My Mother in Law has opted me to prepare this years Thanksgiving Dinner, any suggestions on what to fix ?

Question

OK, So Traditionally My husband and his twin brother each get 15-18 lb butterball turkeys for free from work. We usually have Turkey gravy, Mashed Potatoes, cornbread stuffing, Broccoli and Cheese Casserole, Mac and Cheese, Macaroni Salad, Potato Salad, Au-gratin potatoes, Fresh Veggies, green bean casserole, deviled eggs, Rolls, and I'm sure I left some things out. For Dessert We have Pecan and Pumpkin pies as well as a cobbler . I want to do something a bit different, I'm from the south so I do not wish to go to extreme, but enough to show my mother in law that I am capable of balancing a Thanksgiving dinner and being Original. So anyone that has any good suggestions for a switch from the ordinary foods or good recipes that I could try before thanksgiving, please do not hesitate to leave them here. I would most definitely appreciate it.

Answer 1

You should do a good ol' down home southern type meal....still have the turkey of course...but how about something like this?

Instead of sweet potatoes:
SOUTHERN FRIED SQUASH

8-9 squash, sliced but not peeled
8-10 slices bacon
1 tablespoon bacon grease
1 onion, sliced or chopped
1/4 cup sugar
salt and pepper to taste

Fry bacon. Remove all but about 1-2 tablespoons drippings. Fry squash and onions until heated through. Add sugar, salt and pepper. Add crumbled bacon pieces.
Cover and steam until squash is tender. Remove cover and fry until dry and lightly browned.

For one of the veggies:
CREAMED CORN - EASY SOUTHERN STYLE

6 medium ears fresh corn
½ c. butter
¼ c water
1 tsp. sugar
½ c. half & half
2 tsp. cornstarch
salt & pepper to taste

Cut corn from cob (about halfway down the kernel), then scrape well. (You could do this the day before and store covered in the fridge.) Place butter in micro-proof casserole dish and microwave until melted. Stir in corn, water and sugar. Cover tightly with plastic and micro HI 3 min. In the meantime, put the cornstarch into the half & half so it will begin dissolving, stir frequently. Stir the corn and give dish ½ turn. Cover again and micro HI 5-7 min. Then stir the half & half mixture into the corn, cover and micro HI 2-3 minutes. Stir well, adding salt & pepper to taste.
This recipe is about 6 servings. If increasing amounts/servings, increase cooking time accordingly. I like combining yellow and white corn for this. Everyone loves this dish.

and another:
SOUTHERN BAKED BEANS

1 14 oz can baby lima beans
1 14 oz can white beans
1 14 oz can pinto beans
2 28 oz cans pork and beans
3 cups onions, chopped
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup hickory barbecue sauce
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons dry mustard
1 tablespoon black pepper
8 strips bacon


Preheat the oven to 350°F.
In a large bowl, combine ingredients, stirring well (save bacon for top).

Spray an ovenproof baking dish with Pam or brush with butter.

Pour mixture into the baking dish. Place the strips of bacon over the top.

Bake for 60 minutes, or until top browns.

Yield: about 15 servings.

Instead of punkin' pie, how about this:
SWEET POTATO PIE

2 cups cooked and mashed sweet potatoes
2 tablespoons melted butter
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 teaspoon salt
3 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 cup cream
2 tablespoons brandy (optional)
1 unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 450°F.
Prick pie shell dough with fork before baking. Bake for about 10 minutes without filling.

Combine all ingredients in any order. Mix well with an electric hand mixer until all ingredients are smooth.

Pour filling into precooked pie shell and put into oven on 450 degrees for 10 minutes. Then reduce heat to 350 degrees and continue cooking for 35 minutes.

Serve warm with whipped topping or ice cream. Can also serve warm.

Enjoy! Serves 8-10


and of course some sweet tea and lemonade to drink !!

Answer 2

Wow. That's a lot of food. Sounds like you're feeding an army. Why don't you skip the augratin potatoes and do baked sweet potatoes instead for a little variety. And unless someone else is bringing it, dump the mac & cheese, potato salad, and macaroni salad. And how about a sage and apple dressing instead of cornbread stuffing. And why not add a cranberry orange chutney on the side? You can even do a smoked turkey or deep fried turkey. Or do garlic mashed potatoes instead of regular mashed. Skip the broccoli and cheese for steamed asparagus and cheese. Don't do cobbler...do an applesauce cake instead and surprise everyone.

There are a million ways you can make this your own and not your MIL's. Break tradition a little and do it YOUR way, instead. I'm sure even your guests will appreciate that.

Answer 3

Here's what I STRONGLY suggest:

1] When you get your "Butterball" turkey, PLEASE do the following:
A] You';; notice a phone number for the Butterball Turkey hot line: Make a note of it AND if you have any doubts, call those wonderful people! They have ALL the answers!
B] Cook the stuffing on the side in a separate pan, This greatly reduces the possibility of food poisoning and contamination.
3] No one knows your cooking comfort level better than
Y-O-U - YOU! For different ideas and recipes, go to the Food Network site and look at those recipes. You may be able to make some of those different dishes.
4] If the Food Network doesn't have what you are looking for, go to your local library, look through some different cookbooks and copy recipes or take out a few books.
4B] You might want to call the folks at the Butterball hot line to see if they have a site you could go to.

Thanks for asking your Q! I enjoyed taking the time to answer it!

VTY,
Ron Berue
Yes, that is my real last name!

