@runnersmom I beg to differ. Your pie list sounds very exciting! I love pie!
We are having Thanksgiving at the apartment of my S and his GF in New Hampshire for the second year in a row, since their working schedules do not permit them to come here. Last year, she ended up having to fly to France at the last minute because a grandparent died, so it was just the 3 of us. This year, both sets of parents are coming, and staying in a B&B a few minutes walk away. I am cooking, with GF as sous chef. The other set of parents won’t be arriving until early afternoon on Thursday, and it is GF’s mother’s birthday that day, so GF wants us to make a cake. Luckily I gave her a couple of good cake pans and a hand mixer last year! And a stick blender. And a turkey platter. And my spare nutmeg grater. 
I’m going to make pies here and bring them, because there is only one oven. I guess I’m making pecan, which S and GF love although I don’t. The recipe I found last year was really a hit with GF:
I’ll also make a low carb pumpkin cheesecake for my benefit, and probably apple.
Sides will probably be creamed spinach (my favorite), garlic mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes with either butter/nutmeg/bourbon or orange/fresh ginger/lemon rind, and something else. GF says her father doesn’t like brussels sprouts, so we’ll see. And stuffing, of course.
I am going to try this:
https://www.cookingclassy.com/pear-bacon-and-brussels-sprout-salad/
^^that salad sounds delicious! Although I do like cooked brussel sprouts better than raw…wonder how that would work with cooked and served room temperature. May try that this week.
Pies: we always have pecan (step dad was from Mississippi and his parents had pecan farms and sent us bags growing up so pecan pie has been a Thanksgiving tradition for just about as long as I can remember), chocolate, apple and pumpkin. Once in awhile we have a lemon meringue pie too. Dh’s family has a pumpkin chiffon pie recipe that’s delicious and dh makes it every year. Not sure my side’s traditionalists don’t miss the basic version.
I think cooked sprouts will be even better! I found a different version of that pear and Brussel sprouts dish - oven roasted.
We host Thanksgiving every year and it’s our favorite holiday. D, S and SIL will all be there and S is bringing a friend. In addition some close friends celebrate with us every year. The total number should be around 20 at our house!
H is the head chef and does turkey, dressing and most of the sides. I bake the pumpkin pies and a corn casserole recipe from a fellow cc’er that has become a requested favorite. Friends bring appetizers and additional sides/desserts.
There is always plenty of wine!
D,SIL, S ,his friend and I will run the Turkey Trot in the AM.
D1 is hosting 3rd year in a row. She goes all out for Thanksgiving. I will be making apple pies and bringing appetizers. Their dad is not coming because he doesn’t want to come without his girlfriend. I invited my good friend’s 2 adult children to come because she lives very far away and her ex-husband (local) doesn’t want to have his kids over with his new family. My kids and her kids grew up together, so it will be fun. My mother will be there too.
On Friday we are driving to the FSIL hometown for D1’s bridal shower. I am looking forward to it. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
Fall girl, would you kindly repost th corn recipe?
Let’s face it. It’s the only holiday devoted to eating.
No pressure of gift giving.
OMG, I want that pear/bacon salad - I almost feel like I’ve had it before…looks amazing! Some family members would turn their noses up at the cheese though (sigh…) but I could always set the cheese aside to be added.
I can’t wait for pecan pie. 
We go my brothers house about 45 mins from our home. Our mom, his family and mine. Sometimes one or two of SIL’s sibs. We haven’t discussed a menu yet but I am always required to bring the hot pineapple casserole I’ve mentioned on CC many times. It’s easy and is delicious. But I usually also try to bring a salad and sometimes a bread item - like pumpkin bread or muffins - though my family was all over the garlic/parm bread loaves from Costco at another family gathering…I’m tempted to just bring that and slice it fresh!
There’s always this: buy a crusty boule, do the deep (ish) criss-cross slices across the top, stuff in your butter, garlic (or garlic butter,) your choice of cheese, and bake about 15 mins, to make it all gooey and steamy. (I think I last saw this from Pioneer Woman. You can bet I can’t put that on the table.)
Or, with a nod to Consolation, make this, from the other thread, then go to town on it, but grate your own cheese: http://www.simplysogood.com/2010/03/crusty-bread.html
@lookingforward , I just pinned this crusty boule today from one of my favorite bloggers…I mean…this would be delicious ANYTIME…holiday, super bowl party, etc. I will make this!
http://joythebaker.com/2016/12/mediterranean-pull-apart-bread/
Sorry to hear about your cousin, emilybee #11. I can understand someone being unhappy if she has planned an event and a lot of people can’t come. But “poor attendance”? Really? Was this an invitation to a family gathering, or a report card?
My SIL and my daughter hosted the first year they bought their house and got elected permanent hosts (by his Mom). It works out well - both sides of the family come including his Mom and his dad and stepmom. He smokes a turkey (he’s a very good cook), D does the drinks, the rest of us bring sides and dessert (I have been permanently assigned mashed potatoes and pumpkin cheesecake - for some reason my daughter loves my mashed potatoes and says they don’t turn out the same when she makes them - I haven’t tried quite the amount of butter in the earlier post but might!).
SIL works Thanksgiving day so it will be on a different day (Saturday maybe). We are going to go to a casino thanksgiving buffet on the actual day with our daughter.
Yes…! DIL said she’s hosting. We also do our side and her side of the family. So 4 generations on each side. Her family is lots more talkative and lively than ours–it’s fun! My mom was never into Thanksgiving. It was always sort of depressing with the 4 of us and no festivities.
The only really cool thing I ever did for Thanksgiving was the year my kids and I grew and made everything ourselves, including the turkey. That was one to remember
@abasket That bread in post 52 looks amazing. I could just have that for a meal!
Here it is
Corn casserole:
1 15 oz can whole kernel corn, drained
1 15 oz can cream-style corn
1 8 oz pkg corn muffin mix (Jiffy)
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
Optional: 1 TBS sugar…she adds this and we love it!
Also optional: 1 cup shredded Cheddar cheese…we don’t use this
Preheat oven to 350. Mix corn, muffin mix, sour cream and melted butter. Pour into greased casserole dish. Bake 45 minutes or until golden brown. Remove and top with cheese if desired. Return to oven for 8-10 minutes or until cheese is melted. Let stand at least five minutes and then serve warm.
I usually host Thanksgiving and Christmas since I have the largest dining room. My two siblings have smaller dining rooms.
But… my niece has decided to host this year. I’m thrilled. She’ll have tons of help from her mom (I get the impression that niece doesn’t cook much). She’s renting tables. I’m sure I’ll be asked to bring a side or dessert and I’m happy to do just that.
The holiday dinners were getting a bit too unwieldy in size as folks marry and have kids. We’ve shifted over to a rotating Christmas brunch and then dinner with our own families. The youngsters can take over thanksgiving.
I will still have to cook a turkey breast since my kids want leftovers for the few days they’ll be in town from college.
That corn casserole is seriously delicious!