# Share Your Thanksgiving Menus? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 16, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896 "2010-11-16T19:22:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![pancakes3](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ba9def/32.png) [@pancakes3](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pancakes3)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/1 "2010-11-16T19:22:06Z")
Share your thanksgiving menus, so i can steal ideas. Hopefully there will be enough responses to help me finalize a menu before I go shopping this weekend. This year I’m trying to spread my culinary wings and looking to upgrade the menu, especially in the sides department. Right now i’m thinking of Turkey Mashed Potatoes Black Eyed Peas Salad Sausage Dressing Suet Pie Pumpkin Pie pretty standard except for Suet Pie. I saw it on the cooking channel a few days ago and can’t shake it from my mind. oh yeah, and making my own cranberry sauce. anyone/everyone can make cranberry sauce - even the most klutzy of chefs. ---
**Author:** ![Rocketeer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rocketeer/32/4437_2.png) [@Rocketeer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rocketeer)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 7:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/2 "2010-11-16T19:48:32Z")
Turkey Mashed potatoes (a low-cal version; the brother-in-law is trying to lose weight) Scotch eggs Green bean casserole Ham (for the sole non-turkey lover) Rolls Stuffing and maybe an oyster-and-scallop pie I just saw over on _Salon_–although **Mrs. R** does most of the cooking, I always prepare some kind of oyster dish. ---
**Author:** ![cantara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6f9a4e/32.png) [@cantara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cantara)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/3 "2010-11-16T21:02:48Z")
Thanks to [Alton](http://www.goodeatsfanpage.com/Season1/Turkey/TurkeyTranscript.htm) for the brine, corn-bread stuffing and cranberry-orange dip. **Brined turkey** , no rack when baking, elevated on a bed of chunky carrots, onion and celery **Ham** - [watermelon pickles](http://southernfood.about.com/od/picklesrelishes/r/bln223.htm) are a great accompaniment **Hash-brown casserole** - similar to [this](http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Jills-Hash-Brown-Casserole/Detail.aspx) **Sweet potato casserole** (combined from 2 recipes from Americas Test Kitchen, but close to [this](http://www.foodreference.com/html/c-sw-pot-c-807.html)) **Festive Salad** (family recipe - lime jello, fruit cocktail, unsweetened whipped cream, cream cheese) **Brussel sprouts** \*\*Carrots \*\*(from under the turkey…they’re too soft, but sooooo delicious) **Fresh bread/roll** of some sort \*\*cornbread stuffing \*\*(had it a few times) **hot cranberry dip** (I had to laugh when we ate at my fathers girlfriends house…I hadn’t seen a cylinder of cranberry sauce served before). Thanks to the brine and mire-pois the drippings in the pan are beautiful and I’ve strained it and served it as a jus instead of concentrating/thickening it for gravy. **Pumpkin pie** (for me) \*\*pecan pie \*\*(for my wife) **pumpkin angel food cake** all of the desserts have whipped cream with sugar and vanilla. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/4 "2010-11-16T21:14:46Z")
God I am terrified. My mother does not cook. Unless you count the 5 dishes she makes once a year each. Our amazing, sweet housekeeper is in the hospital (totally fine, should be discharged soon), so she’s out for the usual holiday meal making. So we could go out or…I could cook. I’m gonna do it. At 23, I’m gonna make Thanksgiving dinner for 6-8 people. I have 2 years of experience cooking dinner 4-5 nights/week. I’m pretty good, but I only every cook for 2, sometimes 4. Thank Og for EatingWell. I’m doing: -Roasted Garlic & Meyer Lemon Turkey -Citrus Gravey (with wondra flour, courtesy of [Sam Sifton](http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/22/on-the-question-of-gravy/)) -Creamed onions -Lemon-Dill Green Beans -Mashed Potatoes -Pumpkin Pie -Cranberry jelly (from a can! We love it) -Rolls (these are TBD from a bakery) -[Peanut butter pie](http://thepioneerwoman.com/tasty-kitchen/recipes/desserts/peanut-butter-pie-4/), with splenda/sugar mixture and lowfat cream cheese and low fat Cool Whip. They even have a side chart of when to make stuff. So I’m gonna make the creamed onions, the turkey garlic/lemon paste, the stuffing, the gravy stock, and the green beans the day before. Which leaves the turkey, taters, and pies for the day of. I have two ovens and a large kitchen to work with. Mashed potatoes and stuffing, I’d appreciate a recipe for! I am open to anyone’s tried and true recipe, bonus points for low or reduced fat when possible. Stuffing that can be made in a crock pot (didn’t someone in another thread have a stuffing in crockpot recipe?) would be doubly awesome. ---
