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Let's Talk Thanksgiving - help
I am hosting this year and am having about 15 people over.
Appetizers:
Veggie Dip, Cheese & crackers and I want to do another (hot) dip so recs?
Dinner:
Turkey - gravy
Ham (being brought over by MIL) - cherries & Pineapple for the ham
Broccoli Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Peas & Corn
Stuffing
Cranberries
Mashed potatoes?
Hot Apples & Sweet Potatoes
Bread
Desserts:
Coconut Custard Pie - my mom loves so its a must
Pumpkin
Apple
A regular cake for those that don't like pies
cherry pie?
I kind of want to do a creative side but that's what I have for dinner. Does it look ok? I'm Italian so feeding an army is the norm for us. Any other recs/changes/places to find other recipes/recipes to share?
Any tips? I do want to prep as much as I possibly can the day before and hopefully just put everything in the oven on Thanksgiving.
Thanks!
Re: Let's Talk Thanksgiving - help
Jonathan Dean 4.5.08
Anna Capri 5.4.11
there goes that green bean casserole again
we usually have a sweet potato casserole and mac & cheese . . . but talk to me about this hot apple and sweet potato thing you mentioned
and real simple has a prep list that my MIL swears by
http://www.realsimple.com/holidays-entertaining/holidays/thanksgiving/thanksgiving-prep-list-10000001667561/index.html
Tiana - my aunt makes this every year too and it's so good! I think it's just baked yams, apples, and raisins in butter, brown sugar and cinnamon.
Yep, that's it!
I will admit it, I have been wanting to make the green bean casserole forever. It just looks good! lol.
I forgot about the salad. Thanks for the other ideas too!
oh my word, its like all of my favorite things in one dish . . . i'm in love
What about a light soup instead of apps so people don't fill up too much?
Def need mashed potatoes or some kind of potatoes.
Where are the raviolis? lol
Oops I just saw the bread you listed- sorry!
Holy moly. Are you making all of that or are you getting people to bring stuff?
It sounds delicious but very labor intensive.
Everything sounds delicious. I don't think you need another appetizer, but if you really want one, we always do stuffed mushrooms.
Take large mushrooms, parboil them for a minute or two, stuff them with stuffing and put a slice of mozarella on top. Bake until the cheese melts and voila. . . really easy and everyone loves them.
People are asking what to bring but I may want to make my own pies and stuff. I love cooking and baking. We'll see how it goes.
Kross, stuffing is on there. And yes, you are gourmet! You should come down and help me cook.
Sorry I totally missed it, my eyes were bugging out over the ? after mashed potatoes!! Im glad youve seen the error of your ways and added them to your menu. ;P
If you can, have people bring stuff. Appetizers, desserts and side dishes are nice to not have to worry about if others are willing and able to help. Just know what people are bringing so you don't end up with everyone bring dessert. Make and prep as much as you can the day before. Plan on alternative ways to make and heat things if you only have one oven since the turnkey will be in there the majority of the time-although you will have about half an hour to heat things as the turnkey rests once it is done.
As well as hanging the cooking time table on the fridge, I also write out each menu item on a card and place the cards in the dish I have designated for that item. This way, if you're busy, others can see when things should be done and which dish they need to go into for serving. Lastly, don't forget to have enough serving utensils for each dish.
Looks good, Val! I'm having all the same things you are except we're also having Brussels Sprouts, Crockpot mac n cheese, cauliflower & cheese and Deviled eggs (at my husband's request to go with the ham). I think your menu looks great.
We're hosting T-giving for the first time at our house so I'm hoping it goes well.
Do you have a recipe for your hot apples? Last week I had thought about going to ::GASP!:: Boston Market lol. I'll be cooking everything else so I was trying to cut at least 1 corner.
Val- I am Italian too and my mom makes all of that food, plus escarole soup and raviolis with meatballs and sausage, so I don't think you are nuts at all. By the time the turkey comes out, you can't even eat a kernal of corn!
Things that can be done the day before, pies, stuffing, wash and cut up the broccoli and string beans.
On turkey day in the am, assemble all of your casseroles and cover with foil till its time to cook them. Peas and Corn, place them in the pot for cooking, so when its time,all you have to do is turn on the burner. Same with the potatoes for mashing, peel let them sit in the pot of water till its time to turn on.
This way, when your guest arrive, you can sit with them for while before it's time to start getting everything ready to dinner time.
I'm like you Val, I like to do everything myself.
If you have everything planned and ready to go, it'll all come together in the end.
You get a can of apples and a can of yams. That canned juice is key to all the good stuff
. The whole can of apples goes in but I do drain some of the juice of the yams because it's a lot.
You pour the apples, yams in a casserole dish, then put slices of butter on top all over, you can add cinnamon and raisins and cook. It's delish! I know some people do the whole yam and marshmallow thing which seems incredible too.
I am sort of jumping in feet first (this will be my first Thanksgiving cooking) because I have to since everyone is coming down here to visit but my mom will be here so she'll be a huge help in getting everything together! She's more organized with food timing than I am now. lol.