How was your Thanksgiving?

TarHeels&Rebels

Wow, dead in here.

So did anyone try out any great recipes or have anything to share about Thanksgiving?

I had dinner at my aunt's house.  She's a good, but very plain, cook, and I felt awful because the only thing I complimented her on was her pumpkin bread, which turned out to be this box mix.  Totally fooled me since she normally makes her own!  Really delicious.  (And the icing is totally unnecessary - who ices pumpkin bread?  It's thankfully just a little packet that you can leave off.)

 

What about you?

sjb&apa

We hosted 16 guests at our house for Thanksgiving, and it turned out great.

We had way too much food, but it was good. The only thing I ran out of was my homemade lefse (it's a Scandinavian thing for those of you who don't know what lefse is - DH and I both come from Norwegian ancestry so this is a staple at holiday dinners for us).

My mom was in charge of pumpkin pie, and DH didn't like it because she used fresh pumpkin and not the canned kind. He had never eaten pumpkin pie that wasn't from canned pumpkin! I take his opinion with a grain of salt though, he was also disappointed that the pie toppings were whipped cream or vanilla ice cream, and not Cool Whip.

I ended up roasting two turkeys because I didn't think one was enough, and I ended up with at least half of one turkey leftover. I stuck a bunch of leftovers in the freezer since there was no way we would eat it all before it went bad.

I tried a new cranberry chutney recipe that was a huge hit. Even the kids liked it, which I was surprised by. 

Wine Enthusiast

Our thanksgiving was good.  I only made one dish and split it between IL's/my moms so it was nice and easy.  I did a radicchio stuffed shell because I love Italian food more than anything else.  My moms husband is a really good cook so his food was of course wonderful. 

I had a friend that always made the cupcakes from this kit and she would ice them.  I have never seen someone ice the bread before.  I personally think packaged icing tastes gross and would much rather have home made icing even on cupcakes!

wweaver0

We hosted for the first time, and it went very well!  We had 16 people over. 

Apps--baked spinach and artichoke dip with bread and veggies, baked brie with apple compote and water crackers

Main--dry-brined turkey with white gravy

Sides--green beans, mashed potatoes, sausage and bread stuffing, honey yeast rolls, pureed sweet potatoes, broccoli gratin, green salad, cranberry sauce, honey cinnamon butter and compound garlic herb butter

Desserts--chocolate chip pie, pumpkin pie, cranberry-apple cobbler, spice cake, banana pudding

I didn't make everything--some of the sides and desserts were brought by family members--but it was all delicious!  I've already got notes for next year.

wejustwant2:)

Hi!  Glad to hear that your Thanksgiving went well... that Pumpkin Bread looks good.  We had 19 in our home.

What worked:

Moving our couch and toys and love seat out of the living room and making one large table.  Everyone had plenty of room and even though we had to rent/buy tables it was really worth it.  During Antipasti everyone was in the kitchen or downstairs with the sofa.  

Cooked a 30 lb. Turkey (got the first 21 pounds free from our local grocery store).  It almost didn't fit in my roaster.  Lots of leftovers!

 Having our family bring stuff!  All of the Antipasti, Desserts and Bread came from our guests!  Also Squash and Sweet Potato Pies.  Was very sweet and I couldn't have possibly done it all myself.  In our family we always bring things to each others' homes. 

(Mom and I cooked Turkey, Gravy, Stuffing, Cranberries, Brussels Sprouts and Mashed Potatoes).  I had 4 slow cookers warming food in our kitchen!

Buying extra containers to send everyone home with a second Turkey Dinner.

 Aren't those Turkey Candies cute!  My DH's BIL brought them!

 

What didn't:

Didn't have time to do the decorations... it would have helped.  Maybe next year...

 

 

 

 

6fsn

We just want that table and turkey looks great.  I love the desserts too!

 The best part of my Tday was the night before.  32 people from aunts and uncles to cousins and their kids for a campfire potluck- roasted hotdogs, venison stew, mac and cheese, this sausage bean thing that's out of this world, veggie tray, and my greek pasta salad that was a huge hit.  S'mores. pumpkin cookies, and my peanut butter blossoms for dessert. 

Thursday sucked.  Premade crap at the ILs.  I've felt sick ever since.  The only good part was Tarheel's mint brownies.

(Saturday was fun because we got to go househunting and I could start planning layouts for new parties)

wejustwant2:)

6 ~  Thank you!  Your "night before" sounded like a lot of fun. Sorry your actual Thanksgiving wasn't so great.  From reading your earlier posts - you're probably run down too. Feel better.

Take Care~

W.

WA1215

I tried this recipe http://notsohumblepie.blogspot.com/2009/11/dueling-potato-rolls.html  a week before thanksgiving, and it turned out fine.  However, the day of thanksgiving they didnt quite turn out

MIL made a cranberry sauce I tried and loved, she gave me the recipe but I think she forgot details bc mine did taste as good as hers.  I used fresh cranberries and DH thinks she used a can.  Oh well. 

My usual noodles and green bean casserole went fine though.  Oh, and I made a lemon  meringue pie for my Dad and he loved it  I was very happy with that, it was my first time.