Thanksgiving menu

Parent Cafe
21

<p>My girlfriend told me she did this, it was such a success that I’ve shared with others who have thanked me profusely. Make your mashed potatoes the day before like you always do. I make 10 lbs, so just leave in the mixing bowl, cover with foil and put in the frig. On Thanksgiving morning I take them out, put a little more milk and stir, then put them in a crockpot on high for 2 hours, then low for 2hours, stir throughout. You are not fooling around trying to get your potatoes ready…what a mess that day. So easy you will never make them the day of Thanksgiving again.</p>

22

<p>Conmama, several of my friends say the same thing, except add that more butter/sour cream/ cream cheese in the mixture keeps the starches from getting grainy. I’m sure Alton Brown could explain the chemistry. It keeps them fluffy and nice for hours in the crockpot instead of getting stiff and starchy and grainy, and it’s Thanksgiving, don’t try to do low-fat this one day…</p>

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<p>@Onward my post was not clear. I meant maybe the LACK of parsnips was a southern thing. I am in the South. Never had them at family gatherings etc… </p>

24

<p>I’m making reservations!
( I may make mashed potatoes with parsnips & garlic though)</p>

25

<p>Turkey
Ham
Dressing(not stuffing, yuck)
Gravy
Cranberry Sauce
Collard Greens
Fried Corn
Broccoli Casserole
Candied Yams
Pound Cake</p>

<p>Last but not least, SWEET POTATO PIE, YUM!!!</p>

26

<p>I want to know about fried corn.
Also what * is * the difference between stuffing and dressing?</p>

27

<p>EK, stuffing is made inside the bird, dressing is made in a pan. </p>

28

<p>Yeah made dressing too. But I start them early in the morning. Cook every single dish by myself, no help from anyone. We usually start eating around 3ish. Hence I never have to cook ahead for anything. </p>

29

<p>These are great ideas, thanks, and I plan to try several of them.
I will make all the traditional dishes, but this year, I am expecting some guests who are vegetarian. I would like to have some items on the table that they can choose from. I don’t need a “tofurkey” - actually want to avoid tofu, but would love some ideas that include veggies. beans, and other alternatives. </p>

30

<p>I’m the queen of thanksgiving. We go all out and I mean wild. It starts with appetizers - chicken buffalo dip, crab dip, goat cheese lollipops, cheese fondue. I do a butternut squash soup from williams sonoma. I’m doing a new side dish this year - ina garten’s orange braised carrots and parsnips - I can make it ahead, green beans with shallot dressing, a sweet potato casserole, two different cranberry dishes - one mold from williams sonoma, another with cranberry, black walnuts, orange marmalade, sausage stuffing, champagne vinagrette salad, mashed potatoes. </p>

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<p>@emeraldkity4‌ , dressing is made with cornbread, not breadcrumbs, and its not put in the bird. The fried corn, is a staple, and so delicious. Take very clean ears of corn, unfortunately its labor intensive, because you have to get all that silt out of the corn, and cut the kernels off. After you cut kernels off, use the serrated edge of the knife and slide down the ear of corn to get all the juice out. Use a large frying pan, add the corn mixture, butter, a little bacon drippings, salt, pepper, and a pinch of sugar, sometimes I add a smidge of milk. Stir frequently , app 20-25 ,min, med heat</p>

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<p>Anyone know if there is a gluten free cornbread for stuffing? Otherwise I might have to do one with the cornbread and without.</p>

33

<p>I found GF stuffing at Trader Joes. I haven’t tried it yet, but it will probably be good, especially if you add items like onion, parsley and other good things. It’s right in the box.</p>

<p>It isn’t cornbread stuffing though. TJ has one but it isn’t GF. </p>

34

<p>Thanks, I never can taste the corn in the corn bread so I guess I’ll try it this year.</p>

35

<p>Our usual menu has been roast turkey breast, Honey Baked ham, fried corn or corn pudding, wild rice dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy, cranberry-orange sauce, sweet potato casserole, green beans with almonds, dinner rolls, crumb top apple pie, pumpkin pie, and vanilla ice cream. </p>

<p>Since dh was dx’d with T2 diabetes, he’s been restricting carbs to <50 grams per day. After several months of that diet, plus daily walking, his A1C was cut in half so he’s strongly committed to sticking with his carb limit. Since he doesn’t eat artificial sweeteners, dessert will be a challenge. At least the rest of the menu can be adjusted. I hope to find some large Gulf shrimp or some other treat to distract us from what’s missing.</p>

36

<p>Two things I always make are stuffing balls and pickled eggs.</p>

37

<p>We prefer to go out but do host every few years. I offered this year because (crossed fingers) this should be our last year in the house and my 88 year old mother no longer likes to go out. I did a menu a few years back that I probably will repeat; not gluten free, not low carb, not low fat!</p>

<p>Warmed Cranberry Brie (a very old McCormick recipe)
Crackers and crudites </p>

<p>Cider-glazed brined turkey with apple brandy gravy I got a great brined turkey at Trader Joe’s last time. Oops - we’re out of Calvados - better buy another bottle! $$$ <a href=“http://cookitallergyfree.com/blog/2010/11/cider-glazed-brined-turkey-with-apple-brandy-gravy/”>http://cookitallergyfree.com/blog/2010/11/cider-glazed-brined-turkey-with-apple-brandy-gravy/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

<p>Apple stuffing
Maple whipped sweet potatoes <a href=“Maple Whipped Sweet Potatoes”>http://www.jsonline.com/features/recipes/232503041.html&lt;/a&gt;
Lawry’s creamed corn We’ve been to Lawry’s for Thanksgiving three times and loved it every time. <a href=“http://www.lawrysonline.com/lawrys-primerib/chicago/all-recipes”>http://www.lawrysonline.com/lawrys-primerib/chicago/all-recipes&lt;/a&gt;
Store bought cranberry sauce because everyone likes it
Green vegetable - I’ll let DH handle this</p>

<p>Lots of wine</p>

<p>Store bought dessert, or ask my brother to provide only he’ll probably just get something from Costco</p>

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<p>Here are two vegetarian mains my D loves:
<a href=“http://www.food.com/recipe/really-good-vegetarian-meatloaf-really-33921”>http://www.food.com/recipe/really-good-vegetarian-meatloaf-really-33921&lt;/a&gt; <a href=“http://damndelicious.net/2014/07/07/quinoa-enchilada-casserole/”>http://damndelicious.net/2014/07/07/quinoa-enchilada-casserole/&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;

39

<p>@pennylane2011: We used to stuff a pumpkin but frankly it takes up a lot of space in the oven if you also have turkey-eating folk. If you don’t have two ovens, you can stuff smaller squash (I like acorn) instead. The vegetarians will appreciate being able to eat stuffing, since the usual stuff is cooked inside a turkey and consequently verboten. We do scalloped onion casserole, corn casserole, roasted brussels sprouts, and the vegetarians usually are good about bringing a side (since so many potluck situations don’t really accommodate them very well). We’ve had some strange things turn up. I think my favorite was spanakopita a couple of years ago.</p>

40

<p>Love this thread
@Silpat here is a low carb onion dish that looked interesting
<a href=“Onion Gratin – Kalyn's Kitchen”>http://www.kalynskitchen.com/2009/06/recipe-for-onion-gratin-with-rosemary.html?utm_content=buffer1b531&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_campaign=buffer&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/p&gt;