Thanksgiving in a new seting

[4nana]

I think it's really nice your Mom is planning a Thanksgiving get together in spite of your ill Gma . Truth be told, illnesses really take a toll of families and care givers, so it's good to take that into consideration. Unless someone in your family wants to host a family get together other than Denny's, here's hoping everyone will try to make the best of the holiday under the circumstances. I'm going to count my blessings, as there are many families struggling this year who might not have a dinner of any kind.

 

[Feralpeg]

My daughter and I eat Thanksgiving dinner out every year. It is just the two of us and we would rather eat out than have me spend my holiday cooking. This year, we will be eating at Portobello at DTD. Several years, we ate a hotdog at the movies. It isn't about what we eat. It is about spending the time together and being thankful that we are able to do just that.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Last Christmas we ate dinner at Denny's. On Christmas evening, it was really our only option as everything else was closed. I looked at our local paper and there seems to be a lot of placed having a Thanksgiving brunch/buffet. Maybe you could talk your mother into that. Do the research, find the restaurant, call for the menu and price. Denny's is no longer the "inexpensive" option. By the time you pay for your drinks, meal, and dessert you will probably be at the same price as the brunch/buffet places.

I also suggest that you take some time and go over to foodnetwork.com. Just read the site for a while. Look at the recipes, watch some of the little videos and get an idea on how to cook. You can also get books out of the library. Cooking isn't hard, but it does take time and experience to get it right.

Each week start with something new, like homemade mashed potatoes. By next Thanksgiving you will be a pro.

Enjoy you holiday.

 

[TheGoofster]

We'll be in the states for Thanksgiving this year, so we'll be eating out as well.

We are really looking forward to it. As much as we love spending Thanksgiving at home, it should be a lot of fun doing something different this year.
It looks like we'll be eating at Furr's (or possibly the Golden Coral).

Like others have said, the most important thing is just being together as a family, and taking time to be thankful for all that we have.

Maybe you can use this opportunity to do something different this year. Perhaps start a new tradition or something. Make it into a really special time.

I hope you end up having a fantastic time with your family.

 

[Mom23Disneybelievers]

Dennys does not have stuffin or pumkin pie but you can get ham chekc out the websit you can see the hole menu

You will be with your famly....thats what is the best part

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Denny's is not so bad---

Now a chinese restaurant on Christmas Day b/c a wild pack of dogs came in and ate all the Turkey--now that isn't so great. (Christmas Story!!)


I believe they should have a plated turkey dinner--and I am partial to diner turkey dishes myself.

The holidays are what you and your family make of it.

It isn't a place or a specific location. It's the people you are with and the feelings they create.

You and your mom are not up to cooking--but you will have your holiday dinner together.

Often there are other restaurants that offer Thanksgiving Dinner and hotels often have a buffet. So if you want to check around to see if something will be "closer to home style"--go for it!

But I wouldn't feel bad that dinner isn't in a house.

ETA: You might check if there is a Cracker Barrell near you. They make a really good thanksgiivng dish, or even thanksgiving to go.

Dinner is only $8.99 and includes pumpkin pie and beverage and they are open all day, regular hours (dinner served beginning at 11am):

http://www.crackerbarrel.com/menu.cfm?doc_id=1281

In restaurant meal:

Dinner to go: $49.99, requires 48 hours notice.

There is at least 2 in the MElbourne Area--up at I-95 and Wickham in Viera and the other is on Palm Bay Road (I think near....BJ's I think).

And--stuffing AND pumpkin pie are on the menu.

Very homey atmosphere--one of our favorite places to eat away from home.

 

[momrek06]

OP, allot of supermarkets do THANKSGIVING MEALS to go. They are reasonably priced and the price is by the number of people eating.

Contact your local supermarket and see if they are doing it this year. Then you bring the food home and heat it up....that is it. This way you all can be together at home on Thanksgiving instead of going out AND there is no tipping to worry about.

 

[Scurvy]

I think that's The Santa Clause (the original one) with Tim Allen.

Thank you! I think that is the one I was thinking of.

 

[Carly_Roach]

Holiday or not, waitstaff must still "earn" their tip, not consider it a "given", just because they are working a job they know involves working holidays.

I agree.

(all you people who go out for dinner on te holidays.... PLEASE. TIP TIP TIP your servers WELL!!!!

please make SURE to leave your server AT LEAST 20%, or more,since she is working the holiday, and is NOT with HER family!

and... PLEASE.... remember that server with AT LEAST 20% on a holiday!!!!!

Did you really have to say this three times?

 

[ckay87]

Who eats ham on Thanksgiving? Ham is for Christmas and Easter. Turkey is for Thanksgiving; that's why its called "turkey" day.

