Looking for different ideas for thanksgiving dinner?

[minijeanie]

I have both my family and DH family for dinner each year. I am looking for something different this year. Normally about 25 people.

I usually cook the traditional turkey with all the trimmings. and have a lasagna to appease the italians( tee hee ..my side of course)
but just looking for something different to do this year.

maybe a new punch
or side dish

just something to WOW them


feel like for the past 15 or so years it is the same hum drum menu

got something new for me????

 

[MoniqueU]

I made a crown roast one year and everyone just raved about that. I had turkey as well but the crown roast was a huge hit.

 

[Kahana-ri]

Marthastwart.com, Rachel Ray and Real Simple have some great easy make Thanksgiving meal ideas. Good luck-sounds like a big group for dinner.

 

[Hannathy]

Don't underestimate the comfort of the old reliables! My Mom decided one Thanksgiving not to make a side dish that she had always made when we were growing up and we gave her such a hard time she ended up making it the next day with leftovers to shut us up! So add something new but be careful about leaving out a favorite, unless you don't have as vocal a family as mine. You make me jealous since my parents are both gone we don't have the big Thanksgiving dinner anymore and it isn't the same Holiday.

 

[MareQ]

Don't underestimate the comfort of the old reliables! My Mom decided one Thanksgiving not to make a side dish that she had always made when we were growing up and we gave her such a hard time she ended up making it the next day with leftovers to shut us up!

I agree - don't mess with tradition! One year DH's Aunt decided to make roasted potatoes instead of mashed and some sweet potato souffle instead of stuffing and no GRAVY- WHAT THE BLEEP was she thinking??? I refuse to go there for Thanksgiving now.

 

[Lisa L from MI]

We always have Thanksgiving dinner at my moms...and it is ALWAYS turkey....BUT this year....first time in my 40 years, we have decided to have a filet roast. Took some talking into with my mom but she finally agreed.

Funny how everyone then admitted they didn't care much for turkey...

 

[EthansMom]

I agree with others... you'll hear about it from some of the guests if you don't serve turkey. That said, you could serve something else in addition to a turkey. Maybe a roast or a ham? I would try to find something that could cook at the same temp. as the turkey and try to get them to fit in the oven together!

 

[jwsqrdplus2]

I like to change some things around too. For instance, I always make some kind of green bean dish, but not the same one every year. This year I am using a Rachael Ray recipe for the green beans. I also play with the cranberry sauce (but also have a can of jellied just in case). Last year a I made a cranberry-jalapeno sauce. This year the cranberry sauce will have blueberries added to it.

I have all the recipes if you are interested.

 

[LuvDuke]

Don't underestimate the comfort of the old reliables! My Mom decided one Thanksgiving not to make a side dish that she had always made when we were growing up and we gave her such a hard time she ended up making it the next day with leftovers to shut us up! So add something new but be careful about leaving out a favorite, unless you don't have as vocal a family as mine. You make me jealous since my parents are both gone we don't have the big Thanksgiving dinner anymore and it isn't the same Holiday.

I had an aunt and uncle who purchased a humungous turkey and then cut it in half because it was so big and told everyone. They got so many complaints, they sewed it back together, cooked it, and then served a "whole" turkey.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I make sweet potato muffins. I use the recipe in a cook book from Williamsburg. They are mini muffins with sugar sprinkled on top and they serve them in one of the old restaurants/taverns there.

Quite yummy!

I also like Kugli--but it is a PITA to make b/c you have to hand shred the potatoes until they are practically liquified. It takes multiple people to help b/c you need lots of potatos and you are racing to fiinish before they discolor. Since it is so fine you can't soak it in water.

But the end result is very tasty. The shredding regime is the secret. I believe it is a Lithuanian dish as hubby's grandmother is the one who makes it.

 

[LuvDuke]

I have both my family and DH family for dinner each year. I am looking for something different this year. Normally about 25 people.

I usually cook the traditional turkey with all the trimmings. and have a lasagna to appease the italians( tee hee ..my side of course)
but just looking for something different to do this year.

maybe a new punch
or side dish

just something to WOW them


feel like for the past 15 or so years it is the same hum drum menu

got something new for me????

What ......... no ham in case somebody doesn't like turkey? No chicken in case someone doesn't like turkey or ham? No $300 antipasto?

Whatta world, whatta world!

PS ..................... I'm Italian too.

 

[mandy200587]

Texas potatos is a big thing in our house. If momma doesn't make dressing it's the end of the world you would think.

 

[LuvDuke]

Texas potatos is a big thing in our house. If momma doesn't make dressing it's the end of the world you would think.

What are "Texas potatoes"?

 

[mandy200587]

It's like a potato casserole. It's made of corn flakes, hash browns, japeloneo's, sour cream and some other stuff. I'll try to find the recipe.

 

[mandy200587]

2 lbs. frozen hash browns
1 c. chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 pt. sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Mix hash browns, onion, soup, cheese, salt, pepper and sour cream. Pour into greased 13"x9"x2" pan. Top with corn flakes mixed with 1/2 cup melted butter. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

 

[LuvDuke]

2 lbs. frozen hash browns
1 c. chopped onion
1 can cream of chicken soup
8 oz. grated cheddar cheese
1/2 c. butter
1 pt. sour cream
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
2 c. crushed corn flakes

Mix hash browns, onion, soup, cheese, salt, pepper and sour cream. Pour into greased 13"x9"x2" pan. Top with corn flakes mixed with 1/2 cup melted butter. Bake 1 hour at 350 degrees.

Thank you very much. I'm always looking for new recipes. Again, thanks.


*edited to add*
I see the Tag Fairy's had a busy weekend. Watch what you say ............ you've been warned.

 

[smartestnumber5]

My family is Italian also. We always have lasagna at Thanksgiving...sometimes a ham or sausage too!

Do you usually have a sweet potato dish? We like a this recipe for a sweet potato casserole with a sugary nut topping--careful though...with all the cream, eggs and butter it is not for the health conscious, but it tastes great!

Also, we usually make a pineapple caserole (kind of a pineapple bread pudding) for most holidays. Here's a recipe--it's another one that might kill you, but we think it's worth the risk.

Good luck!

 

[mandy200587]

we don't use cheddar chesse though, we use montery jack with peppers from Kroger. It makes it taste better.

 

[lulugirl]

Instead of regular dinner rolls I like to make homemade muffins and bread. Last year I did corn muffins and pumpkin bread. They can be made the day before so they won't take up precious oven space Thanksgiving day.

 

[minnieandme]

My family always has two meats to satisfy everyone. Besides turkey, we may have ham, pot roast, lasagne, or leg of lamb.