OT: Thanksgiving Dinner

[jennifer293]

I have decided that I am going to cook Thanksgiving dinner for mine and Dh's sides of the family. There are 29 of us!!

Anyway I just wanted to know what everybody is making for T-day dinner, so I can get some ideas!!!

Appetizers, Entree's, Sides, and Desserts...let me hear it!!!

 

[earthfaries]

Wow, that's a lot of people to feed and clean up after. Have you thought about hiring someone for a few hours to help serve and clean? Last year when I worked part time in a coffee house a woman asked me if I would come over and help serve and clean up for $25.00 an hour. (She wanted 4 hours)
We usually eat out at Grove Park Inn and Spa at $55.00 a head...I don't eat meat, my dad doesn't eat that much, and honestly, the food wasn't very good last year. The pumpkin pie was not cooked all the way and too spicy, they had processed sliced turkey and all the dressing had meat in it The only thing I ate was cheese and fresh berries and fruit. Don't get me wrong, I enjoyed the experience. There is nothing like having all that good cheese and fruit and eating at the GPI in the Grand Ballroom:cloud9But we just decided yesterday to make dinner this year. I personally will enjoy it more.

I am making 2 big organic chickens instead of turkey, making cranberry stuffing, organic cranberry sauce, homemade pumpkin pie, vegan chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, roasted sweet potatoes, homemade mashed potatoes and gravy and my favorite part, I am buying a bunch of dellicious specialty cheeses from the health food store, inc. extra brie & a bunch of fresh fruit...Yummy Can't wait!!!

 

[jennifer293]

^^^^^^ 29 may seem like a lot of people, but I have cooked for 300 before so this is a walk in the park for me..I cater some as a little hobby because I love to cook. I guess that is probably why I got asked...or maybe everyone else was just tired of doing it. I would rather go out to a nice place to eat, but the majority rules and they would all rather stuff themselves silly and see who's buttons explode off their pants first (that reminds me to put away the breakables) ....I have made T-day dinner before, but I just need some new ideas. If I served anything meatless or organic I think they would put me on the chopping block.. These are old country folk that eat meat and 3 veggies smothered in butter at every meal. Thanks though!!

 

[earthfaries]

Actually organic stuff doesn't taste different, maybe better...
My grandparents live in the country in NC, they are truly southern and didn't even know what organic was when we started eating that way about 10 years ago. When we went over, we cooked for them, steak stir fry was their favorite. We would bring chips, coffee, etc. over and they just loved it! They had never tasted anything so good, but wouldn't go out and buy it because they don't care about what they eat and definately don't want to spend that kind of money on food when theirs is just fine

Anyway, your family sounds like my dad, he doesn't like anything fancy or different from what he is used to. I am making the chickens for him (and if you haven't tried them~organic chicken tastes sooo..good) and for him I have to have the regular canned cranberry sauce and stovetop stuffing. He would actually prefer boxed mashed potatoes too, but that is just too bad, I am not eating that stuff
That is why we usually go out, I have to make two seperate meals for thanksgiving
My southern suggestions are baked bbq beans, yams with marshmellows, pecan pie, sweet potato pie, pumpkin pie, mashed potatoes and gravy , stuffing and cranberry sauce, turkey and honey baked ham, fried squash, homemade corn bread and dinner rolls and some kind of bean salad? That is what our country thanksgiving dinner at my grandmas used to be like

 

[Lisa_M]

When I cook Thanksgiving dinner, it's pretty basic. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, cranberry sauce (everyone likes the gel stuff in the can, hehe), spaghetti squash, dinner rolls, salad. My grandma usually makes sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top. For dessert, we have cheesecake, pudding cake, pumpkin pie, apple pie (my other grandma usually makes it with diet sugar, bleh).

I went down south last year for thanksgiving at a friends place and they had a lot of different stuff I had never seen at thanksgiving. Macaroni & Cheese, green bean cassarole, corn bread, ham, they had stuffing, but it was weird, I don't know what it was made out of, maybe it was more like filling (mashed potatoes with the stuffing mixed in).

