OT Thanksgiving meal : making, buying or mooching? - YouLookFab Forum

Category

General

Welcome! Read about what to wear and how to wear it on the YLF Blog. Join the YLF Forum to ask specific questions or just chat about fashion and personal style. Or check out the curated list of things we love in YLF Finds.

Outfits Ensembles Trends Advice

OT Thanksgiving meal : making, buying or mooching?

AJ

Veteran

Since we are traveling for Christmas, we decided to just stay in and have a quiet day with no visitors or agendas to deal with. My kids don't like turkey so I'm making Pancit (Filipino noodle dish), mac n ch, sweet potatoes, 24 hour salad (With bacon that I baked with real maple syrup brushed on...YUM!), rolls (grocery store bakery), cranberry sauce (ds#1 can't get enough of the canned stuff), and pumpkin bars with cream cheese frosting (my kids say it's not the holidays unless I make it).

How about you?

Happy Thanksgiving y'all!

General

34 replies

Latest reply was from

Kate

Veteran

For the first time ever, making! So far I have the cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie finished, and bread sitting out to become stale for stuffing. Tomorrow I'll be roasting a turkey breast (not a whole bird), and making mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, and gravy. I'm looking forward to the copious leftovers, since it's going to be a whole lot of food for just me and my guy. We got a head start, and ate some of the pumpkin pie tonight.

AJ

Veteran

Oh congrats on you cooking your first Thanksgiving meal! One way my hubby likes turkey leftovers is to place two slices of bread on the plate side-by-side, pile mashed potatoes on top, then slices of turkey and then gobs of gravy. Heat in microwave.

Scarlet

Veteran

What are pumpkin bars, AJ? I have never been a big pie fan. I am celebrating Saturday since I don't get the day off today. I invited some folks over, but hubby has forgotten his job to order the turkey... I don't know what I will do yet

Queen Mum

Veteran

contributing
We will spend the day at a friend's house and I am bringing the pies.

AJ

Veteran

Scarlet - Think of a moist, soft cake made with pumpkin topped with a thick frosting made with cream cheese, butter, vanilla and powdered sugar. So good!

There are three things I make that are tried and true hits: these pumpkin bars, my 24 hour salad and my vinegar green beans.

Hubby forgot the turkey?! YIKES! Can you still order one from a restaurant?

Kim - Hmmm..."contributing," nice save. : ) Pies? How many and what kind?

Desmo April

(website)

Veteran

I hate the traditional turkey dinner and this is the first time in ages that my husband has the day off. We'll be heading to Vegas in the morning for a quick getaway and I'll be enjoying a steak in a great restaurant.

AJ

Veteran

Desmo April - Oohhh, I like non-traditional celebrations! I don't have a big sweet tooth, so I'd take a good steak over cake any day. Have fun in Vegas!

Lisa

Veteran

Since I have to bring the food to another location an hour away I am grabbing Boston Market for the turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, sweet potato casserole and pumpkin pie. I also have veggies I will steam at my destination and already baked pumpkin bread. Canned cranberry is coming along too. So I am part prepackaged and part made myself.

Sarah

(website)

Veteran

My husband and I are driving to my in laws in a few hours, and I am bringing a fall salad (spinach, bacon, apple, craisin, almond salad with raspberry dressing), sweet potatoes (brown sugar, ginger, butter, s&p, cinammon), and my sugarless apple pie. I didn't need to bring the pie, but DH asked for it.

Mae

Making! The whole shebang-- turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green beans, cranberry relish, etc. etc. But not until tomorrow.

Even though half the house (the small half) isn't crazy about turkey, we love the tradition of spending the day cooking up a storm.

Kristine

Veteran

We're staying in also AJ. We used to travel but just ended up exhausted at the end of the day. So instead we'll take the dogs for a long hike, build a fire, watch football and make food. We're going over to a friend's house this evening for drinks.

