Bringing Thanksgiving to Son's Apartment

[Bearvet]

DS25 lives in Columbus OH - a 12 hour drive for us. He currently works full time and goes to grad school full time. He does inventory control for Abercrombie & Fitch and MUST work the day after Thanksgiving. Luckily our 2 other sons are also in Columbus - all 3 attend Ohio State and the BIG game is at home on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

Since it will be difficult for them to travel, DH and I will go to Columbus and stay in a hotel. DS25 has a nice apartment with 1 roommate, but it's still a young guys place, so not fully equipped kitchen.

I'm looking for suggestions on what we should bring, what I should have him buy there (remember his busy schedule) and what might make things easier. I've always wanted one of those table-top turkey roasters, so I'm thinking about buying one to bring with us and will free up oven space. I usually make and freeze apple pies ahead of time - can I travel with them? Those kinds of things.

We'd like to do the traditional dishes - turkey (not turkey breast), stuffing, mashed potatoes, etc. I think we may need to bring plates (I have some nice melamine ones) and will use nice paper plates for dessert. We plan to leave MA around 1 PM on Tuesday, which puts us in around 1 AM Wednesday - so I can do some things on Weds, but I'd prefer not to go near a grocery store!

I'd love to hear your ideas! Thanks!

 

[MaryLovesPoohBear]

What about one of those multi dish crock pots?

I have an older one, that has three dishes. I can make stuffing and two different veggies in it.

I've even made a crust-less pumpkin pie in the crock pot. (This is a great site for crock pot meals.)

Turkey in the roaster.

All you have to worry about is mashed potatoes.

 

[minkydog]

What a wonderful idea! I'm sure your sons will be thrilled.

Personally, I would plan to bring everything with me, including disposable aluminum pans, paper goods, and utensils. Most college age guys don't have the kinds of pans you'll need and most have no idea how to shop for holiday foods (or any other kind of foods!) Heck, I've been married for 33 years and I still have to be extremely explicit with DH or he'll just pick up the oddest things and leave off the necessities!

I would probably cook as much ahead as possible. You can freeze stuff in blocks an it will travel safely for 12 hours. What you can't freeze, you can probably buy pre-prepared.

Good luck with your plan. It's ambitious, but I'm sure you can pull it off.

 

[Happy Snowman]

I've been using my roaster for the past few years for Thanksgiving and it's wonderful! Just don't get too big of a bird or it won't fit.

Is there a grocery store that will deliver to his apartment a few days before--maybe online order? If you buy a frozen turkey at home, it will thaw along the way so that would work too.

If you don't want to bring dishes, get plastic plates vs paper. You can probably find some in a holiday color to brighten up the table.

Another thought would be to go to a restaurant??

 

[denisem]

I second the crock pot idea if you have one or two. There are some slow cooker mashed potato recipes out there. Here's a crock pot bread stuffing recipe I use:

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/slow-cooker-stuffing-2/detail.aspx

Here's my foolproof make ahead turkey gravy recipe. I've already done it for Thanksgiving, freezing some for Christmas (one less thing to worry about at the last minute):

http://www.food.com/recipe/the-best-do-ahead-turkey-gravy-42402

 

[barkley]

we went to a lodge type place one year for thanksgiving-it had a full kitchen but was basically outfitted like a bachelor apaprtment

-I put all the dry ingredients for stuffing into ziplock bags so I didn't have to take a bunch of spices (put the veggies precut into another). only had to take butter and cans of stock.

-some items like green bean casserole I put the ingredients into cheap dollar store lidded containers into a cooler (w/soup, butter and cheese in separate baggies/disposable containers).

-pies I either took frozen or just planned to make on arrival (with premeasured dry ingredients in another ziplock).

-the aluminum pans from dollar store are GREAT, and rather than schlepping your baster, strainer (surprising how many singles don't own one), serving utensils, baking sheets, pie tins and such-consider buying them at the dollar store before you leave. for less than $20 you can get everything and either toss it when you leave or gift it to the guys.

