Any ideas to make Thanksgiving Dinner easier??? Something easy - out of a box, can or jar! haha
Fatigue is not a good idea at Thanksgiving time. At least there are leftovers to last a couple of days.
Jennifer
We are fixing the turkey and stuffing this weekend, then will de-bone, slice and freeze the meat for a couple of days. Then will heat sliced roast turkey with stuffing beside it in the electric oven the a.m. of. Saved juices or already made gravy heated then (not canned gravy---it was terrible tasting last year.) Are also using crock pots for green bean casserole, potatoes. Having some simple appetizer and dessert ideas that DH can make or serve. [We don't have a working oven and when the electric roaster is being used, we only have two burners.]
Yes, the idea is to keep it as simple as possible and to remember that people are coming to be together, not for a big fancy meal. I have to remember this myself. This very well may be the last Thanksgiving I have with my 90 year old Mom.
A couple that I know went out an picked up two Swanson's Turkey TV dinners for thanksgiving. That is quick and easy for them. No left overs. No clean up.
Delegate delegate delegate
Another friend with no income is heading to the free thanksgiving dinner. He has no income and is estranged from his family. Years ago he would go there and help out. He often donated to them before because most of the men were homeless vets.
Make it a potluck dinner . . . perhaps the turkey and/or ham can be provided and those who are coming over can bring dishes to finish out the meal?
I agree, that if things can be made ahead a little at a time, to do it that way. Trying to pull a big dinner off all in one day is really exhausting.
We usually go to a nieces house and I've taken salad, cranberry sauce, rolls, deviled eggs, veggie tray, corn casserole and dessert.
I, for one, like Kraft Stove Top stuffing out of a box. Real simple to make - probably doesn't taste "as good" as made from scratch stuffing, but still, pretty darn good!
To me, it's not all about how much food there is to eat . . . usually, more than anybody really needs anyhow . . . it's about being together with folks (which doesn't have to be "family") and giving thanks for all that we do have.
Bucky
I am going on a trip to NY on Sunday and will return late on Tuesday night. We have ordered a complete feast from Boston Market. I can pick it up Thursday AM. I feel like we are "copping out". I will let you know how it turns out.
Judy
The local grocery stores have thanksgiving dinner for you to pick up with all the trimmings that you can buy as a package. Sure seems worth the expense if it saves you from all the prep. You can just buy the turkey and dressing and add your own sides if you want to also. I think they have several different options depending on how many people you are needing to feed.
My sister is getting a smoked turkey, I am making some veggie sides and a dessert.
Nancy
Actually, those grocery store meals are usually about what it would cost you to buy and cook the ingredients.
Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!
Sharon
My sister and I are getting a dinner already prepared from our local Meijers (midwest chair) and all you have to do is warm it up. My hubby and I will go to her house, we are also splitting the cost of the dinner and there will likely be leftovers to take home. We will leave our pooch we are sitting for right now in her crate for a couple of hours and she doesn't mind this. Rather that than come home to a ransacked house. My BIL is recovering from a knee replacement. This will be the last time we see them before they leave for Fla for six months. Lucy
I do semi-homemade meals.
My husband will do the turkey but I make the stuffing partway the night before:
I cook up some sausage, onion and celery in chicken stock then let sit and cool (overnight)
next morning skim the fat off, you can heat it up again if you want it doesn't matter.
add the sausage mix to stovetop stuffing or pepridge farm (whichever you have) just use enough liquid to moisten
stuff the bird. Done.
add a few easy sides and you are all set.
I am going to do it a little different this year. Sort of uneasy about this cause our boys like the potatoes and gravy---as does their mother!!!!
I have having a buffet. Will have cheese plate (DIL brings), olives and pickels (DIL brings and bread and buns for sandwiches(DIL brings). I plan to make a larger turkey breast and slice for sandwiches. Also, will get another deli sandwich meat for sandwiches plus make a fruit salad. Last but not least, I plan to make a big crockpot of stuffing with some chunks of turkey in it and have some home made gravy on the side plus some cranberries.
Also, I am making pumpkin pie in a big jelly roll pan. I will make just the gluten free pie crust. I used a new one a couple of years ago that was really, really good. Hope I can find it in my recipes. I may make an apple and custard pie also. I have a jar of mince meat pie filling that I have been wanting to use so maybe I will do that one. I love mince meat. There are not many of us in this world that do like the mincemeat. My girlfriends hubby loves it so may have to save a piece for him.
