Precooked Holiday meals?

[jekajekalynn]

With Thanksgiving and Christmas fast approaching, I was wondering what is a good place to go and get your holiday "catering' done at?

I was wanting to help out my dmil, since my dfil passed away a week or so ago, so she wouldn't have to worry about cooking anything. Since I don't really have time to cook anything, I was wondering where do you guys who get precooked holiday meals go?

Does Boston Market do good ones? How 'bout Meijers or Kroger? TIA!!!

 

[jekajekalynn]

bump

 

[diseve]

My mom used to do Kroger's meals for the holidays for several years. They were good meals and did save a lot of headaches.

 

[TheBeadPirate]

We've done Kroger in the past. And Heavenly Ham does a great job too- with more than just ham- they were just kinda pricey. We just got Meijer as we were moving south-didn't try them for the holidays but all their deli and salad stuff was great quality.

You are very kind looking out for your DMIL. Please give her our sympathies.

 

[megan4777]

My family has gone to the Honeybaked Ham place before.
It's very good but if you go on/around holiday times we've encountered police directing traffic b/c so many people are thinking the same thing you are....

 

[MareQ]

I've never done catering for a holiday meal but I do it for most other get togethers- but we do pot luck in our family for holidays- saves a lot of work. The hostess will do the Turkey and stuffing - EVERYTHING else is brought by us - one will do taters, beans, appetizers desserts. Some of the stuff we all prepare there - some just needs to get thrown in the oven when the bird comes out and everybody takes their own dirty dishes home with them. That way you can still get a homecooked meal with just a little less fuss.

 

[mchames]

I really like Whole Foods for their Holiday Catering. I've used them for both Thanksgiving and Christmas. I usually make my own turkey or roast (Christmas) and get some of their sides. I've found that it makes my holiday cooking easier, because I can get small amounts of lots of different things and have a large variety without going through all of the preparation.

I checked the website, but their holiday menu doesn't seem to be up yet. They usually have the typical Thanksgiving fare: turkey (cooked and uncooked), stuffing, mashed potatoes, green beans, etc. and then they often have some more unique dishes as well.

Mary

 

[Julia M]

I used Boston Market last Thanksgiving. I think it had a turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, rolls and a pie. It was a reasonable price and quite good. I added my own sweet potatoes, extra rolls, and green beans, and more pie, and it stretched to feed many more than it was planned.

Because of the extra homemade goodies, the whole meal "felt" homemade.

This year I'm at my parents (who were out of town last year)

I'd definitely do it again

Julia

 

[Sthronds]

I don't know if you have a Marie Callendars near you but we have had their "meal in a box" before. It does require some cooking as some things are cold or frozen, but there is little preparation and it's all quite good. Plus you get a pie!

 

[ceiligh1]

We had a new baby in the house last christmas so we used a kroger meal. You can also try hotels in your MIL's area as I know that many here also will do meals and they can taste better than krogers. It is very nice of you to do for your MIL it will make it easier to build a new tradition.

 

[Barb D]

Bumping this...

 

[MUFFYCAT]

We've bought a full Turkey with all the trimmings from a
supermarket
bagel/deli
and a store that sell chickens and turkeys year round.

the best one oddly enough was from the bagel store.

 

[DISUNC]

I did Boston Market last year! IT WAS DELICIOUS!!!!

Really so much less expensive than buying all the ingredients and cooking myself, and WAAAAAAAAAAAY easier !!!!

 

[CEDmom]

Whole Foods and Wegmans does a good job. I'd suggest going to some of the stores and asking for samples. Usually the mashed potatoes are a good indicator of how the other stuff will be.

 

[Jeanny]

I did the meal from Star Market (now Shaw's, but still can bring myself to call it that) a few years ago, and to be honest, it was just as much work for me as a regular meal.

I had to pick everything up on Wednesday morning and then reheat it Thanksgiving morning. It was good, but I don't think I'd do it again. I had just as much fun cooking a small turkey and making the vegetables and potato's myself.

 

[powellrj]

not sure how much cooking you may want to do, but, could you do a turkey breast in the crock-pot ( I just toss a frozen one in the crock pot and let it cook all day) and then just use the prepared side dishes. I have used Gordon Food Service side dishes before and they are really good!

I have never done a pre cooked turkey, but a friend gets one from Kroger every year and says they are good.

 

[antmaril]

I've had the Turkey dinner from Kroger and it is VERY good. It is a butterball turkey - very moist and tasty. However, I make my own sides. I save the sides they give me for leftovers the next day. The sides they provide are good, but I prefer my own.

My condolences to your family.

 

[DisnyMama]

I just ordered a Turkey dinner with all the trimmings including a pumpkin pie from Tom Thumb this afternoon. For $38 and it's probably just going to be me because Ds will be at dads but leftovers are great, it's a pretty good deal. I do have to cook a couple of family dishes that just make it a real Thanksgiving for me, even if it's only for myself and DS for leftovers.

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

[hentob]

What about Cabelas? They have Turkey and Tur-Duc-Hen.

http://cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templ...09&parentType=category&cmCat=MainCatcat602009

How about QVC?

http://www.qvc.com/qic/qvcapp.aspx/...lk.yah.F700?cm_re=HP-_-MASTHEAD-_-GOURMETFOOD

Harry and Davids also has some nice things--

http://www.harryanddavid.com/webapp...dentifier=TC3&subcategory=SC3114&category=TC3

Under your MIL's circumstances, I think prepared food is the best way to go.

I hope she can manage to get through the Holidays

 

[Galahad]

We've done the Boston Market meals before and they were quite good, convenient, etc. I'd recommend it any time.