Thanks Giving Dinner Suggestions Needed

[KennesawNemo]

I am having 7 adults, 3 young kids for Thanks Giving dinner. This includes our own family.

I ordered from Honey Baked Ham the below items:

5-pound mini ham,
3-pound turkey breast,
sweet potato souffle (serves 6),
green bean casserole (serves 6),
cornbread dressing (serves 6),
a coconut cake (serves 12-16).

I would also buy some bread or rolls and pick up wine & soda from costco. I wonder if this is enough? I think I should have enough meat, but do I need to add a side dish or two?

Also, I didn't grow up here and know very little about Thanks Giving traditions. Are there any other things I need to get to make this meal complete? I know I'm missing gravy for the turkey and I'll buy some from Honey Baked Ham when I pick up my dinner.

Thank you very much for your suggestions!

 

[dakcp2001]

How about somer regular mashed potatoes? I think you are going to need bigger sides, the ones from HBH are small. Is 3 lbs of Turkey breast going to be enough?

Traditional dessert in my family would be pecan pie and pumpkin pie.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I am having 7 adults, 3 young kids for Thanks Giving dinner. This includes our own family.

I ordered from Honey Baked Ham the below items:

5-pound mini ham,
3-pound turkey breast,
sweet potato souffle (serves 6),
green bean casserole (serves 6),
cornbread dressing (serves 6),
a coconut cake (serves 12-16).

I would also buy some bread or rolls and pick up wine & soda from costco. I wonder if this is enough? I think I should have enough meat, but do I need to add a side dish or two?

Also, I didn't grow up here and know very little about Thanks Giving traditions. Are there any other things I need to get to make this meal complete? I know I'm missing gravy for the turkey and I'll buy some from Honey Baked Ham when I pick up my dinner.

Thank you very much for your suggestions!

If you only ordered one of each side, then that isn't enough. You have 10 people. Three of your items will only serve 6 people.

What about seconds?

I would add more sides and desserts. And get a larger turkey and ham

 

[kayrosek]

I would buy a few more sides. You could also add a vegetable tray from Costco, my family does that, and a pie or two. If you don't want to make a pie I'm sure you could get one at Costco. Oh and cranberry sauce many, many people consider that a necessary accompaniment to Thanksgiving dinner.

 

[ah1126]

I would add Mashed Potatoes and maybe another veggie and dessert.

 

[poohfriend77]

I agree, it doesn't sound like enough turkey. I'd get a bigger one, and double the green bean casserole, if you can still change your order.

I'd add mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, cranberry sauce/jelly/salad (if your family likes it). I'd also add a "kid-friendly" veggie like corn or honey-glazed carrots (even frozen from the grocery store would be OK) because I know my kids won't eat sweet potatoes or stuffing, and only eat green beans if they are plain. Oh, and a pumpkin pie and maybe some kind of chocolatey dessert.

I always make way too much food, but leftovers are a Thanksgiving tradition too.

 

[carebee21]

You're not going to have enough Turkey. We get the Turkey breast every year for our family of 3 and I can only get 2 meals out of it. No way can you get by with 1 for 10 people.

I would also scrap all of the side dishes and make your own. We've never cared for their side dishes. Their small and really expensive for what they are. Make some mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, stuffing and yams at home.

And if you're going to costco anyways, I'd pick up a pumpkin pie and 1 other dessert (apple pie, fall cupcakes) for those who don't like pumpkin pie. But again, it will be much bigger and cheaper than Honey Baked.

 

[KennesawNemo]

Many many thanks to the above replies! I think you saved me the embarassment of not having enough food on thanks giving day!!!

I understand that there might be not enough turkey. Do you think the Turkey Breast + Ham would be enough meat for everyone? I know our family of 3 and at least 1 of the adult guest aren't fan of turkey at all. That's why I choose to order a turkey breast + mini ham instead of a whole turkey. I don't think I can change my order at this point of time, but I could add some other protein dish to it or add another turkey breast.

I am definitely getting more sides. I'll either cook or oder mashed potato and mixed vegetable.

I think I am also picking up a pumpkin pie from Costco. The reason I didn't is I personally don't care too much about pumpkin pie.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

 

[KennesawNemo]

I have to reply again to say thank you. I can't imagine the horror of finding there is not enough food for the guests on Thanks Giving!