Maybe YOU can cook the meal. You are 24 and quite capable of putting a thanksgiving meal together. If you can't do that then there is no way you should even consider being the caregiver for your grandmother.

Aww really? Really? Did that have to be said? She's young, busy, has a sick grandma and a worried mom. In light of that, is the source of the meal really so important as to make her feel bad about it?

 

[AndreaDM]

My 18 year old daughter is in culinary school and cannot come home for Thanksgiving because the Inn that the students run is open on Thanksgiving and all weekend. So, we are driving the almost 3 hours to have dinner there! I've never eaten Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant before and I LOVE just staying home on holidays and not even getting dressed, but I want to be with my daughter and I certainly don't want her to be all alone all weekend. So, we do what we need to do and it will be ok, it's not the end of the world and I'm sure the dinner will be great! I'm just bummed we won't have any leftovers! We're also getting a hotel there so we don't have to drive back 3 hours and so that we can spend more time with her, I know she's looking forward to a night in a real bed instead of her dorm bunk. This is how new traditions are made. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

 

[C.Ann]

Call Denny's and see what they will be serving.. If they don't have what you want, I'm sure there are plenty of restaurants, buffet places, etc., where you can get exactly what you want.. Or - you can get a fully cooked Thanksgiving dinner from most any grocery store.. If you want ham to go with it, buy a small canned ham and stick it in the oven per the instructions on the can.. It's VERY easy..

Being together is more important than the food.. Think of all the folks who will be eating alone, not at all, or in the places set up to feed the homeless and needy.. You're focusing on the negatives rather than the positives.. That won't make for a very happy holiday..
-------------------------

As for that tipping post, I tip based on service - not whether someone is working on a holiday..

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I'm just bummed we won't have any leftovers! We're also getting a hotel there so we don't have to drive back 3 hours and so that we can spend more time with her, I know she's looking forward to a night in a real bed instead of her dorm bunk. This is how new traditions are made. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Make "Thanksgiving" after you get home. I usually have a few.

I am planning on making a meal if the weather gets bad...like snow. I got a turkey on sale sitting in my freezer waiting. I am waiting until my college dd is back for Christmas break.

We are traveling to others this Thanksgiving so we won't have leftovers either. However, I still will make pies the night before so I can have my traditional piece while watching the parades on TV.

 

[alexandria674]

Why can't you cook your own Thanksgiving instead of going to Denny's?

 

[AndreaDM]

Make "Thanksgiving" after you get home. I usually have a few

I think we plan to do this the Sunday after we get back and invite some friends over. Hey, any excuse to celebrate!

 

[pixiewings71]

We ate Thanksgiving dinner out last year. I work full time outside the home, it was just the 4 of us, I didn't feel like cooking. We went to Mimi's for dinner one night and saw their sign that said "book your Tgiving reservation now" so we did.....LOL It was delish!!!!! One of the BEST Tgiving dinners we've had and the portions were huge!!! Call around Brittney, maybe you and Mom can eat someplace else instead. But I also went to Denny's once for Christmas dinner, it was years ago and it was just DBF and I so we went to Denny's, they did have a turkey meal available and pumpkin pie as well.
This year we will be in DLR so we are eating at Ralph Brennan's Jazz Kitchen. Enjoy your Tgiving!

 

[klacey1]

By now, I'm sure you can't get reservations at any decent restaurants.
I'd go the prepared supermaket meal route. If you want to eat out, try Cracker Barrell. Not much more than Denny's, much less depressing of an atmosphere...

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Reminds me of a couple of Christmases ago. My father got a stocking stuffer that was one of those things that is supposed to open the clamshell packaging. Well, it was in clamshell packaging, and trying to open it he cut himself so bad we had to take him to the ER for stitches. We ended up eating Mexican that night.

Was it ideal? No. But we stil lhad a good dinner with our family, and a great story to tell. If you tell yourself you're going to be bummed, you will be bummed. If you tell yourself it will be a new adventure, then it may turn out better than you ever dreamed. It's all in your attitude.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

eb- clamshell packing is evil.

Thankgiving isnt about food. Heck our family is no where near traditional when it comes to food and the holidays!

 

[Scurvy]

Reminds me of a couple of Christmases ago. My father got a stocking stuffer that was one of those things that is supposed to open the clamshell packaging. Well, it was in clamshell packaging, and trying to open it he cut himself so bad we had to take him to the ER for stitches. We ended up eating Mexican that night.

Completely off topic, but I've read that injuries from people trying to open clamshell packaging are the number one reason for emergency room visits on Christmas. I don't know if that's true, but I wouldn't be surprised - those things are dangerous!