# The Perfect Thanksgiving Dinner Menu **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [November 17, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000 "2001-11-17T23:15:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/1 "2001-11-17T23:15:10Z")
What in your opinion makes up the perfect Thanksgiving meal? This year in the LIONsob/Ayesha household we are having Smoked Turkey Cornbread Dressing broccoli rice cassarol dirty rice candied yams corn green beans tropical fruit salad rolls pumpkin pie homemade orange cake chocolte cream pie coke/diet coke/iced tea ---
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/2 "2001-11-17T23:17:58Z")
I really do know how to spell Casserole and chocolate ::sigh:: ---
**Author:** ![racinchikki](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/eada6e/32.png) [@racinchikki](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/racinchikki)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/3 "2001-11-17T23:31:59Z")
This year’s Thanksgiving menu: Microwaved chicken breast with 50-cent poultry seasoning and butter on it Canned corn Wheat bread with strawberry jam Potatoes, I can’t decide whether to make “Self-mashers” or fry them Puddin’ Pie The Thanksgiving Dinner I Used To Eat At Home: Roast turkey Homemade stuffing Cranberry sauce Mashed potatoes made with lots of milk and butter Arnold’s (no other brand!) dinner rolls Pickles (sweet baby gherkins) Sweet potatoes Peas/carrots/corn Puddin’ and Puddin’ Pie Some kind of cake or pie from Grandma (she brings a different one every year) ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/4 "2001-11-17T23:43:19Z")
My mom’s standard menu: Appetizers- shrimp stuffed celery (stuffed with creamcheese and green olives) fried mozzarella fried artichoke hearts various cheeses, pepperoni, and such Main course- turkey w homemade gravy mashed potatoes mashed turnips (frozen, they just taste better) stuffing (my BIL’s sausage stuffing) cranberry sauce green beans creamed onions (for my dad, nobody else eats it) candied yams rolls homemade bread (maybe) Dessert- Apple Pie (that’s my responsibility) pumpkin pie cherry pie coconut custard pie other assorted pies Note- We are not Cake People[sup]tm[/sup] cookies icecream coffee drinks- sodas of all types beer wine sparkling apple cider (its in a champagne-like bottle) ---
**Author:** ![The\_Tof](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/cdc98d/32.png) [@The\_Tof](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Tof)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/5 "2001-11-17T23:44:49Z")
Well, one year I had to cook it (because my mom got REALLY sick and went to the emergency care, so I thought it would be cool if I cooked the dinner.) I basically used what she had to make my version of the perfect Thanksgiving dinner… I made– Turkey Dressing (Mrs. Cubbinsons dressing… mmm yum.) Cranberry Sauce Fruit Salad (I forget what my mom calls it has a bunch of fruits w/cool whip) Sweet Potatoes (Mainly for tradition) Brown and Serve Rolls Mashed Potatoes (My favorite!!) Green Beans (No Corn… ich) Olives and stuffed celery (Somehow the celery has become tradition around our house… \) It was pretty stinkin’ good. Especially for my first thanksgiving dinner. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [November 17, 2001, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/6 "2001-11-17T23:46:05Z")
Ack ! How could I have forgotten the cranberry sauce !? Bouth whole berry and jellied will be on the table. Racinchikki, if you were here I’d get you to have dinner with me. ---
**Author:** ![Creaky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e68b1a/32.png) [@Creaky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Creaky)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 2:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/7 "2001-11-18T02:34:43Z")
Well, I know snacks and drinks for sure. Many snacks, many drinks. Repeated many times until somebody lurches out of their chair and decides it’s time to have dinner. Turkey for sure. Beyond that, who can tell? My sister is a hobbyist “gourmet” cook, so we get to eat a lot of her experiments whenever we come over. Usually it’s pretty good. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 2:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/8 "2001-11-18T02:53:15Z")
Not sure what the family is doing but I am taking the veggie tray. Here’s my favorite items on the TGiving menu: [ul] [li]Dark meat turkey with gravy[/li][li]Homemade stuffing from day old bread with celery and sage with gravy[/li][li]My mashed potatoes with gravy[/li][li]Green bean casserole[/li][li]Butter rolls – dip in the gravy[/li][li]Raw broccoli, cherry tomatoes and carrots[/li][li]Rasberry Wheat Ale (I’m not a big wine fan)[/li][/ul] I think I like gravy 😉 but I don’t much like white meat. Not much for desserts so everyone else gets to chow on more of the pies. If there’s a cherry or apple pie I might have a sliver. ---
**Author:** ![Ripple](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b2d939/32.png) [@Ripple](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ripple)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/9 "2001-11-18T03:19:51Z")
I love the “food holidays”, the only thing better than Thanksgiving is X-Mas, which features a 2 day orgy of culinary creations. Let’s see, this year it’ll probably be something like this… - Appetizers - Stuffed Mushrooms Celery with cream cheese & olive spread Shrimp cocktail Scallops wrapped in bacon (my fav) - main course - Turkey Homemade stuffing Homemade gravy Mashed potatoes Cranberry sauce Homemade biscuits Corn Peas Beats Green beans Boiled onions Sweet potatoes - dessert - Coffee cake Pumpkin pie Apple pie Assorted cookies & cupcakes Cheese cake with mango topping (oh, god, I Love that) ---