 

[ah1126]

How young are the kids? I think the turkey breast will be enough if you aren't big turkey eaters. If you are worried about enough meat, maybe add chicken nuggets for the kids? Or even Mac and Cheese.

 

[KennesawNemo]

How young are the kids? I think the turkey breast will be enough if you aren't big turkey eaters. If you are worried about enough meat, maybe add chicken nuggets for the kids? Or even Mac and Cheese.

My friend's girls are 3 and 7. DS is 6, but as skinny as he is, he eats more than I do sometimes.

I think they all have good eating habits, eat whatever adults eat. I do have chicken nuggets in my freezer just in case.

 

[disneyjunkie]

I think I am also picking up a pumpkin pie from Costco. The reason I didn't is I personally don't care too much about pumpkin pie.

Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!

How about sweet potato pie?

 

[KennesawNemo]

How about sweet potao pie?

I would love that!!!! I am a big fan of sweet potato. That being said, making one is beyond my ability. If I could find one in Costco or Publix, I'll definitely buy it!

 

[lizabu]

I would make a batch of mashed potatoes and add some gravy to the table plus you can open a couple cans of corn or other vegetable. You can make some stuffing too. If your cooking abilities are limited just make stove top stuffing and buy gravy in the can. I think you have enough meat. You've got almost pound a person.

 

[punkin]

Since IMO Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes, I think you'll have enough meat (not for leftovers, but definitely the meal itself). There will be no need to resort to chicken nuggets.

I think you need to increase the sides. String bean casserole is traditional. I hate it myself, but it's a breeze for the non-cook to put together. Sweet potatoes cut up and baked with butter, brown sugar, and nutmeg/cinnamon are really easy. A green salad is always nice, to counter all the heavy, starchy foods. Good luck.

 

[KennesawNemo]

I would make a batch of mashed potatoes and add some gravy to the table plus you can open a couple cans of corn or other vegetable. You can make some stuffing too. If your cooking abilities are limited just make stove top stuffing and buy gravy in the can. I think you have enough meat. You've got almost pound a person.

Since IMO Thanksgiving is all about the side dishes, I think you'll have enough meat (not for leftovers, but definitely the meal itself). There will be no need to resort to chicken nuggets.

I think you need to increase the sides. String bean casserole is traditional. I hate it myself, but it's a breeze for the non-cook to put together. Sweet potatoes cut up and baked with butter, brown sugar, and nutmeg/cinnamon are really easy. A green salad is always nice, to counter all the heavy, starchy foods. Good luck.

Thank you, both. Since I already have green been casserole and sweet potato souffle ordered, I'll make mashed potato and roasted vegetable or just a green salad.

I am actually a pretty good cook. I am just not familiar with traditional American style cook. If anyone here wants to know how to make mouth watering potstickers, just let me know.

 

[Zhoen]

If you can't find the pies at Costco (and you almost definitely CAN, but just in case...) you can find pies in the freezer section of your grocery store, there is one brand (I think it's Mrs Smith's) that doesn't even need to be baked, you just put it out at the beginning of the dinner and by dessert time it's thawed and ready-to-go, a lot of grocery stores have them on special this time of year.

I second what everyone else said... extra sides are easy to make at home, or you can find things like mashed potatoes in the prepared foods section of most grocery stores.

Cranberry sauce usually takes one of two forms... the canned stuff, which I grew up on but never liked, or fresh, which is waayyyy easy. Dump one bag of cranberries in a saucepan, add enough OJ to cover them, add 1 cup sugar or splenda (more or LESS) to taste... boil until the berries pop, stir and chill. Add some orange shreds if you're fancy I think you can also buy it at some delis, but if they want more than the cost of the cranberries, it's quick and EASY to make at home...

 

[punkin]

Thank you, both. Since I already have green been casserole and sweet potato souffle ordered, I'll make mashed potato and roasted vegetable or just a green salad.

I am actually a pretty good cook. I am just not familiar with traditional American style cook. If anyone here wants to know how to make mouth watering potstickers, just let me know.

Why don't you just make something you know? You have plenty of traditional American on the table. I am sure your guests would love something "exotic" as a side dish. I know I would.

 

[mdrob214]

Cranberry sauce? It's pretty easy to make, but you can always buy canned.

 

[mdrob214]

Why don't you just make something you know? You have plenty of traditional American on the table. I am sure your guests would love something "exotic" as a side dish. I know I would.

This! Add your own touch. You have traditional items--add something from your own repertoire, too.