@snowball - I would love that recipe. Thanks!
You’re right that not every dish must be modified, but for me it would probably be easier than making both a corn casserole and plain white corn and repeating that with the other sides. We have a small family and usually eat very simply; I haven’t made a large “feast” in over 20 years since we lived near relatives who always came to our house.
In this case, the vegetarian is someone I’ve only met once and she’s the easiest to please. As long as there’s a salad available, or at least a couple of veggies, she’s happy. I’m the one who worries whether everyone has enough choices.
With all of the guests having at least one medically necessary diet restriction, combined with some just being selective (perhaps that’s a better choice than “picky”), it seems that preparing a much greater variety of sides than I usually make is the way to go.
Since I have various medical issues and food restrictions, I try to be sympathetic with others. I don’t really cook much any more, except for special events. Being out of practice, especially with cooking for more than just dh and me, adds to my stress. I’m spending this weekend gathering recipes and ideas, writing shopping lists and planning the order of execution so that everything will be ready on time. It seems to require a bit of freaking out initially before I can get down to dealing with it and eventually enjoying the weekend. ; )
The corn casserole that FallGirl and maybe others posted is SO easy to mix up - like a 5 minute dump and mix job! Worth putting two corn dishes on the table!
And I have to say, it was even better warmed up in the oven the second/third day! I scooped some of the leftover casserole on a stone baking dish and reheated by putting back in the oven for 15 minutes or so - the edge got nice and crispy and the inside was still soft and delicious. It’s not good for you in anyway, but it really was soothing delicious - like mashed potatoes!
@Momma2018 Here is the make ahead mashed potatoes. Ours are now in the freezer and out of the way!
Holiday Mashed Potato Casserole
4 pounds potatoes, peeled and cut in large, uniform chunks
½ cup (1 stick) butter
1 bunch (4 or 5) green onions, thinly sliced
½ to 1-cup milk (might need a bit more)
8 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
Salt and pepper to taste
Place the potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with about 2 inches of lightly salted cold water. Bring to a boil, reduce heat to medium and simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until tender when pierced with a fork. Drain thoroughly; transfer to a large mixer bowl.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. While potatoes are cooking, in a medium skillet over medium-low heat melt butter. Add green onion and sauté until tender. Add ½ cup milk, cream cheese, and Parmesan; stir until cheeses are melted. Add the melted cheese mixture to potatoes and beat with electric mixer until fluffy. Season to taste. If mixture seems to stiff, add a little more milk.
Pour into a 9x13-inch casserole dish and bake, uncovered, at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes. Mixture should be nicely browned on top and slightly bubbly.
If not serving immediately, wrap airtight in foil and refrigerate or freeze. Bake uncovered at 350 degrees for 30-60 minutes, or until heated thoroughly.
Notes:
If you use a ricer first, and then a hand mixer, instead of the larger mixer, the potatoes are easier to mash and are very smooth. A trick we just learned about after years of trying to mash pounds and pounds of potatoes!
Do not use low fat butter, cream cheese or milk; full fat for this recipe!!
If freezing, I take it out of the freezer and put in the refrigerator Tuesday night or Wednesday morning so it will start to thaw.
Thank you @snowball! I am going to give it a try.
Is there something you can substitute for the cream cheese? DH is not a fan and he makes the mashed potatoes.
@shellfell I do not know about substitutions. I can follow a recipe and adjust to my own likes, but am not a good enough cook to make substitutions. My mother has always told me if one makes this with low fat items, it does not come out right, so I never mess with perfection 
I have seen other make ahead recipes online; maybe you can find one without cream cheese.
Ok, ok, ok. I’ll make the corn casserole, full calorie version, for a pot luck some friends and I are having this weekend, turkey and all.
Can I assume I can bring it in the crock pot, plug that in, to keep it warm?
I’d like to share my finalized Thanksgiving menu with you all :). I’d LOVE it if you would share yours. I am fascinated by the variety/regional/cultural differences! I’m especially fascinated by oysters in the dressing & would love to try some…not going to happen here in TX!
So here’s what I make: Herb Roasted Turkey (Sandra Lee recipe), cornbread stuffing, green chile macncheese, pork & chicken tamales (made by a friend), green bean casserole, collard greens, corn casserole, mashed potatoes, monkey bread (family recipe), red velvet cake, pecan pie, and pumpkin pie. For the first time I am not making sweet potatoe casserole. It feels weird but I’m pretty much the only one who eats it!
For the last 4 years, we have been spending Thanksgiving with my D who lives in the opposite coast. She loves to cook and does everything. She cooks everything that I used to make. My H and her H do the cleanup. I feel so blessed!