We're vegetarian so we usually make something untraditional if we stay home. Last year I think we made tacos. This year we're making moco loco, which is sort of like hawaiian fast food- rice, gravy, eggs and a walnut burger on top. It sounds odd but it's really good and is my husband's favorite! I'll also be making some kind of side vegetable and pumpkin pie (or pumpkin bars, that sounds good!).

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Barbara

Veteran

AJ, Hubby and I are kicking back today - we did our holiday traveling LAST weekend. I'm making a huge pot of Tuscan bean soup and plan to build a fire in the den fireplace where I will knit and relax while the soup simmers. I always make a huge tray of oatmeal raspberry bar cookies. My 25-year old son, who lives close by, adores these treats. I WILL keep a few for myself.

Ah, peace and quiet. Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!

Queen Mum

Veteran

Did you manage to find a turkey AJ? That is one of those "oopses" that you'll laugh at in years to come.
I baked 2 pecan and 2 pumpkin pies, and today I'll make a big apple crisp (people like it and it saves me from having to make 2 more pie crusts

chewyspaghetti

Veteran

Making- for 18 people
We're hosting for the LAST time- and I am so happy not to have to do this ever again. I tried to get everyone to bring something, but we still ended up doing the turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, relish tray, a second (sugar free for ds and I) cranberry relish, and a sugar free/low carb pumpkin cheesecake (so that ds and I have desert). I have cookies, pies, yams, green beans, rolls, appetizers and drinks coming.
I haven't been out of the kitchen in three days, except for trips to the grocery store.

AJ

Veteran

Lisa - That's a practical and organized plan. Good job!

Sarah - Don't you luv it when loved ones make a personal food request? : )

Mae - Good for you for having a traditional dinner even if there are picky eaters. : ) I've had bad luck when making my turkeys. I buy the smallest one because it's only my husband and I that like it and they turn out dry with little drippings for the gravy. Maybe I should try cooking it again for a non-holiday dinner to take off the pressure.

Kristine - Your plans for today sound relaxing and peaceful. Actually, I think that moco loco sound yummy! Can you take a pic for me?

Barabara (NC) - Oh I luv entering a home when soup has been simmering all day...aahhh! : )

Kim - 5 desserts?! That must be a big gathering! I was commenting about Scarlet's hubby forgetting the turkey.

Khris - I FEEL for you! I hope you make it through the day in one piece. Just keep repeating to yourself, "Last one...last one...last one..."

Drive safely...eat moderately or exercise tons tomorrow...and count your blessings. Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

MsMaven

Veteran

We will be eating everything you can imagine, but in small amounts. We are going to the Fairmont Hotel Champagne Brunch. We've done this several times in the past few years when we haven't been up to traveling. I need to decide what to wear--it is quite a dressy event. Afterward we will watch the skaters just outside in the Circle of Palms and I will think about how much fun it used to be to ice skate, and do I dare try it again?

San Jose provides outdoor ice skating two months a year in the area between the Fairmont Hotel and the San Jose Museum of Art. The weather has been frosty the last two days, so it is perfect weather for the ice.

Kari

Veteran

Making (and some mooching) at my parents' house. I'm not really much of a turkey fan, but greatly look forward to our usual mashed potatoes, green beans, and stuffing. And I'm midway through making pumpkin pie.

Hope that you all have a lovely Thanksgiving!

Anonymous

Making, just for two: My daughter and I.

We have some sort of unspoken agreement: Thanksgiving is for the inlaws, Christmas is for us!

I refuse to leave my house for thanksgiving so all of my family splits up and goes elsewhere ( in laws, parents etc) and come back to my apartment for "after hours". I have no room to host a formal dinner for so many:(

MsMary

Veteran

Hosting and making but not making everything. I'm making the turkey, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes and gravy, and sauteed fresh corn. Guests are bringing dessert, stuffing, sweet potatoes, and various vegetable dishes. Total number of people is 11 -- I'm hoping we can all squeeze around the table, which seats 10 more or less comfortably.