**Author:** ![Mofo\_Rising](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/85f322/32.png) [@Mofo\_Rising](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mofo_Rising)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/10 "2001-11-18T03:27:51Z")
Gravy. Really thick fattening gravy. Besides that I guess turkey, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes, and that brocolli dish. Whatever. I’m just going to smother it all in gravy anyway. I’m tempted to say that the gravy level should be at least twice that of actual food on the table. Gravy is the true meaning of Thanksgiving. “Now wait a minute, you doctors have been telling us to drink eight glasses of gravy a day!” -Homer Simpson ---
**Author:** ![Juniper200](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/df788c/32.png) [@Juniper200](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Juniper200)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 4:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/11 "2001-11-18T04:42:33Z")
Pumpkin-Pear Soup Turkey Stuffing Oyster Dressing Cranberry-Orange-Walnut Compote Cranberry Jelly Mashed Potatoes Green Beans Sweet Potatoes Deviled Eggs Waldorf Salad Homemade Egg Noodles Apple Pie Pumpkin Pie I’m daunted now that I see this written out…there are only four of us! :eek: ---
**Author:** ![greenlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 1:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/12 "2001-11-18T13:47:57Z")
shrimp dip hot crab dip _fresh_ Butterball turkey stuffing w/spicy sausage and raisens creamed onions (it’s a tradition) cranberry sauce (canned & homemade) mashed potatoes gravy biscuits candied yams carrot puree broccoli casserole pumpkin pie sour cream apple pie eggnog w/brandy (hey, it’s not just for xmas) ---
**Author:** ![flodnak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/838e76/32.png) [@flodnak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flodnak)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 2:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/13 "2001-11-18T14:06:50Z")
It may not be perfect, but if I can find some bleepin’ pumpkin, this is what we’re having this year: Turkey gravy bread stuffing “lightly candied” sweet potatoes mashed potatoes maple syrup cornbread with butter relish tray tossed salad whortleberry jam drinks: rose wine and orange juice punch For dessert, pumpkin cheesecake, shoo-fly pie, whipped cream, and ice cream for the little ones who turn up their noses at the better desserts. Coffee and tea, soda for the kids, cognac on hand if anyone wants it. If I can’t find the pumpkin I guess we’ll end up with either chocolate cheesecake, or something like a carrot cake. I call them “lightly candied” sweet potatoes because I only add butter, spices and brown sugar. No marshmallows or anything like that. I think the natural sweetness and a little sprinking of brown sugar makes 'em plenty sweet. ---
**Author:** ![Cougarfang](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c67d28/32.png) [@Cougarfang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cougarfang)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 2:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/14 "2001-11-18T14:15:42Z")
mouse. oh, human food? uh… turkey. _stomach rumble_ geez, you guys really love torturing me, don’t you? _rumble, rumble, rumble_ ---
**Author:** ![Sassy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e47c2d/32.png) [@Sassy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sassy)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 5:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/15 "2001-11-18T17:05:41Z")
> [@](#): > > Cornbread Dressing > dirty rice > homemade orange cake > stuffing (my BIL’s sausage stuffing) > Pumpkin-Pear Soup > Cranberry-Orange-Walnut Compote > stuffing w/spicy sausage and raisens > sour cream apple pie ---
**Author:** ![greenlady](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/6f9a4e/32.png) [@greenlady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/greenlady)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 5:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/16 "2001-11-18T17:33:24Z")
Stuffing w/spicy sausage and raisens is exactly that way it sounds. I simply add Parks’ hot-n-sagey frozen sausage [sub](cook it first, silly)[/sub] and raisens to the stuffing. I like the spicy/sweet combo. As for the **sour cream apple pie** , I must confess this will be my first time making it. I like to try new things out. I found the recipe at: [sour cream apple pie](http://food.epicurious.com/run/recipe/view?id=13330) And for my own curiousity, that **scallops wrapped in bacon** appetizer sounds really tasty. ---
