drinks - from a guest

*I am terrified of this bird. I met her last weekend and she could barely walk she is so hugh. There were only 5 girls left at the farm that is selling them. I requested one about 13 lbs but this is what is available-20-25 lbs. So, how do you keep this lady from drying out having been in the oven for so long? I bought a brine kit with a bag big enough for the turkey. I hope this works!! Any words of wisdom??

Do I need to add green beans?

 
Richard my turkey is being dressed today too. The farm that is preparing them...

says they way they look at it is that these birds have only had one bad day in their entire life......

 
Oh thank heavens! I scrolled down in panic until I found the green bean casserole.

Can't hardly be in the Midwest without it. I am making it for our Thanksgiving dinner- got my French's crisp fried canned onions in the pantry. And the cream of mushroom soup.

 
LOL. Cathy, so true! I thought I was going to have to make it until someone...

signed up to bring it. I actually never had the ubiquitous green bean casserole (my grandmother didn't cotton to such "fancy" foods--our green beans were always cooked for several hours with various cuts of pork, onions, and sometimes new potatoes in the summer) until after I left home. It was quite a novelty for me.

 
What an excellent menu! Really nicely-balanced. Nice job. Don't be afraid of the big turkey

I roast 25 lb turkeys a few times a year and for me, I roast at 325 and stick to between 12-15 min/per pound unstuffed. I use copious amounts of melted butter with sauteed crushed garlic to baste with the first two hours then switch to using juices from the bottom of the pan. By the way, I always start with a few cups of chicken stock in the bottom of the turkey roasting pan.

Good luck- I hope your big lady is a nice, tender bird.

 
I ordered a 25lber too. Now I'm wondering whether...

I'm going to have enough with 30+ coming for dinner. I think I should call and see if I can bump up to a bigger size...

 
You came late to it but at least you got there LOL.

And, by the way, as per usual I am ready to jump on a plane to eat your food. Looks like you will have enough for an army.

 
Why not just add a ham or Joe's sausages/onions/peppers?

You have enough sides and everything else- you might run out of turkey but if you add another meat you will be more than fine and probably end up with leftover turkey.

 
Here is our menu

My Sister and Nephew are coming from MN! Got to have the traditional family menu which of course I really love- I add a few different things to it as well:

Hot artichoke spread on homemade souffléd crackers
Marinated olives

Oven roasted 25 lb turkey (love the leftovers!)
Mom's dressing with Cathy tweaks- Chorizo, giblets, olives, onions, garlic, celery, lovely sturdy bread, turkey broth, milk, lotsa herbs.
Green bean casserole
Julia's Corn Timbale
Glazed carrots
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Cranberry sauce (making today)
Pumpkin Pie
Double Lemon Cream Pie

 
REC: Apple Snap

Change of plans for the punch bowl:

Apple Snap
2 cups Peach Schnapps
1 fifth of Southern Comfort
1 fifth of Vodka
1 Gallon Apple Juice, chilled
1 2-liter 7-Up, chilled

Instructions
Combine in punchbowl and ice well. Garnish with sliced apples.

 
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