Biggest job is getting the house cleaned up. Irish
Our Daughter informed us that she had everything and was making lunch. She plans on us stopping over after Jan is done with work. I wonder what she is planning on having since she did not ask for our Turkey Roaster.
Joe, YOu will have a Thanksgiving surprise.
I must be getting old cause I thought the holidays were so much more fun when I was young. Back then the whole world would close down and people would sit and watch the games, crack the nuts and just linger. Now it seems like it is such a rush for everybody. Anybody else think like me??? IRish
Irish, Baby sitting to night we were asked for the roaster. We have to baby sit again on Wednesday.
I remember family, football (that I did not watch), and lots of food. We would play cards and have a nice fire going. If there was snow the kids would go sledding on the hill by the cabin. If no snow I would rake leaves into a big pile for the kids to play in.
Irish, I like mincemeat too!!!!!! ;D
I cook a lot - LOVE to do big meals like Thanksgiving from scratch (I start several days ahead and pace myself) - but I can't make pie crust to save my life, LOL...hard enough with regular flour, much less gluten-and-dairy-free!!! So I just buy a frozen vegan GF crust at the health food store and then fill it with homemade fillings.
I am always really tired after the meal, but it's worth it - and my family does all the cleanup. ;)
Quote from: Sleepy In Seattle on November 19, 2012, 08:48:58 PM
I am always really tired after the meal, but it's worth it - and my family does all the cleanup. ;)
It wouldn't be so tiring for me IF I had a cleanup crew after the meal. Now I know this isn't EVERY man, but a good majority of them, just show up to eat and then plant their backside in front of the TV for the rest of the day and leave all the cleanup to us "women folk". :-\
Even if they would just ASK if there is something they can HELP with . . . . okay, now I'm dreaming. LOL
Happy Thanksgiving to you all - may you count your blessings, name them one by one, and be thankful for what you DO have. If you are able, also share some of your blessings (financial, with food, your time, etc.) with others who are less fortunate.
Bucky
I hope everyone who celebrates Thanksgiving has a lovely day tomorrow, whether you can be with loved ones or not.
We will be with my husband's family at my MIL's, and it will be quite a big and diverse crowd-which is a good description of our family!! I won't be with any of my children, since they are out of town and can't travel this time. We will still talk with one another and wish we were together.
Bucky, maybe you could start delegating tasks like I have lately for helping with cooking and cleanup. I suppose I've told this before, but my husband and I did most all of it for a few years (for the crowd.) It was ok because the young people were, well, much younger and my MIL let them do nothing but eat and go for years.
Now that the neices and nephews are in their twenties (and in much better health than us) we began handing out duties for everyone as in "please cut the potatoes" "will you help with the dishes?" "the green beans are all yours!" We have their children in the mix, too. Hey, a 6-yr.-old can sweep the kitchen, they feel a sense of accomplishment and our backs are in better shape later. ;D :D
Scottie,
I just read your post and I so agree- delegate, delegate and delegate!!
Irish, your meal and buffet sounds great and I'm sure all with have a good time. It does seem like the day is a bit more rushed than it used to be in the past.
I suppose we are lucky. Our family gathers at my MIL's house and we cook together, have dinner and then hang out most of the day cleaning up, watching football and just spending time with each other.
If it's warm outside, as it may in the 60's tomorrow, we'll play with MIL's great-grandchildren outdoors. There is an old Fisher Price Cozy Coupe they dearly love...she has a big yard on a big sloping hill. If you can imagine 4 kids ages 3-7 all hanging off this thing with the little guy inside. They push it and ride it down the hill giggling all the way. Maybe in the next year or two our little granddaughter can join in with her cousins, but she's only 6 months old and will have to wait just a bit. :D
I am hoping for some warmer weather on Saturday--the day we have our Thanksgiving. Today it was just gorgeous. Supposed to get colder though on Friday night. The wind is coming up already. I was so hoping that the 4 little grandsons could play out in the leaves as this is the last of the fall I would think.
Those little grandkids are just a joy to watch outside. Especially those about 2 years old. Put a heavy coat on them and watch their little legs run. Cute isn't the word for it. Diapers and all. Irish