This year it is just DH and I and he has requested meatloaf ("the biggest one I can make") in the crockpot. So we are having meatloaf, mashed potatoes, corn, bread, salad. Our dessert will be a BJ's cheesecake and pumpkin pie (I don't know how to bake pies).

 

[annakris1973]

Lisa_M...you probably got your first taste of southern "dressing" NOT stuffing...there is quite a difference and its pretty standard around here. (not a single potato in them either! )

The last few years I have cooked, I have bought turkey breasts instead of a whole turkey. My family prefers the white meat, so a whole turkey is wasted. I ususally make a hen and use the broth to make my dressing. All my guests bring a dish so we end up with quite an ecclectic spread. Mac and Cheese, mashed potatoes, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, butter peas, tossed salad, congealed salad, rolls, cranberry sauce (yep, from the can!) and every kind of pie you can make...chocolate, apple, sweet potato, pumpkin, pecan.

Guarenteed to put you in a coma in front of the football game! Ahhhh, good times!!!!!

 

[Bren's Mom]

Here's our traditional menu;

Shrimp cocktail
Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy
cranberry sauce
corn, peas, green bean casserole
sweet potatoe souffle

apple and pumpkin pie with ice cream

Sometimes we vary that a little but mostly it stays the same. I don't do appetizers, kind of pointless to me when you're going to eat a gargantuan meal.

And here's my best tip: make-ahead, make-ahead, make-ahead.

I've even cooked the turkey the day before, carved it and refrigerated it. Then I warm it in the oven right before serving. As long as you don't dry it out the first time (use a thermometer!!!) it's delicious! Casseroles, mashed pots and gravy along with pies can all be made ahead. (Mashed potatoes can reheat very nicely in a crock pot!) And I cheat and use boil-in-bags for the peas and corn. Whatever I can do ahead means I'm less stressed the day of and can enjoy my company and the day.

 

[merekc]

Turkey, Ham and Polish Sausage. Mashed potatoes, dressing, salad, green beans, corn casserole, sweet potatoes, veggie tray and rolls. Apple, pumpkin, peach and cherry pies. Povitica.

Getting hungry thinking about it. ...but I wouldn't mind a shrimp cocktail.

 

[cruizie]

Here is our traditional Thanksgiving Menu, sort of south and midwest combined...

Turkey
Ham
Bread dressing (w/ bacon - yum!)
Cornbread dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Spiced Peaches
Watergate Salad
Marinated Carrots
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Relish tray w/ sweet pickles, sweet spicy pickles, bl & green olives, etc.
Cranberry sauce
Rolls

Dessert
Apple pie
Chocolate pie
Buttermilk pie
Pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread
Sugar cookies

 

[Trish Bessette]

Here is mine:

cheese & fruit platter
stuffed mushrooms
spinach dip with bread chunks for dipping

Turkey & gravy
Mashed potatoes
stuffing
Candied sweet potatoes with marshmallow topping
Mashed butternut squash
Green Bean Casserole
Rolls
Sweet breads - Pumpkin, Cranberry
Relish tray - pickles, black olives
Iced Water / Wine / Punch

Apple Pie
Chocolate Cream Pie
Pumpkin Pie

 

[Priorityonecb]

We are pretty boring here. We usually do cinnamon rolls for breakfast, then head to see the earliest matinee. (This year, it's Enchanted). So, our appetizes are popcorn and Milk Duds!

Dinner will be...
Turkey
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potatoes
Green beans
Stuffing
Rolls

Pumpkin pie w/ whipped cream for dessert

 

[maggiew]

We'll have:

Shrimp cocktail
turkey
ham
stuffing
mashed potatoes & gravy
sweet potatoes
noodles
corn
broccoli or asparagus or something green
salad
butter shaped like turkey!
cranberry sauce
apple sauce
rolls
pomegranets
pumpkin pie

Here are some pictures from last year:

Maggie

 

[HunnyPots]

Here is what we have every year:

Turkey
cornbread dressing
mashed potatoes
gravy
sweet potatoes (for mom and dh)
green bean casserole
cranberry sauce (shaped like the can!)
cranberry salad (made with cool whip and marshmallows; more like a dessert)
brown and serve rolls
various pies

It's what we love and wouldn't think of changing!
But if I were cooking for 29 people, I'd have each family bringing sides and desserts. That's a HUGE amount of food you'll need!