Answer 4

I agree with everyone,and here is my two sense. Mispelling intentional. 1: I am a MIL. and I am a mean one,too. That is intentional,as my SIL seduced my 16 year old daughter,and he was 32. Soooo, in my opinion, I disliked that man from the get-go. 2: you hubby is a pu$$y. He needs to grow a backbone and he needs to be set down and told that just because his Mommy and Auntie did things there way for all these years, well, then there needs to be a change, huh? It is your house,too. HE is being unreasonable. YOU are not. Include her and let MIL know that she can help, and it is appreciated, but any interfering, is not welcomed. Put your foot down. Let him know that this year, the cooking will be done by you or he can have Turkey dinner at his mommy's house. Sounds like he needs to grow up and grow some balls. He needs to stand up to his mommy. He is still a little boy at heart. All that said, this is my take: My SIL is a decent enough guy, but he knows I dislike him,and we are ok with that. He dislikes me, I dislike him. We have gotten along that way ever since. And we only met once and I didn't like him,then,and told him not to touch my daughter. Guess he doesn't listen too well, eh ? If it were me,and i had some younger person offering to cook, you can bet your sweet oven mitts, I would sit back,and knit ( or crochet,if that is what I am working on) and relax and let someone else do the cooking. :D Screw the cooking, lemme EAT !! What your hubby done, was in poor taste: he did not consult you first. My hubby always consults me, and if I do not want to do something, then he goes and does his own thing ,and lets me do mine. It is called "compromise." Big thing in a marriage. The holidays are the most stressful time of year for most people. Sounds like this year will be for you too. But do talk to your hubby and if not then, talk to your MIL. Make her see that it is YOUR house,too, and let her know that she can Help, but not take over. (Also, I'd sit back and let you do all the cooking, to see just how well you could feed my son. Wink, Wink)

Answer 5

Sweet Potato Casserole.
1 1/2 cups warm mashed sweet potatoes
1/2 cup granulated sugar
4 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg, slightly beaten
1/2 cup flaked coconut
1/3 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
.
Topping:
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1/2 cup pecan pieces
1/4 cup flour
4 tablespoons butter, melted
dash salt
PREPARATION:
Combine mashed sweet potatoes, sugar, butter, egg, coconut, milk and vanilla; mix well. Pour into a buttered 1- to 1 1/2-quart casserole dish. Mix light brown sugar, pecans, flour, melted butter or margarine, and salt. Pour over top of potato mixture. Bake at 350° for 20 to 30 minutes.
Serves 4.

Answer 6

Wow...that is a huge spread to live up to.

I'd stick with those same desserts, but maybe cut out the macaroni dishes and the potato salad.

Make the relish tray (the fresh veggies/eggs) a little more elaborate.

I didn't see sweet potato casserole (you know...with the coconut and marshmallows), or cranberry sauce on your menu...do you stay away from those things in your family?.

I myself do not like thanksgiving food that much, but it is a tradition, so I do the following:
Turkey
Stuffing with sausage/herbs.
green beans with almonds
Glazed carrots
relish tray
Mashed potatoes
Cranberries baked with pearl onions.
Whole pie pumpkin baked with coconut custard inside.
Pecan pie.

Answer 7

this would be my menu:

turkey
mashed potatoe/w gibblet gravy
candied yams
broccolli mac and cheese(put your broc. in the mac and
cheese and cover with cheese and bake.
green beans with bacon and potatoes
deviled eggs (add a can of small shrimp drained to stuffing
turnip, mustard or collard greens with neckbones or hamhock
seven layer green salad
rolls

desserts would be:
chocolate pecan pie
pumpkin pie
sweet potato pie
apple crisp cobbler

and then ask your husband what your mother in laws most favorite dessert is and make that and make an extra on just for her to take home....
make the brownie points with her....

good cooking

recipes can be found at www.cooks.com

Answer 8

We traditionally have scalloped oysters for our thanksgiving. It is very similar to an oyster dressing as we put gravy on it along with the potatoes and regular dressing, but is a little lighter.

Mary Leighty's (my aunt) Scalloped Oysters

1 pt small oysters (preferably Pacific oysters, she lived in Washington state), drained, saving liquor
2 to 2-1/2 cups saltine cracker crumbs
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 tsp salt
Dash of pepper
3/4 cup heavy cream
3/4 cup oyster liquor (if you don't have enough liquor, bottled clam juice can be used to equal the 3/4 cup)
1/4 tsp Worcestershire sauce
Dash of Tabasco

Drain oysters (saving liquor). Combine crumbs, butter, salt and pepper. Put 1/3 of buttered crumbs in a buttered casserole dish, cover with half the oysters (if you are unable to get small oysters, cut larger oysters into smaller pieces). Layer remaining crumbs ands oysters, ending with crumbs.
Combine cream, oyster liquor (and clam juice if needed), Worcestershire and Tabasco in a separate bowl and pour over oysters. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes or until golden.

Answer 9

orange cranberry sauce

2 (12 ounce) packages fresh cranberries
1 orange, zested
3 cinnamon sticks
2 cups orange juice
2 cups packed brown sugar


In a medium saucepan, combine cranberries, orange zest, cinnamon, orange juice, and brown sugar. Add enough water to cover, and bring to a boil over high heat. Immediately reduce heat, and simmer for about 1 hour, or until the sauce has thickened. Taste for sweetness, and adjust with additional sugar if necessary. You can not overcook, so continue cooking until you have a good thick consistency. Let mixture cool, then refrigerate in a covered container

Answer 10

Whatever you decide to make, I highly suggest picking up a copy of Betty Crocker's Cooking Basics Book. It gives you a whole layout of how to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner. When to start, what to make ahead what can be frozen, etc, etc. its great!!!