**Author:** ![Ayesha](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c0e974/32.png) [@Ayesha](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ayesha)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/17 "2001-11-18T17:47:26Z")
\*\* My cornbread dressing recipe.\*\* (this makes a huge pan so you may want to half the recipe) 4 packages of cornbread mix (bake according to direction adding 1/8 cup of sugar, do this the day before, crumble it up and put it in a bag in the fridge) about a half loaf of day old bread 4 eggs 4 chicken thighs (boiled in lots of water) 1/4 cup vegtable oil 1/2 cup celery chopped 1 onion chopped green onion tops chopped 1/2 tablespoon poultry seasoning teaspoon sage teaspoon thyme salt and pepper to taste boil chicken thighs until they are falling apart drain (reserve water you boiled it in) take all the meat off the bones and shred it. cut the bread into small cubes put everything in a large roasting pan, pour the water/stock (if you skim the fat off the top you will need to increase the oil to 1/2 cup) you have from boiling the chichen. When everything is nice and wet, use your hand squish all the ingredients into one nice pudding like mess adding more liquid as you go (if you run out of the chicken stock add water). It is right when it shakes like pudding when you jiggle the pan. Bake in the oven for until firm in the center NOT HARD firm (usually 1 1/2 to 2 hours). If you make a smaller pan it won’t take as long to cook. If you don’t want the shredded chicken in it use canned chicken broth. \*\* Dirty Rice \*\* Go to the store buy dirty rice mix (Tony Sacherie’s (sp?) and hamburger. Brown hamburger, drain well, add dirty rice mix and cook according to directions. \*\* Orange cake \*\* 2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 1-1/2 cups white sugar 1/2 cup milk 1/2 cup orange juice 1/2 cup vegetable oil 3 eggs, beaten 1-1/2 teaspoons grated orange zest 1/4 cup and 2 tablespoons butter, softened 2 cups confectioners’ sugar 2 tablespoons orange juice 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 1 teaspoon grated orange zest Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round cake pans. In a measuring cup, mix milk, 1/2 cup orange juice, oil, beaten eggs and 1 1/2 teaspoon orange zest. Set aside. Sift flour, salt and baking powder into a large bowl. Mix in sugar. Make a well in the middle and pour in the milk mixture. Stir until thoroughly combined. Divide batter into 2 - 8 inch pans. Bake in the for 35 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Allow to cool. Orange Butter Frosting: Cream butter until smooth. Gradually beat in confectioners’ sugar. Beat until light and fluffy. Beat in 2 tablespoons orange juice to bring to spreading consistency. Stir in vanilla and 1 teaspoon orange zest. ---
**Author:** ![Tranquilis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tranquilis/32/3639_2.png) [@Tranquilis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tranquilis)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2001, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/18 "2001-11-18T20:36:58Z")
Appetisers: - Veggie trays galore - Apple slices in lime juice with caramel - Cheeses from pretty much everywhere - Walnuts (in shell: Tradition, ya know) Meal: - Turkey with gravy - Smoked ham - Veggie lasgnia (I’ve a number of vegans in my extended family) - Mrs. Tranq’s Cornbread Stuffing (_good_ stuff!) - Bread dressing - Candied Yams - Garlic mashed Potatoes (_huge_ amounts of garlic!) - Cranberry sauce (jellied and chunky) - Corn, Peas, Carrots - Green Bean Casserole - Assorted Rolls with butter Dessert: - Mrs. Tranq’s sweet potato pie - Mrs. Tranq’s pumpkin pie - Ambrosia (whipped-cream, sugar, cranberies, grapes, walnuts, wipped together) - Apple pie - maybe mince-meat pie - Homemade vanilla icecream ---
**Author:** ![Revedge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecae2f/32.png) [@Revedge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revedge)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 12:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/19 "2001-11-19T00:32:21Z")
Hey Aye, If I bring the mashed potatos and gravy, can I come to your house for Thanksgiving? 😃 In our household, we cook two turkeys. (My wife and her best friends family always celabrate Thanksgiving together.) A regular turkey, and what we still call the experimental turkey. (Even though we have been cooking this turkey for ten years now.) The experimental turkey is wonderful. You take a regular turkey. And using a hyperdermic needle, inject apple (or your favorite flavor) brandy into the meat. Do this in lots of places on the turkey. You then cook it as you normally would. Makes for a very juicy turkey. ---
**Author:** ![Sylkyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@Sylkyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sylkyn)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2001, 1:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000/20 "2001-11-19T01:31:43Z")
I had originally planned to forego cooking this year. I’ve been the sole chef in the family for the past thirteen years, and I sort of wanted a break. I got voted down. Loudly. :sigh: This year (as every year, tradition dictates) we will chow down on: Turkey Cornbread dressing Giblet gravy (made for and by Mr.Silky…it makes me want to hurl to look at it) Mashed potatoes Broccoli cheese casserole Green bean casserole Sweet potato casserole Home made macaroni and cheese Deviled eggs (appetizer) Cream cheese and chive celery sticks (appetizer) Rolls Iced tea Dessert will be about the only thing I don’t make. I’m getting my son to bring a banana nut bread from the restaurant in which he works, and we’ll probably get a pecan pie, a chocolate pie and an apple pie to round things off. Then we’ll all groan and watch football and swill beer and wine. Hopefully the kids will conk out from all the turkey and I will get to take a nap, too! Nah…won’t ever happen. I delude myself the same way every year. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-perfect-thanksgiving-dinner-menu/94000.md?page=2)