I'm cooking my first Thanksgiving dinner for my fiance and family...any ideas?

Question

Any certain recipes...what kind of sides?

Answer 1

Green Bean Casserole is easy to make and has alway be a holiday favorite for my family. I live in the Caribbean now and have made it for people from all over the world with varying tastes in foods. Everyone who has tried it has loved it. It can be mixed up the day before and cooked in the oven if you have room or can be heated on the stove and put in the oven to brown the top while the turkey is resting. (By the way allowing the turkey to rest after baking for at least 10 minutes or so is an important step. If you carve it straight out of the oven all the lovely juices run right out.) Just mix all the ingredients except the fried onions together and heat. You can use less or more of any ingredient depending on what tastes good to you. You can leave the bacon out altogether if you're a vegetarian. Sprinkle the fried onions over the top once the casserole is hot and brown the top in the oven.

Ingredients
French Cut Green Beans
Cream of Mushroom Soup (I use about 1/2 can to 2 cans beans)
Bacon (cut into small pieces and cooked prior to putting in casserole - cooking sheers works best to cut - I use about 1/3 of a pack to 2 cans of beans but I love bacon)
Parmesan Cheese (I use about 1 cup to 2 cans of beans but I love cheese)
Fried Onions (you get them in the chip section - they usually come in a little cardboard can)
Salt & Pepper

Good luck!

Answer 2

I cook dinner every year so believe me if you start it you'll be cooking every year. I usually make a Turkey, mashed potatoes, mac n cheese or noodles, some kind of corn, some bread, ( rolls, cornbread or whatever you like), dumplings, yams or cranberry sauce, dressed eggs and sometimes a few extras if anyone likes certain things, Then just have 2-3 desserts, Like some kind of a cake, pie, pudding or some other kind of refrigerated dessert. Look on internet for recipes ideas.
I also make cole slaw or potatoe/macaroni salad. I cook my salads, eggs, and turkey and desserts the day before that way the day of the dinner, I just have the basics to finish. Hope this helps. And good luck on your first dinner.

Answer 3

Depending upon where you live, you may or may not have had fried turkey. Very easy to do although a little pricey the first time around to buy everything that you need. Well worth it in the long run and if they have never had it , it will be talked about for years.
You inject the marinade of you choice into a 10 lb bird and deep fry about thirty minutes. I would also suggest while you have the oil hot do a number of them and give them to friends. Turkeys caught on sale before thanksgiving can be as cheap as 5.00 and make wonderful gifts.

Answer 4

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Answer 5

Of course you may want to make Turkey with the Trimmings.

However, I'd also make pasta dish and some simple Veggies. This is just in case you have any problems with the Turkey.

Don't be afraid to call those Butterball Turkey Hotlines. They are very helpful in case you hit any roadblocks.

Also, wear a nice holiday/hostess apron. It will really make you shine that this is YOUR thanksgiving dinner.

Answer 6

Of course turkey, stuffing and potatoes. My family LOVES sweet potatoes and or squash. With both squash and sweet potatoes, I peel the skin, cut in smaller pieces to boil and when done mash with brown sugar and butter. Some salads are nice, just a simple tossed one works well. For stuffing, go to cooks.com, I love that site! Don't forget the pumpkin pie and for something different, try this:

Dutch Apple Cake

1-box french vanilla or white cake mix (pillsbury with pudding works the best)
2-eggs
1-can of apple pie filling or 1 quart of your own apple filling
1 tsp cinnamon.

Mix together, spread in a well greased 9X13 pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 1/2 tbsp milk and 1tsp vanilla (you want it a bit thin to drizzle) Drizzle this over warm cake. Let cool before cutting or it will fall apart. I put it in the frige to keep it cool, makes it easier to cut and is very yummy cold! ENJOY!

Answer 7

This sounds like a lot of work but is GREAT!! Best Turkey I evermade and I will use this every year!!!

1 (14 to 16 pound) frozen young turkey
For the brine:
1 cup kosher salt
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 gallon vegetable stock
1 tablespoon black peppercorns
1/2 tablespoon allspice berries
1/2 tablespoon candied ginger
1 gallon iced water
For the aromatics:
1 red apple, sliced
1/2 onion, sliced
1 cinnamon stick
1 cup water
4 sprigs rosemary
6 leaves sage
Canola oil

Combine all brine ingredients, except ice water, in a stockpot, and bring to a boil. Stir to dissolve solids, then remove from heat, cool to room temperature, and refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.
Early on the day of cooking, (or late the night before) combine the brine and ice water in a clean 5-gallon bucket. Place thawed turkey breast side down in brine, cover, and refrigerate or set in cool area (like a basement) for 6 hours. Turn turkey over once, half way through brining.

A few minutes before roasting, heat oven to 500 degrees. Combine the apple, onion, cinnamon stick, and cup of water in a microwave safe dish and microwave on high for 5 minutes.

Remove bird from brine and rinse inside and out with cold water. Discard brine.

Place bird on roasting rack inside wide, low pan and pat dry with paper towels. Add steeped aromatics to cavity along with rosemary and sage. Tuck back wings and coat whole bird liberally with canola (or other neutral) oil.

Roast on lowest level of the oven at 500 degrees F. for 30 minutes. Remove from oven and cover breast with double layer of aluminum foil, insert probe thermometer into thickest part of the breast and return to oven, reducing temperature to 350 degrees F. Set thermometer alarm (if available) to 161 degrees. A 14 to 16 pound bird should require a total of 2 to 2 1/2 hours of roasting. Let turkey rest, loosely covered for 15 minutes before carving.

Answer 8

just remember its your first time and make sure you have all ingredients and just follow the recipes exactly as they were made to follow and everything will come out nice ...if not get them soused on wine...no just kidding anyone i have taught i have them measure everything and follow recipes...have your self an out line for what and when you are going to do it and if anything unexpected happens there is always some good people on answers that will give you it straight...good luck....

Answer 9

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Answer 10

My first suggestion would be to ask your fiancee (and his family, if you feel comfortable doing so) if there are any particular dishes which they would really like to have. Two really good sites for recipes are:

www.allrecipes.com

www.kraftfoods.com