I’m thrilled not to be hosting this year! Daughter and SIL are hosting both families at their new home, which is less than 2 miles away. I will have SIL’s grandparents and an uncle staying one night in our spare bedrooms, but I’ve met and hung out with them many times and they will literally only be sleeping here on Thanksgiving night.
I am making several dishes that my daughter doesn’t trust anyone else to make so I don’t get off scot-free. I’m not a huge turkey fan - we usually have both turkey and ham. I’m a side dish gal and would only make those if I had the choice. SIL and his family are southerners so there will be mac-n-cheese and deviled eggs as well.
I anticipate that there will be years where both daughters are rotating to their significant other’s families (we are always invited to my SIL’s family Thanksgiving and have gone a couple of times, but it does require an overnight). I look forward to traveling on those years.
Just worked on my Tday menu yesterday. For years my brother and SIL in MA hosted and I loved not having to do anything, but my mom is in memory care near me now, and she can’t handle that travel so for the foreseeable future I’ll be hosting all holidays.
Dh does a turkey on the grill which frees up lots of oven space. I’ll do apps/themed cocktail, stuffing, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans, carrots and onions, apple sauce, Brussels sprouts, biscuits, apple and pecan pies, a Nantucket cranberry cake, and a pumpkin cheesecake. Still need to figure out breakfast. I try to make as much ahead as I can because several attendees run the local road race that morning and I do like to watch. We will be 14-16 adults and twin 4yos.
I saved this recipe yesterday as an idea for a Thanksgiving food option - maybe even for breakfast as some mentioned in the comments since it seems to be somewhat sweet. I think this cornbread + scrambled eggs + fruit would be a delicious easy breakfast the day of or the day after turkey day if you’re having overnight guests.
Who comes to your house to carve a turkey? Other than taking things out of the oven, what do they do? You might consider just doing it the day before and you don’t have to hire help.
My MIL always hires help for holidays…they heat/reheat, clear dishes, wash pots and pans and dishes while the guests are eating. If I could afford it I would totally do this.
Question for you turkey pros: Can I roast one of two turkeys the day before, get it sliced and store until next day? I have 19 coming and want to get some stuff out of way ahead of time…plus I have small kitchen, only one oven. Any other make ahead tips would be appreciated!
Yes! And, given that you’re going to slice it ahead of time, may I suggest breaking down the bird and cooking the legs and breast separately? This way, the legs can get as long as they need but you can avoid overcooking the breast.
Just the two of us again. We’ll be going back to Coasterra for their buffet; have been several times before. We’d rather go to the Kona Kai buffet but we waited too late and they’re sold out. I will call during the last couple of days to see if they had any cancellations. Nothing wrong with Coasterra; good food and great views, but we’d rather try somewhere new. I’m a picky stuffing eater (no sausage or mushrooms) so that drastically narrows down our options.
So my plans just totally changed. My son (27) called crying Saturday to tell me his wife of 2 1/2 years (he has been with since 2017) has been cheating on him for the last 9 months with her boss! Everyone, including him, thought they were the perfect couple. He loved her completely. They had just put up their tree, ordered stockings for her entire (large family), bought a house, signed work contracts in the same small town. Her parents had just uprouted their family to move close to them. He had no clue, neither did her family! They went to a party and she got a little drunk so they Ubered home and he put her in bed and put her phone on the charger and there was a dirty note from her boss. He was mad at the guy so opened it and there was an entire conversation between them showing there was a relationship. He had her father come over and between that night and the next day it came out she had been with this 15 year older, millionaire DO, since February at least. She admited, with her father present, that my son did nothing wrong and was a great husband. She just got selfish and enjoyed the attention from her boss and the time with my son. He is getting an attorney and a divorce. He is in a job he can’t leave so we are now going to spend Thanksgiving week with him so he isn’t alone and help him sort out finances and other things. NOT what my plans envisioned for Thanksgiving. I’m so upset for him.
I have seen so many reels on Facebook that show quick and easy puff pastry deserts, I’m going to try one and use the pecan pie filling in the middle of “rose” styled pasty. A lot of buttery pastry and little bit of filling - yummmm!
My heart aches - we ache more for our children than ourselves. It is so good that you are able to change your plans and spend time with him - boys need their moms, always.
How devastating, especially at this time of year! Perhaps with some time and distance and loving support, your son may consider a path forward that doesn’t close everything down? Could there be any hope of counseling and any way to come back from this eventually?
Do both! Just start one early in the morning like 5:00. Then roast the next one. Get it all done and over. I don’t cut it up first and it’s fine. After you slice it , just wrap it tightly together and pour some chicken broth over it. We double the heavy foil.
Next day, I take it out fur about an hour before I heat it up. I pour the Turkey juices I save over it and wrap back in foil. It’s so nice to discard all the carcass and have that mess cleaned up!
google “party helpers” or “event helpers” + your location and see what comes up. It is very common here, there are a number of companies that offer the service. We are in a HCOL area, so I don’t know that price info will be relevant, but I think it is about $50/hr, usually with a minimum buy-in (3-4 hours). Not something I can easily afford, but for those that can it certainly makes entertaining so much easier.
Edited to add: the people that my MIL uses are often teachers who do the work as a side gig.