 

[anniemae]

Could you get part of the meal catered? When I had a small place and had the family over for Thanksgiving, I had the turkey, stuffing and gravy catered. It was not too expensive and saved a ton of worry. All we had to do was the potatoes, veggies, salad and dessert. I know Shaws and other supermarkets will cook the turkey for you but I don't know what supermarkets are in OH.

 

[robinb]

One other idea is to take everyone out to Buca di Beppo. We did this last year with my sister's family and my mom. Here is the menu: http://www.bucadibeppo.com/thanksgiving-menu/

5 people would be $98 and the food was really good. I just made my own reservation! We also bought gift cards at the restaurant and used them to pay for the meal and we received free gift cards that had to be used in Jan-Feb so we got another 1/2 meal for our family out of the deal.

 

[okeydokey]

I have a friend who cooks a turkey every year but gets all the sides at Boston Market. Super easy.

 

[Bamagirl43]

You might enjoy preparing holiday meals, but there are probably lots of places that will make a good Thanksgiving meal for pick up. Seems like a much simpler plan than trying to bring food, pots, pans, utensils and pretty much the kitchen sink.

 

[sonnyjane]

You might enjoy preparing holiday meals, but there are probably lots of places that will make a good Thanksgiving meal for pick up. Seems like a much simpler plan than trying to bring food, pots, pans, utensils and pretty much the kitchen sink.

This is what we do now from Boston Market. Used to do everything ourselves until we realized that it was actually so much cheaper to let them do the work!

 

[Bearvet]

I should have mentioned that we would prefer not to go to a restaurant. We haven't seen our boys since late August, so by Thanksgiving it will be 3 months. I want to make this as homemade as possible and don't mind the work - I actually think it will be kind of fun! I want the smell of roasting turkey, watching football, etc. I love the suggestions for the make-ahead gravy, packing stuffing ingredients with spices in ziplocks, etc. Dollar store serving pieces and pans are another great idea-DS19 is in an apartment this year, so, he can probably use them afterward. Ideas like these are what I'm looking for. Thanks!

 

[mmouse37]

I also made my gravy already for Thanksgiving. I just melted 1/4 stick butter and 2 Tablespoons flour and made a roux, then added some chicken broth. Once thickened I added the drippings from the roast turkey. Strained it all put in a mason jar in freezer. The gravy is always my toughest part on T-Day. So happy I have that out of the way. Actually made a few batches as we have at least 30 people for Thanksgiving (my whole family).

As far as bringing dinner to your son's place I am sure he will be thrilled!!! I like the idea of a previous poster about bringing pre measured and cut up stuff in zip lock bags. I would also buy a bunch of things needed utensil wise, at the Dollar store.

Bar cookies travel well and stay fresh for a few days if sealed in a container. Maybe some pecan type bars or those Magic Cookie Bars
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/claire-robinson/pecan-bars-recipe.html
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/magic-cookie-bars-from-eagle-brand/

I know what you mean about not wanting to go to a grocery store the day before T-Day.

MJ

 

[mamacatnv]

Order a turkey, we got one last year from a local BBQ place that offered smoked turkeys and darn, it was sure good.

I second having as much prepared ahead of time or ready to just bake or picking up already prepared.

Costco makes great pies

Last year I made crockpot stuffing and it was fantastic!

Scale back the menu, the family time all together is far more enjoyable than a gazillion traditional dishes

My DS is also in grad school and will be 6 hours away on a rotational internship. We are planning on going to him with turkey in tow.

The other option is to go out to dinner - there are usually lots of options at area restaurants.

 

[lauradis]

How about contacting a local grocery store to cook a full thanksgiving meal for you that you can pick up.

bring the things mom makes pre-made

 

[worm761]

we went to a lodge type place one year for thanksgiving-it had a full kitchen but was basically outfitted like a bachelor apaprtment

-I put all the dry ingredients for stuffing into ziplock bags so I didn't have to take a bunch of spices (put the veggies precut into another). only had to take butter and cans of stock.