It’s been decided that we spend Christmas this year at her house too to avoid schlepping 2 year old twin boys across the country to ours.
When we are with my family, we have ---- soup. Seriously! We each bring a crockpot of soup and a diet-appropriate bready thing . We have lots of food issues and have discovered this works really well. Pie for desserrt, with variations for said diets. We have symbolic dishes of relish made by my great great grandma’s recipe, in her dishes. Symbolic because I’m the only one who eats it! But both my parents are direct descendants of Mayflower passengers and this started when we were little as a way of explaining the connection, somehow.
But we are going to S1s tiny apartment – there will be 8 of us, including the gf’s mom. I volunteered to do the turkey here, carve it all, and we’ll reheat there. They have almost no kitchen space but are so excited that I’m glad we decided to make the effort. Menu is turkey, cranberry muffins, squash and pumpkin cheesecake.
Our menu (Texas)
Fried turkey and roasted turkey breast (always need more white meat)
cornbread dressing
mashed potatoes
gravy
sweet potatoes
broccoli and rice casserole
broccoli salad
black-eyed peas (from my brothers’ garden that I shelled and froze last summer)
someone else will do some kind of rolls
someone else will do desserts
We are going to my ex husband’s home. My S just got married so we say it is so that our kids don’t have to split their time three ways, but I know it is really because my ex likes my and my mom’s cooking. His own mother passed away 7 or 8 years ago, and his wife is not from the south and does not cook like we do.
@greenbutton How interesting! What kind of relishes?
OMG the corn casserole is decadent and delicious. I used low fat sour cream but even so, the calories must be over the moon. So very very good. Sent pictures to my son, then he and g/f asked for recipe.
Ok so our thanksgiving will be at my sil’s house. (Michigan). Lord knows exactly what will be on the menu because she’s disorganized and therefore never gets it together to figure out who’s bringing what so we just pick something and bring it and it usually works out. One thanksgiving we had lots of multiples but you never know. No idea how many will be there, at least 14 but probably more as she invites a bunch. At least her sister and family has said they will be somewhere else, they usually cancel at the last minute anyways.
But usually on the menu
Turkey, probably some organic free range $$$$ turkey
Bread stuffing, never cornbread
Mashed potatoes
Gravy
Cheese tray and other assorted appetizers
Cranberry sauce
Broccoli salad, the one with bacon and raisins
Sweet potato casserole
Baked beans (my bil makes them for every family gathering)
Macaroni and cheese
A green salad
Rolls
Roasted vegetables
Probably some quinoa grain thing for the vegetarians
Pies, pumpkin and apple
And usually other desserts, someone usually brings a cheesecake, this varies but there are tons.
Sil will usually have chocolates of some sort
My D never comes home for thanksgiving, from her small airport to ours is super expensive and Christmas is so close she’ll come then. Son and dil will be there though. D is going to her new boyfriends, apparently they go to a steakhouse. Last year she brought our family tradition baked beans and a cheesecake.
I usually bring the sweet potato casserole, I could bring the corn casserole also. Maybe a dessert. I would bring the cheese tray but sil will buy one and then we will have 2. Even if I tell her what I’m bringing, she’ll buy the same thing. So I don’t anymore.
We are dining at my sister’s We are bringing smoked turkey (plus maybe a pumpkin pie). My brother and his wife with bring a fruit platter. My sis and her H will make a roasted turkey and probably a ham. One brother will likely bring some desserts. Another sister will bring a green salad and vegetable casserole or two. Cousin is bringing cranberry relish. No idea what others will bring but there’s always too much food and it’s a lot of chaotic fun. There will probably be 40 or 50 folks attending.
Wow. 40-50 is a whole lot of people, but it sounds like fun! My family, including my brand new DIL, numbers only 8. Even combined with my ex’s family this year, there are only 13. (14 if his nephew has his son for the holiday.) My dad was an only child and my mom was 13 years younger than her nearest sibling so they have all passed. The only cousins we have a close relationship with live far away.
I just found out my D is opting to go visit this BOY, and will not be with us for Thanksgiving. To be honest, I’m not as excited about it now. Oh well. Not the first time she has not been here but she was living out of the country the other times she missed so had a better excuse. LOL
Our S says he may fly in from DC to HI for Thanksgiving if things work out logistically.
He may also fly down if there’s a federal shutdown, as threatened and also, of course for Christmas holidays. D will also fly in from SF for the holidays in about a month.
We all love having the family gathered together and it’s such a happy time, having the cousins together, having the great nieces and nephew running around, and just fun chaos.
@himom It really sounds like a fun time just like how the holiday’s should be.