Hosting Thanksgiving for the in-laws. Any ideas for side dishes, desserts, etc?

Question

Also, can anyone think of something to do that's fun for adults 40+?

Answer 1

I serve Turkey (obviously) then I have to start being careful (diabetics). So I serve what are termed free veggies - Cauliflower - a thick cheese sauce on side for those who can have it, Broccoli - same with cheese sauce, mashed potatoes, candied yams, stuffing, green beans, home made bread and biscuits, then I make homemade pumpkin pies and cheesecakes (I use splenda in place of sugar - you might want to experiment with these recipes before you serve on Thanksgiving if you are cooking for special needs). As for activities: we love to play cards, we will also play some fun, non-traditional board games like Dirty Minds.

Answer 2

3

Answer 3

Start out with a Turkey and stuff it with home made corn bread stuffing... make some out of the turkey as well (but the inside stuff is better). Make mashed potatoes and gravey (put a little bit of cream cheese and johnny seasoning salt in those potatoes too). Make some corn (not from a can try frozen and add a little sugar and johnnys and margerine). Sweet potatoes or yams with brown sugar and butter and marshmellows and cinnimon baked in the oven. Banana pudding, peach cobbler... try these for your desserts. Top it off with some brown and serve rolls with real, soft butter on top! You can do ham, fry or bake some chicken, do whatever your mans parents like to eat and impress them with your cuisine!

Answer 4

I personally, am a fan of the traditional stuff--turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, dressing, rolls, pumpkin pie, etc. Some other favs of mine are sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, and a squash casserole. Also, the first time I heard of it, I didn't think it sounded very "Thanksgiving-ish" but it's delicious, so I'd highly recommend a pineapple casserole. It always goes over very well! I don't have the recipe on me, but I'm sure you could find one on the web. The one I use uses Ritz crackers, cheddar cheese, pineapple, butter & perhaps a couple other things, but these are the key ingredients! It's so easy & tasty too! Hope this helps...good luck.

Answer 5

Whatever kind of dessert you make, topping it with homemade flavored whipped cream is always a special treat. I do mine with either chocolate or sometimes a little mint flavor. Taking the time to actually hand-make the whipped cream, using whipping cream and a mixer, let's your guests know that this is something special.
Yum, especially on pumpkin pie!

As to activities, if it's daytime and you're in a rural area, a nice hike can be pleasant. Indoors, games like Trivial Pursuit or Win, Lose, or Draw are always good. My friends and I are movie buffs, and we do "Scene Night," where we run great scenes from favorite films, and act it out in front of everyone as it's happening on screen! Kinda like what the Rocky Horror fans do in the theater while the movie is running.

Answer 6

of course you will have the mashed potatoes, dressing, grave, cranberries of some kind and the Turkey maybe you could make corn pudding it is very good or a salad mold home made bread will go quicker than rolls always have acorn squash made with brown sugar & butter,and pie
's pumpkin ,custer marsmellow, apple and I make cholt. fudge pie. I hope this will help you out, and have a nice Thanksgiveing

Answer 7

Twice Backed Potatoes

Bake your potatoes, then cut 'em in half and scoop out the potatoes leaving the skins as a potato boat.

Mix all kinds of goodies in the potatoes, cheese, sour cream, bacon bits, I even ad a ranch or onion packet.

Spoon the yummy potatoes back into the boats and sprinkle shredded cheese on top and put in the oven to melt the cheese.

I always love green bean casserole....I add extra crunchy onions though...throughout the casserole as well as on top. I like mine extra crunchy!

Ok, now I'm starving!

Answer 8

I love Thanksgiving and all the trimmings.Can't have thanksgivivng without turkey gravy stuffing vegetables sweet potatoe pie mashed potatoes and dessert

Answer 9

here's a recipe that my family loves...it's called white mold....but it's really a cream cheese gelation mold.....it's a great additional side and the sweet and cold texture is a nice addition to the rest of the thanksgiving items:
8oz. cream cheese
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
mix above together.
gradually add 1/2 cup milk.

dissolve 1 envelope knox gelatine into1/4 cup cold water. (I put the cold water in a liquid measuring cup. add knox gelatine and then add boiling water to make 1 cup)
enough boiling water to make 1 cup

stir into the above mixture and let it cool.
when at room temperature, chill in fridge for 1 hour 15 minutes until mixutre is slightly thicker.

Fold in 1 cup cool whip.

Chill until firm.

Answer 10

I have three recipes that never fail:

Jello makes a recipe that includes orange juice and cranberries. They publish it every year and I make it in Tupperware mold. It actually tastes fabulous instead of cranberry sauce.

The second is just frozen baby peas, dill weed, butter and pimentos warmed up - pretty and easy.

The third is yams sauteed ion the stove in butter, maple syrup and brown sugar.