**Author:** ![Hypno-Toad](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b2d939/32.png) [@Hypno-Toad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hypno-Toad)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/5 "2010-11-16T21:17:04Z")
I know there will be Ham and snowy potatos. But it’s otherwise a big secret for me. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/6 "2010-11-16T21:19:12Z")
About three metric tons of pie. Oh, and maybe a turkey, too. What more do you need? ---
**Author:** ![Duke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/e8c25b/32.png) [@Duke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duke)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/7 "2010-11-16T21:20:07Z")
Our Thanksgiving menu last year consisted of: Steak Dressing Mashed Potatoes Corn Casserole Sweet Potatoes Homemade Bread Pies I know there’s something missing there, but I can’t put my finger on what it was. ---
**Author:** ![Oredigger77](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/oredigger77/32/3181_2.png) [@Oredigger77](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Oredigger77)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/8 "2010-11-16T21:21:33Z")
I’ve got 10 people that I’m feeding so it’s a bit more food then normal for me. Two brined (thawed in a soy sauce, bourbon, and brown sugar marinade) 15 lb turkeys; one will be deep fried and the other roasted. Spicy cheesy corn (corn, bell peppers and habaneros, with cream cheese and a three cheese blend) Green Bean casserole Wasabi mashed potatoes Apple and hot link dressing No-knead bread rolls Giblet gravy Pumpkin pie with a hot brandy sauce Apple pie 2 Chocolate rum pecan pies Carrot Souffle Plus my sister is bringing some gluten free stuff. ---
**Author:** ![JohnT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnt/32/15048_2.png) [@JohnT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnT)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/9 "2010-11-16T21:22:30Z")
Turkey Stuffing (for her) Mashed Potatos (for me) Cranberries Peas Pumpkin Pie Some sort of salad ---
**Author:** ![Southern\_Yankee](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/southern_yankee/32/2800_2.png) [@Southern\_Yankee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Southern_Yankee)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/10 "2010-11-16T21:27:53Z")
Brined turkey Stuffing with apples and sausage Sweet potato casserole (confession: we use store-bought, frozen. It’s fantastic stuff!) Cranberry sauce (canned, berries, not gel-log) Gravy Lots of good red wine Home-made pumpkin pie ---
**Author:** ![LH75](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lh75/32/4438_2.png) [@LH75](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LH75)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/11 "2010-11-16T21:40:48Z")
We have been invited to my brother in law’s home for Thanksgiving. He has asked me to bring the wine. My girls are OK with this, but they were looking forward to me cooking that day. I will cook our family Thanksgiving Sunday. I will be serving: Roast chicken Simple bread and herb stuffing (cooked in the bird) Green bean casserole Mashed potatoes and gravy Hot rolls ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 9:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/12 "2010-11-16T21:41:50Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Mashed potatoes and stuffing, I’d appreciate a recipe for! I am open to anyone’s tried and true recipe, bonus points for low or reduced fat when possible. Stuffing that can be made in a crock pot (didn’t someone in another thread have a stuffing in crockpot recipe?) would be doubly awesome. My mashed potatoes are truly glorious, and not a bit complicated. Here’s what you do: wash, scrub, and boil one medium potato per person plus several extra along with one clove of garlic per potato until everything’s tender. Drain the water and add a stick of butter, ground nutmeg (freshly grated nutmeg is tastier), salt, pepper, and whole milk. (I couldn’t begin to tell you how much of everything to add – I just start with, you know, a certain amount, and taste as I go, adding whatever seems to be too subtle.) The key is not to try to go low-fat; how often do you celebrate Thanksgiving? I have added sour cream to the mix when I had some on hand and it added to the glory. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/13 "2010-11-16T22:08:53Z")
