This year, in an unprecedented event, we’re having Thanksgiving at our house. (and also at my grandma’s, and also at my mother-in-law’s, but really, what’s a holiday without spending half the day in a car?) I’ve never prepared a big holiday meal like this, and I’m kind of nervous about it. I’m mostly nervous because I am envisioning it in my mind the way Thanksgiving looks on Pinterest, and it’s not going to live up to that. Obviously. I should REALLY keep in mind that the people I’m feeding have subsisted on take-out dinners from Bob Evans for each Thanksgiving in recent memory.
But still. I want to make it good.
I’ve been compiling a list of ideas on Pinterest, although now that I look at it, my Thanksgiving board contains exactly two recipes and a whole bunch of ideas for centerpieces. So it looks like we’ll be eating only creamed onions and low-calorie pumpkin pie, but at least the table will be pretty.
I’m planning to cook a turkey (which I’ve never done before so that should be interesting), of course (because the time I ordered ham from Bob Evans, Kate had a heart attack that we weren’t having turkey on Thanksgiving and the closest I could come at the time was buying cold cuts and sticking them in the microwave. She was not amused), and the amazing sweet potato dish from Pioneer Woman that I made last year, along with her mashed potatoes, but that’s as far as I’ve gotten.
So tell me, friends, what’s your favorite thing to cook (or eat) on Thanksgiving?
my mom’s oyster dressing! and creamed corn! her recipe for creamed corn includes ample amounts of velveeta so the name creamed corn may be a misnomer.
I am all about the stuffing and gravy. I don’t care that much about the rest as long I get good stuffing (meaning my recipe) and good gravy (no jars or packets please…real gravy from the drippings). Dry turkey and boring potatoes can be made super yummy with good gravy…but again it is all secondary to stuffing. Stale bread, apples, mushrooms, onion, celery, spices, chicken broth. Yum!
Corn casserole/pudding, roasted brussels sprouts, dressing, mac & cheese, baked sweet potatoes. I could go on and on. I have recipes if you need ’em!
Also, I’m thinking of picking up this book: http://www.dinneralovestory.com/10-laws-of-thanksgiving-dinner/
I love the crockpot garlic mashed potato recipes on pillsbury.com. They are so easy – you don’t even have to peel the potatoes – and every time I bring them anywhere they get rave reviews and there are never leftovers.
My hubby does the turkey in his awesome oil-less turkey fryer – it is so good and I don’t have to worry about that major item!
Last year I went all out and made this pumpkin pecan cheesecake that was on the cover of Southern Living. It was the most complicated thing I have ever madde in the kitchen but it turned out great – I may challenge myself to a different one this year.
Roasted veggies are always easy – and you could have them in the oven the same time as the turkey if you need to.
I make the best mashed potatoes.
Ever.
And I enjoy eating them.
Again, dear, Kroger will do it all! From Turkey to Dressing to sides to pies, all you have to do is rip open that bag of instant mashed potatoes and fire UP the microwave!
We, on the other hand, make a Thanksgiving that would make the Pilgrims green with envy. A must have for us, Pumpkin Pie, Diane’s recipe is the best ever!
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…we also do a scalloped corn that’s great, I’ll shoot you the recipe.
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I am turkey obsessed! I love making turkey and we very often have turkey at none Thanksgiving times. Here’s what I do, it requires a partner to not get everything all gross: Take chopped fresh basil and oregano and kosher salt. Have someone pour olive oil into your hands and scoop some of that basil/oregano in your hands. Now rub that stuff under the skin of the turkey, as far as you can under the breast and in the areas you can’t get under the skin, put it on top with more olive oil. Your turkey will have a vaguely greenish tint which totally freaked me out the first time, but it goes away when you roast it. Use the hours/lb ratio to give you a rough idea of how long to cook it, but use a THERMOMETER to tell you when it’s done. Then you get no gross dry turkey or people with salmonella. Now you can thank me!
Mmmmm, green bean casserole. The old school classic green bean casserole. Also, the updside-down turkey recipe from Simply Recipes is the best. http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/moms_roast_turkey/
Stuffing must be from scratch! None of this Stove Top business!
Mashed potatoes with cream cheese as the secret ingredient: http://momadvice.com/blog/2010/11/delicious-make-ahead-dishes-to-add-to-your-thanksgiving-feast. Easy, can be made ahead, frozen, and then put in the crock pot.
Sweet potato casserole like this one: http://www.howdoesshe.com/sweet-potato-sou-what/. But, this year, I’m lightening it up just a tiny bit and trying this recipe: http://www.mccormick.com/Recipes/Side-Dish/Roasted-Sweet-Potatoes-with-Cinnamon-Pecan-Crunch.aspx.
This is by far the best green bean dish I’ve ever had: http://www.bhg.com/recipe/vegetables/green-bean-bake-revisited/. Don’t use as much oil as it calls for to caramelize the onions, you only need a little.
Broccoli cheese casserole with ritz crackers–super good: http://www.kraftrecipes.com/recipes/ritz-broccoli-casserole-56398.aspx