Thanksgiving plans??

[Fantastic4]

I hate the idea of spending TONS of money on a big Thanksgiving meal when it's just my small family. DH doesn't like big meals and my kids don't eat that much. Looking for a new idea. Does anyone do anything totally off the typical dinner tradition? I'm thinking possibly going somewhere or something, I don't know. I'd just rather spend the money on something fun/memorable instead of me in the kitchen.

 

[TwoMisfits]

It's just been us for awhile. Instead of doing something "different", we just do everything smaller. I make a really cool small turkey recipe prepped the day before (food network one) and make ahead gravy, and then I just do stove top stuffing, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and 1 veggie and call it a day for dinner. Dessert is my own 5 minute pumpkin pie ice cream pie, also made the day before. The only thing I do on Thanksgiving is cook the turkey (and I've thought about doing that the day before, too and make the mashed potatoes (I peel and slice them during the Macy's parade and leave in water til it's time and Stovetop. Everything else is done and ready the day before.

 

[msmama]

I make thanksgiving dinner because *I* like it.

I switched to a turkey breast years ago (which I bought a couple of weeks ago when they were on sale). I do make stuffing from scratch and mashed potatoes. But veggie is a steam in bag one. I make jiffy mix corn pudding, too. But nothing I buy is really out of the ordinary grocery wise. Maybe a can of cranberry sauce, lol.

My son requested pizza this year though and I have to say I'm considering it. Or at least adding pizza to the menu.

I make pie the day before which is a tradition I remember from growing up. My son made a pecan pie all by himself last year (at 5)!!

 

[xbatman]

We're usually with family, but it's been just the 3 of us a few times.

I've already roasted a chicken and then just made the traditional sides.

We also had lasagna one year since we all like it, but I don't make it that often.

As long as we're together and have pumpkin pie, it's a good Thanksgiving!

 

[worm761]

I host Thanksgiving so always have a huge spread. We do 2 turkeys. But I love turkey dinners. I make one around every other month through out the year. Around Thanksgiving I buy a couple of extra turkeys. After that I wait until the turkey breast goes on sale and just make a turkey breast. When I am just making a turkey dinner I do mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a veg, and dinner rolls. I love all the leftover turkey for meals though.

After Thanksgiving I always have turkey stew, turkey pot pie*, turkey tetrazzini, a homemade EOS Holiday Sandwich or two, turkey dumplings, and turkey quesadillas w/ balsamic glaze.

Turkey pot pie: put stew in bottom of pyrex. Top with leftover stuffing. Bake until hot, bubbly, and the stuffing has just a bit of crunch. This is one of my favorite ways to use up all those leftovers.

 

[3PrinceMom]

I'm in the same boat. The kids like turkey, but none of the traditional sides. So, I will probably make a turkey a day or two before. They love nachos and usually eat turkey nachos with all of the leftovers. I know weird, right! They are so good!

I have friends that do Italian and Mexican dishes on Thanksgiving, in place of the traditional fare. What I think I will do is more like our Christmas fare. My kids like to graze. They love fruit, so I will make or buy a fruit tray for breakfast. Meat/cheese/cracker tray, wings, cheese sticks, buffalo chicken dip, veggie tray with dip. They love sandwiches on Hawaiian rolls, so they will be turkey for Thanksgiving, ham for Christmas.

I only get mashed potatoes a few times a year. A must on Thanksgiving for me, so I will buy them from Boston Market the day before. They have the best ones. I'm positive that something has changed in potatoes over the years. Even my mom's are not good anymore. Damn potatoes!

 

[CAFarmerGirl]

We go to Disneyland

 

[denisem]

DH & I love the complete turkey dinner, so we go for it.

OTOH, my sister's (adult) family is not wild about turkey, so they've been known to do king crab legs or hit the nearest casino's buffet!

Make whatever you want.

 

[Gr8t Fan]

This year we're going to WDW. But in years past we've gone to the Chinese Buffet Restaurant near our house. They always have the usual Chinese dishes as well as turkey and we don't have to cook or clean up. Always a great time!

 

[OrangeBirdGirl]

We started a new tradition last year, it was take advantage of a 4-day weekend from work and take off Monday and travel. Last year we went to the Bahamas. This year we are going to San Francisco. So much easier then worrying about the meal

 

[lauradis]

hmmmmm eat turkey. end of plan.