> [@shantih](#): > > My mashed potatoes are truly glorious, and not a bit complicated. Here’s what you do: wash, scrub, and boil one medium potato per person plus several extra along with one clove of garlic per potato until everything’s tender. Drain the water and add a stick of butter, ground nutmeg (freshly grated nutmeg is tastier), salt, pepper, and whole milk. (I couldn’t begin to tell you how much of everything to add – I just start with, you know, a certain amount, and taste as I go, adding whatever seems to be too subtle.) The key is not to try to go low-fat; how often do you celebrate Thanksgiving? > > I have added sour cream to the mix when I had some on hand and it added to the glory. Sounds good, I’ll do it. But I’ll use low-fat milk and Smart Balance/butter sticks ;). You only have Thanksgiving once a year, but it’s the season that gets me into trouble! ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/14 "2010-11-16T22:09:19Z")
My own menu for Thanksgiving this year: roasted turkey gravy sage dressing with bread and cornbread cubes garlic mashed potatoes cranberry-ginger sauce salad with pomegranate and feta maple- and tangarine-glazed carrots corn pudding roasted spiced sweet potatoes warm apple pie ginger snaps cranberry-vanilly compote with orange ice ---
**Author:** ![shantih](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/f6c823/32.png) [@shantih](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/shantih)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/15 "2010-11-16T22:10:48Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Sounds good, I’ll do it. But I’ll use low-fat milk and Smart Balance/butter sticks ;). You only have Thanksgiving once a year, but it’s the season that gets me into trouble! Fair enough, but then I would definitely suggest adding sour cream (low-fat, if you must :p) to bring out the flavor. Good luck, and I hope you enjoy! ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/16 "2010-11-16T22:22:15Z")
Oh, sour cream is a _must_, don’t worry! ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/17 "2010-11-16T22:42:53Z")
**lindsaybluth** , you could try buttermilk; it’s tangy like sour cream, but not high in fat. Also use Yukon Gold potatoes as they taste buttery. My in-laws are hosting and we are supposed to bring beverages, mostly soft drinks but we’ll probably bring some hard cider too. I’m also responsible for rolls and dessert, which likely will be ginger cake, which I’ll make Wednesday night as it’s better the next day, and I’ll make the rolls Thursday morning and either bake them right before we leave so they’ll be still warm when we get there or (preferably) bake them on location if there’s room in their oven. ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 16, 2010, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/18 "2010-11-16T23:27:01Z")
Yukon Gold, excellent reminder! I love 'em, but this is my first time making mashed potatoes so I likely would have forgotten and just gotten regular spuds. Thanks! Hmm, buttermilk is a possibility… ---
**Author:** ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 12:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/19 "2010-11-17T00:14:00Z")
> [@lindsaybluth](#): > > Yukon Gold, excellent reminder! I love 'em, but this is my first time making mashed potatoes so I likely would have forgotten and just gotten regular spuds. Thanks! Hmm, buttermilk is a possibility… Buttermilk, yes! It makes for splendidly rich, creamy-tasting mashed potatoes, and is very low in fat. I’ll second the Yukon Gold potatoes, too. Rich, buttery taste, don’t need so much butter! ---
**Author:** ![lindsaybluth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/90db22/32.png) [@lindsaybluth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lindsaybluth)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2010, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896/20 "2010-11-17T01:46:51Z")
**norinew** , I demand your menu! You and **Athena** (where is she?) are fantastic home cooks. Your food is always simple, elegant, healthy - and darn tasty to boot. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/share-your-thanksgiving-menus/560896.md?page=2)