-some items like green bean casserole I put the ingredients into cheap dollar store lidded containers into a cooler (w/soup, butter and cheese in separate baggies/disposable containers).

-pies I either took frozen or just planned to make on arrival (with premeasured dry ingredients in another ziplock).

-the aluminum pans from dollar store are GREAT, and rather than schlepping your baster, strainer (surprising how many singles don't own one), serving utensils, baking sheets, pie tins and such-consider buying them at the dollar store before you leave. for less than $20 you can get everything and either toss it when you leave or gift it to the guys.

This is what I would do. Start by making your menu now. Then figure out what can be made ahead, what pans/untensils you will need, paper plates, disposable pans, disposable cutlery. I host and do as much disposable ( I know, bad for the environment) as I possible can. I would take as much assembled or ready to assemble as you can. Any canned ingredients you need, make sure they are the pop top kind. You never know if the boys will have a can opener. Or be able to find it.

As for the counter top roaster, go for it! My dad bought me one a few years ago and I love it. Worth every penny he spent on it. I also have one of the crockpots with 3 crocks. I love that thing too. I use it for hot apps before dinner though.

 

[barkley]

This is what I would do. Start by making your menu now. Then figure out what can be made ahead, what pans/untensils you will need, paper plates, disposable pans, disposable cutlery. I host and do as much disposable ( I know, bad for the environment) as I possible can. I would take as much assembled or ready to assemble as you can. Any canned ingredients you need, make sure they are the pop top kind. You never know if the boys will have a can opener. Or be able to find it.

As for the counter top roaster, go for it! My dad bought me one a few years ago and I love it. Worth every penny he spent on it. I also have one of the crockpots with 3 crocks. I love that thing too. I use it for hot apps before dinner though.

these are great-and the turkey roaster I have (from walmart) is HUGE so it will roast a big bird. you can also get an insert for it (about $20) that lets it serve as a chafing dish for 3 hot items. the cool thing is the chafing portions come apart so if you want to bake something in one then put it into the plugged in unit it works fine (it would also work well if you want to cook the turkey then put in appetizers like mini meatballs and hot dips that you cook/reheat ahead of time).

speaking of walmart-if you don't want to schlep allot of stuff take a look at their on-line site. for much of it once you've hit the $50 mark there's no shipping and handling cost. if you know you will need specific canned goods , dry goods (like durkey onions and such) and cooking items (though I still prefer the dollar store) you could order it to be delivered well before you arrive.

my dd lives near us, but she's already angling for thanksgiving leftovers. our local dollar store has these small aluminum foil pans (about the size that could hold 3 decent sized enchiladas on top of another 3) so I grabbed some so I can send her home (and her small on top of fridge freezer) with containers of all her favorite goodies (with pie I take a small baking sheet and put individually cut pieces on it into the freezer for a couple of hours to semi freeze-then I put those individual pieces into a ziplock bag so she can pull out a serving or two at a time).

 

[dsneprincess]

I also have the countertop roaster and do my turkeys and hams in it for holiday dinners, I LOVE it, may have been my best impulse purchase ever! It frees my oven up for other things and I can (& usually do) make everything ahead, put in the roaster on a timer and let the timer turn on for my so I don't have to wake up at 5 to put the turkey in. The timer does it for me. We like to eat earlier and the getting up & prepping part didn't work for me.

I am not the best cook, but I haven't had a bad meal out of the roaster either! No Carousel of Progress last scene turkey (or frozen pizza) for me! Haha, your trip sounds fun!!

 

[anniemae]

How are you getting the turkey? Can your son go pick it up for you so it will be there when you arrive? I can't imaging schlepping a turkey from ma to oh.

 

[garydeb]

We have done the Bob Evans Thanksgiving to go meal. It was very good and you get a lot of food.

-garydeb