The thing I'm really excited about is that my tap-dance-lessons partner and I are doing our "recital" today -- we've been working on a dance since August and today is SHOWTIME!! Our teacher and her mom and sister are even coming for Thanksgiving dinner so they can see the show! Big fun!!

Steph

Veteran

I have been sick for the past few days with a fever, and my boyfriend is out of town with his family, so I'm staying home with the cats for this one. Making Quorn fake (vegetarian) turkey and if I have enough energy, going to the store around the corner for some fresh bread. Other than that, I have leftover Chinese food. Have a great Thanksgiving everyone!

Sveta

(website)

Veteran

Our Canadian Thanksgiving was 6 weeks ago but I am reliving that with all of you now!:-)
That was the first Thanksgiving when both our sons were away from home at universities. They both came home for the holiday and that felt really great!
I made the dinner - turkey and all - and my youngest son baked a cake.

JewelryGirl

We're hosting & making the turkey, stuffed mushrooms (VH dried wheat bread, wild rice, sauteed carrots-celery-mushrooms-onion-pepper-celery, seasonings, sausage, can't remember what else) & lot's of contributors as everyone will be bringing a dish or 2 or 3....that reminds me, I better go get on the treadmill quick!

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

Love hearing your food plans. AJ, yours sounds like a heavenly feast and I am happy you're spending quality time with the family. Enjoy!

Every year we go to close American friends and I'm asked to bring my South African bread and butter pudding. This year is no different if we can get to our destination in this bad snowy weather.

taylor

Veteran

AJ, you are funny.

All these Fab dishes!!
We are mooching off my daughter this year! After doing every holiday for the last 30 yrs. or so I am happy to bring food and go somewhere else!

Maya

Veteran

Poor Steph! It's too bad we don't live closer or I'd gladly bring you a portion of my meal.

I'm helping and mooching at the same time. I can't even cook "everyday" food, let alone an entire holiday feast, so it would be rather unwise to entrust me with the job...

But I *can* bake. I don't know what we are baking yet though. My brother made the decision and bought all the ingredients but wont tell me what I am making until he gets here. I hope it's not something foul...

This year the NY Times published a variety of vegetarian Thanksgiving recipes for the week leading up to Thanksgiving, and we will be borrowing a few ideas (with some modifications).

http://www.nytimes.com/interac.....iving.html

I never liked the traditional Thanksgiving feast, so going vegetarian has been a pleasure in that regard (and numerous other ways). We make something new every year and I don't have to suffer through the same boring food anymore.

Julie

contributing: sweet potato casserole (with marshmallows, natch) and green bean casserole (but more gourmet than just opening a bunch of cans).

Jonesy

Veteran

For the first time ever, we are doing Thanksgiving at home, just the four of us. We are making a turkey breast, stuffing (with french bread and fresh herbs--yum), mashed potatoes for our daughter, cheesy potatoes for the rest of us, roasted green beans (with soy sauce--they get all carmelized and delicious), and pumpkin pie with whipped cream. We made the pie crust last night, and finished the pie this a.m. Now the house is filled with the smell of baking turkey, and we are watching the dog show on tv and cuddling on the couch. It's very relaxed and pleasant!

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you!

marianna

Veteran

Making/mooching! My mom is here and she's cooking dinner for us, but I am helping with the prep work!

londonkiwi (now back in NZ)

Veteran

OK - the one aspect of American Thanksgiving food that I don't understand is the sweet potato with added mashmellows or sweetness in any shape or form. In NZ we have a type of sweet potato called Kumara, which we treat like a normal potato but of course it is sweeter. I have never heard of anyone adding a sweeter product to it. Where did this come from and how is it a traditional dish?

Angie - what makes your bread and butter pudding particularly South African? Are you at liberty to share the recipe or is it a family secret closely guarded by little two very cute little dogs?

12