 

[frenzy70]

I make thanksgiving dinner because *I* like it. I switched to a turkey breast years ago (which I bought a couple of weeks ago when they were on sale). I do make stuffing from scratch and mashed potatoes. But veggie is a steam in bag one. I make jiffy mix corn pudding, too. But nothing I buy is really out of the ordinary grocery wise. Maybe a can of cranberry sauce, lol. My son requested pizza this year though and I have to say I'm considering it. Or at least adding pizza to the menu. I make pie the day before which is a tradition I remember from growing up. My son made a pecan pie all by himself last year (at 5)!!

I find the pizza comment funny. I have a child with disabilities who "has" to have his holiday pizza. For him it's just as special as pumpkin pie : )

 

[crazelion]

I either cook turkey breast or hen for Thanksgiving now. We over my mom's sister house for Thanksgiving. We have so many leftovers that I freeze them.
Now we all about the sweets. We cake, sweet potato pies, and banana pudding. i have cook five sweet potato pies. One for each person.

We know have junk on the holiday hot wings, nachos, meatballs, fruit platter, and sandwich platter.

We not sure whether we be home not for Thanksgiving we my go out town again.

 

[gracie1]

I host Thanksgiving so always have a huge spread. We do 2 turkeys. But I love turkey dinners. I make one around every other month through out the year. Around Thanksgiving I buy a couple of extra turkeys. After that I wait until the turkey breast goes on sale and just make a turkey breast. When I am just making a turkey dinner I do mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a veg, and dinner rolls. I love all the leftover turkey for meals though. After Thanksgiving I always have turkey stew, turkey pot pie*, turkey tetrazzini, a homemade EOS Holiday Sandwich or two, turkey dumplings, and turkey quesadillas w/ balsamic glaze. Turkey pot pie: put stew in bottom of pyrex. Top with leftover stuffing. Bake until hot, bubbly, and the stuffing has just a bit of crunch. This is one of my favorite ways to use up all those leftovers.

Your post reminds me of ralphie on a Christmas story! Lol

 

[ready123go]

Just the two of us. One year I made chipotle-rubbed turkey breast and grilled it. Pretty yummy.

Another year we went on a weekend cruise.

A couple of years we went to WDW. Nothing says Thanksgiving like the Boma spread ;-)

 

[Styx Fan]

How about a fun, non-traditional meal like a fondu? Or going out to a fondu restaurant? We went to the Melting Pot for Easter this year and the kids (17 and 10) loved it...as did we.

I have also made a more fancy beef dish since we hardly ever make those....one year a beef stroganoff (sp?), another year beef with a hearty merlot wine sauce. I know the name for that dish begins with a "Bur...", but I don't want to embaress myself with another word that spell check can't even correct for me. Served both over noodles, had some salad and yummy bread. Set the table with the good dishes....happy family.

 

[Pooh2]

Last year, a week before Thanksgiving all our kids told us they were going to their in-laws out of state for Thanksgiving. So that left just the two of us. So we booked a very last minute trip to The World! Would love to do that every year but just got back from Aulani/Disneyland so not in the cards for this year! I am thinking of checking out local restaurants offerings this year and skip the cooking altogether!

 

[dcfromva]

We have a small family, too. We usually go out to eat on Thanksgiving, but I'm thinking about cooking this year.
I do have a couple of recipes that I have tried out on DH and I know they would be great for Thanksgiving Dinner.
Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic and Cranberries
The other is a really super easy (super delicious) sweet potato mousseline recipe that I just got from a cooking demo by Bob Waggoner at The Food and Wine Festival at WDW last week.
Add a relish tray, mashed potatoes, gravy, turkey breast, pumpkin pie and apple pie bites. That should be a pretty nice feast.

 

[MomToOne]

It's only me and DD14 for Thanksgiving in our house. And neither of us really likes turkey. So we just nosh on our favorite appetizers all day long as we watch Christmas movies. That's been our tradition the last 5 years or so. I'd like to change it to go out to a seafood restaurant here in town that is open, but DD was upset when I mentioned it - she really likes the appetizer thing!

 

[set1208]

Volunteer at your local community dining room or homeless shelter serving others. It's very satisfying and rewarding and you get to eat with everyone. It's something your family will never forget.