Cooking ideas for Thanksgiving?

Question

We normally do Thanksgiving as a big family, but are going to be travelling the day before and decided to cook at our house just for our family. This will be a first for us and I'm trying to look for some fun and unique ideas. Does anyone have any advice for me?

Answer 1

Paula Deen has a Hobo Hamburger that is really good and easy. Go to foodnetwork.com, that is if you want something that is not so traditional. it is fun too.

Answer 2

Enjoy the same Thanksgiving as you would with your larger family, just make it smaller. Instead of the 24 lb. turkey, make a 12-14 pound one, unless you want the leftovers to take with you!. Stuff it with your favorite stuffing and serve your favorite side dishes, only on a smaller scale. Are there some dishes you've always wanted to try but didn't? This would be a perfect opportunity to do so! Create a family tradition for your own that might include a hike while the turkey is cooking, or a movie after dinner. We end up taking the light rail to downtown and watching the annual Christmas tree lighting in the plaza. Then we go to a movie and home again for more pie or that coveted leftover turkey sandwich! Enjoy!

Answer 3

You didn't mention how many is in your home that you will be cooking for,but it's just the two here at my place. We have a thanksgiving meal here for ourselves when the kids are away. We just get a turkey breast & the whole meal but we just fix enough for us.

You could have an informal dinner in front of the fire. Set up a table close to the fireplace where the food will be easily accessible without leaving the warmth of the fire. For the perfect cold weather meal sure to cure those winter blues, serve chili prepared in a slow cooker. Offer a lot of topping choices so everyone can add their favorite; red onion, sour cream, diced tomatoes, and cheddar cheese are just the beginning. Provide large bowls or mugs for the chili to be ladled into so everyone can eat right in their spot. Since comfort is the key to fun at this gathering, have everyone dress appropriately; whether that means jeans and flannel shirts or flannel long johns.
Decorations should have a warm and cozy feel. Think soft blankets, baskets of pinecones, throw pillows on the floor. If you will need extra seating, use big bales of hay with blankets thrown over them. If you love the idea of this get together but don't have a fireplace, how about a firepit (outside, of course)?

The menu should be planned with the idea of eating in front of the fire, so keep it simple. Start out with a chunky Guacamole with Fried Yucca. Chili with choice of toppers served with Deluxe Cornbread. Finish up with the appropriate campfire dessert, S'mores. And wash it all down with the ultimate cold weather drink with a twist, Mexican Hot Chocolate.

Answer 4

Instead of fighting with a huge Turkey that takes forever to cook try using a nice size whole chicken with stuffing.A roast would be another good substitute for the turkey as well.

Also have the family to choose a theme for thanksgiving like southwestern, Tuscany, and etc. Base the whole meal on the theme the family choose.

Answer 5

just make the same things that are traditionally served. Take requests from the kids. Mine always pipe up and tell me what they would like to have added or deleted from our family dinner. We started having just a small dinner for our immediate family a few years back when our parents passed away. I keep some of the dishes that my dad made and some that my hubbys mom made on the menu, then we add new things that are maybe traditional at other families dinners that we have never done before. Sweet potato pie and green bean casserole are a few of the traditional things. We have also added mexican chicken in the past and some other casseroles.

Answer 6

Pumpkin pie is a must, for me. :) Oddly enough, in Canada Thanksgiving is in October, so I'll just tell you what I had to eat and what I liked best, sound good? xD Turkey (sorry) Stuffing (Another staple of Thanksgiving, it's probably my favorite part of the meal. Homemade or store bought boxed...whatever's good!) Potatoes (Mashed...with a little summer savory...yum!) Squash (Usually served with butter) Gravy (Goes without saying) Sweet Potatoes (Again, served with butter) Cranberry sauce (Canned stuff is definitely the best kind) Haha. Basic Thanksgiving stuff, but I hope it helps give a little bit of an idea of a standard meal. :)

Answer 7

fun idea
prepare a cute little buffet table for your family
still cook a turkey and stuffing
get a basket and add a variety of a couple breads and rolls
sides of pickles olives cheese and crackers while family is hanging out before dinner is nice.
carve actually hollow a acouple of pumpkins using them as serving bowls and trays flower vases
stop at the local bakery and pick up family favorite treat or finger pastrys using gords mini pumkins and fall stuff decorate your table

little cooking involved just a little time needed to make the table look pretty clean up is easy and they will love the food and the presentation good luck

Answer 8

Ok, get one of those turkey breasts, allready cut off the bird, raw. Take it and slice it to butterfly it, then spread pesto on that, plop some ricotta cheese on that, then put roasted red bell peppers there and roll it up. Place it seam side down in a casserole dish and bake it for about 30 mins or till its done on 350 in the oven. When you slice it open, it will be really pretty colors, flavorful with all the pesto and cheese....its a good one. its called a 'roulade'. You can do it with chicken breasts too...put anything inside, really.

Have fun cooking!

Answer 9

You can still have a nice traditional Thanksgiving if you wish. Rather than buying a big turkey, just buy a turkey breast. It cooks quicker and is delicious.

Answer 10

Buy you an oven stuffer, stuff it with stove top stuffing the cornbread flavor. Get a couple of cans of yams, fry them down with butter and cinnamon, get a couple of cans of Glory greens,cook them down and season to taste. Buy a family size tray of Stouffer's Mac&Cheese. That's a quick and easy no fuss meal.

Answer 11

Since you really do not need to have any left-overs, change it and go to a nice restaurant with a Thanksgiving Buffet.