What do you usually make/eat on Thanksgiving? How early do you start preping?

Question

I'm making my list of foods to make, I'm cooking for 6 adults and 2 kids.
So far i've got mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, broccoli and cheese, squash with butter and brown sugar, stuffing of course because of the turkey. I'm also making a pumpkin pie and one other.
The usual boring dinner...
Give me some interesting ideas if you have any!
What kinds of things can i make ahead of time? And what are some good appetizers to have out before dinner is served?

Answer 1

I am making my homemade cranberry sauce on the morning of, and then refridgerating until dinner time. The Food Network has several recipes on homemade cranberry.

Answer 2

What I make/eat on Thanksgiving varies may vary from others' menus, but I always include a recipe invented by someone in the family that is a big hit. In our family's case, "Bing Cherry Salad" is the recipe I am sure to include in my Thanksgiving dinner menu. It is a jello salad which can look attractive by using a gelatin mold to set it in.

Instead of squash, I serve sweet potatoes with butter and brown sugar. Also I serve turkey (if not turkey and a little ham both). Mashed potatoes and gravy both go on my menu. No broccoli and cheese, but rather corn. Also my mom's recipe for three bean casserole! Cranberry sauce and stuffing musts also. Can't forget the pumpkin pie with whipped cream either! That's everything I will be making when I cook my next Thanksgiving dinner and is what my mother has always served on Thanksgiving. The bing cherry salad recipe comes from my mom's mom though! That can be made ahead of time. Be sure to have some prepared gravy that just needs to be warmed on hand in case you don't have enough gravy from the cooked turkey!

I think broccoli florets, cauliflower chunks and carrot sticks with a zesty vegetable dip makes a good appetizer with any dinner.

Answer 3

We are making the usual turkey and trimmings but also adding a bacon, cheddar and potato casserole.this year...A simple appetizer is stuffed mushroom caps.....Take the tops off the mushrooms lightly dust them off.and sit on a slightly oiled cookie sheet..
Chop the stems, mix with a small diced onion, sage sausage saute all in pan then add some shredded sharp cheese ...Now all you do is stuff the mushrooms and bake in a 325 oven until lightly browned, serve them warm....Hope you have a great Thanksgiving.

Answer 4

I am cooking for 10 people.
Turkey and Stuffing
Rice with mixed veggies and onions
Skewers that include: Chicken, onion, squash, pepper, and sausage.
Mashed potatoes with gravy
Eggplant and pepper salad
Cranberry sauce
Pumpkin soup
Cherry Pie
Baklava
I wake up early with my husband and we start prepping from around 6-7 early in the morning and start because we want everything to be fresh and hot.
Happy Holidays!

Answer 5

I am making turkey, dressing cornbread and herb dressing, mash-potatoes, cornbread, green bean casserol, gravy, cranberry sauce corn, broccoli, and salad. I am using

For dessert pumpkin pie & pumkin roll, For appetizers hot wings, stuffed mushrooms, mozzarella sticks, crab cakes and deviled eggs.

Its just for my boyfriend and I , that I am cooking for.

Answer 6

Banana Sour Cream Bread (YUM)

INGREDIENTS

* 1/4 cup white sugar
* 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
* 3/4 cup butter
* 3 cups white sugar
* 3 eggs
* 6 very ripe bananas, mashed
* 1 (16 ounce) container sour cream
* 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
* 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 3 teaspoons baking soda
* 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)


DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F (150 degrees C). Grease four 7x3 inch loaf pans. In a small bowl, stir together 1/4 cup white sugar and 1 teaspoon cinnamon. Dust pans lightly with cinnamon and sugar mixture.
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and 3 cups sugar. Mix in eggs, mashed bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts. Divide into prepared pans.
3. Bake for 1 hour, until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Alyson's Broccoli Salad


INGREDIENTS

* 1 head fresh broccoli, cut into bite size pieces
* 1/2 cup raisins
* 1/4 cup red onion, chopped
* 2 tablespoons white sugar
* 3 tablespoons white wine vinegar
* 1 cup mayonnaise
* 1 cup sunflower seeds
* 10 slices bacon


DIRECTIONS

1. Place bacon in a large, deep skillet. Cook over medium high heat until evenly brown. Crumble and set aside.
2. In a salad bowl, toss together broccoli, raisins and red onions. In a separate bowl, whisk together the white sugar, vinegar and mayonnaise. Pour over broccoli mixture and toss to coat. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
3. Before serving, sprinkle with sunflower seeds and crumbled bacon. Toss and serve.

Grandma Ople's Apple Pie

INGREDIENTS

* 1 recipe pastry for a 9 inch double crust pie
* 1/2 cup unsalted butter
* 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
* 1/2 cup white sugar
* 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
* 1/4 cup water
* 8 Granny Smith apples - peeled, cored and sliced


DIRECTIONS

1. Melt butter in a sauce pan. Stir in flour to form a paste. Add white sugar, brown sugar and water; bring to a boil. Reduce temperature, and simmer 5 minutes.
2. Meanwhile, place the bottom crust in your pan. Fill with apples, mounded slightly. Cover with a lattice work of crust. Gently pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust. Pour slowly so that it does not run off.
3. Bake 15 minutes at 425 degrees F (220 degrees C). Reduce the temperature to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C), and continue baking for 35 to 45 minutes.

To get ready for Thanksgiving:

Two Days Before

* Purchase fresh produce.
* Make pie crusts and refrigerate (if you haven't gone the frozen route).
* Clean and press table linens, set the table or decorate the buffet, lay out serving pieces, and set up the bar.

One Day Before

* Wash and prep produce.
* Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavity and make turkey stock for gravy.
* If you're brining your turkey, give it no more than a 24-hour soak.
* Assemble stuffing but do not put it in the turkey until just before roasting. Better yet, put it in a separate pan, moisten with your homemade turkey stock, refrigerate, and bake it on Thanksgiving day.
* Bake pies.
* Arrange frozen dinner rolls on a sheet pan and thaw overnight in the fridge. (Otherwise, thaw at room temperature on Thanksgiving morning.)
* Make one more quick run with the vacuum cleaner and dusting cloth.

Thanksgiving Day

This is when all your advance work pays off and you look like a genius. Yes, there might be dishes to be prepared on the day, but you won't be in a panic. Do remember to map out oven and stove time for items brought by guests. Here's what you might have to plan for:

* Stuff and roast turkey (or bake dressing).
* Mash potatoes.
* Make gravy.
* Toss salad.
* Warm or bake bread and rolls.
* Arrange appetizer platters.
* Whip cream for desserts.
* Chill or open wine.
* Heat cider, make coffee.
* Purchase and arrange fresh flowers.
* Make sure your camera is charged and ready.

Answer 7

I stuff celery with creamcheese and olives and make creamcheese balls with nuts
develed eggs and creamed peas in sauce yum yum