 

[PatriciaH]

We watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade while cooking

Green olives, black olives
Celery with cream cheese
Apple cider
10-12 pound turkey
Mashed potatoes
Giblet gravy
Stuffing
Candied sweet potatoes
Cranberry sauce
Green bean casserole
Pearl onions in cream sauce
Turnip (yuck-Mom likes it)
rolls

Coffee
Homemade eggnog
Pecan pie/whipped cream
Carmel apple pie/vanilla ice cream

 

[HeatherC]

Also cooking for a bunch (25) and love doing it.

I'll be making a turkey breast the day before, a 24lb turkey, and a spiral ham that I'll chuck on the grill in aluminum foil.

Favorite appetizers here are:

stuffed mushrooms,
hot spinach and artichoke dip in the little crockpot
Brie cheese in Phyllo Pastry with Apricot Preserves and Almonds.

Dinner: All the usual trimmings, but this year I'm doing the turkey roasted with herbs and a carmelized onion gravy to go with it.

Dessert: Make your own sundaes for the kids, pies, tiramisu and cheesecake for the grownups

I'm getting full just thinking about it!

Heather

 

[malibuconlee]

I'll be cooking for the first time in several years. Still not sure who will be here, maybe just DH and I!! We'll have
turkey
dressing
homemade noodles
mashed potatoes
gravy
green bean casserole
apple pie (frozen Mrs. Smith's - the only thing I won't make myself)
deviled eggs
brussels sprouts with proscuitto

I'm not big on pumpkin pie, so unless we have a crowd of friends I won't bother with one of those.

 

[Kycha]

Here is our traditional Thanksgiving Menu, sort of south and midwest combined...

Turkey
Ham
Bread dressing (w/ bacon - yum!)
Cornbread dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Sweet Potatoes
Spiced Peaches
Watergate Salad
Marinated Carrots
Broccoli Rice Casserole
Green Bean Casserole
Relish tray w/ sweet pickles, sweet spicy pickles, bl & green olives, etc.
Cranberry sauce
Rolls

Dessert
Apple pie
Chocolate pie
Buttermilk pie
Pumpkin pie or pumpkin bread
Sugar cookies

Ooohh...spiced peaches sounds good. Would you mind sharing your recipe???

 

[earthfaries]

Also cooking for a bunch (25) and love doing it.

I'll be making a turkey breast the day before, a 24lb turkey, and a spiral ham that I'll chuck on the grill in aluminum foil.

Favorite appetizers here are:

stuffed mushrooms,
hot spinach and artichoke dip in the little crockpot
Brie cheese in Phyllo Pastry with Apricot Preserves and Almonds.

Dinner: All the usual trimmings, but this year I'm doing the turkey roasted with herbs and a carmelized onion gravy to go with it.

Dessert: Make your own sundaes for the kids, pies, tiramisu and cheesecake for the grownups

I'm getting full just thinking about it!

Heather

Yummy That's my kind of food

 

[penguincrazie]

I cook every year for 10-15 people for dinner. Then we all go to my aunt's house for dessert (family is too big for everyone to eat dinner in one place) and there is about 30-40 people.

Dinner:
Turkey w/stuffing
Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Potatoes
Green bean cassarole
carrots
cranberry sauce
home made rolls
I think I am leaving something out......

Dessert, I make
2 apple pies
1 peacan pie
2 chocolate cream pies

 

[earthfaries]

I'll be cooking for the first time in several years. Still not sure who will be here, maybe just DH and I!! We'll have
turkey
dressing
homemade noodles
mashed potatoes
gravy
green bean casserole
apple pie (frozen Mrs. Smith's - the only thing I won't make myself)
deviled eggs
brussels sprouts with proscuitto

I'm not big on pumpkin pie, so unless we have a crowd of friends I won't bother with one of those.

That's what I forgot!!! The deviled eggs Thanks