Ideas for Thanksgiving

L., I make a salad that is requested every year. My brother calls it the "green stuff". It is pastacio salad. You take 1 tub of cool whip and mix with 1 package of instant pastacio pudding mix. You had marshmellows, a small can of crushed pineapple (or any other fruit), and nuts(optional). Everyone loves it and I never have to take any home.

I will be making this stuffing that Giada from the food network makes. I normally do not like stuffing- but this stuff is great!! You can get the recipe from the food network, and personally I would reccommed using pecans instead of chestnuts. The chestnuts are a pain to deal with!!

-B. P

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This is what is on our menu:

Deep fried turkey, ham with pineapples (there's a certain way we mix the pineapple juice with brown sugar to get the sweether tasting ham), dressing made from scratch, gravy made from the turkey giblets, sweet potatos (candied yams), greens, sweet corn, macaroni & cheese (from scratch), corn bread (for the greens), a salad and rolls.

Also, a friend will be bringing dirty rice, gumbo and stuffed bell peppers (he's from Louisiana).

Then dessert will be cheese cakes, sweet potato pie, and a couple other things.

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday so when I do cook, I make sure I go all out.

I make a coleslaw that everyone just goes nuts over....

1 bag of coleslaw mix
2 bags of mozzerella cheese
1 small onion chopped up
2 bags of bacon (the bagon in bag already crumbled up)

And the dressing is
1 cup of miracle whip
1/2 cup sugar

Everyone likes this coleslaw cause it isn't the same run of the mill ocleslaw.

I will be hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year for 6 adults and 3 children. Our menu consists of the following:

Appetizers
- Sausage Balls
- Pickle Rolls
- BLT Cheese Ball n Crackers
- Veggie Tray

Dinner
- Turkey stuffed with celery and onion
- Stuffing
- Giblet Gravy
- Pan Gravy
- Sweet Potatoes
- Mashed Potatoes
- Corn
- Green Beans
- Green Bean Casserole
- Dumplings
- Rolls (from O'Charley's)
- Marshmallow Jello
- Jellied Cranberry

Dessert
- Pecan Pie
- Pumpkin Pie
- Sugar Cookies
- Peanut Butter Cookies

Try going to allrecipes.com--> like I just told someone else, they have tons of recipes, and while you have to sign up...I think....it's free, so you don't have to pay anything for it. I use it all the time, because they are recipes that use things you actually have in the cabinet instead of running to some faraway store trying to locate those "odd" ingredients. Just read the reviews, so you'll know what to change.
Also, we have lasagna and turkey for Thanksgiving every year. The lasagna is great because you can make it 4-5 days in advance, freeze it, and then bake it that day...Stromboli or Pizza or Bierocks are good choices too, because they are easy to assemble and then freeze until the big day, giving you time to do that last minute cleanup...

I have been married for 32 yrs so I have made a lot of Thanksgiving dinners. My hubby and I both come from southern families so that's how I learned to cook. My menu is always something like this:

ROASTED OR DEEP FRIED TURKEY, GIBLET GRAVY
CORNBREAD DRESSING
HAM WITH PINEAPPLE RINGS, MARACHINO CHERRIES AND WHOLE CLOVES ON TOP AND BR SUGAR/PINEAPPLE JUICE GLAZE
DELUXE MASHED POTATOES
SWEET POTATO CASSEROLE
GREEN BEAN CASSEROLE
7 CUP FRUIT SALAD
FRESH VEGETABLE TRAY
CRANBERRY SAUCE
DEVILED EGGS
DINNER ROLLS

FOR DESSERT:
CHERRY TOPPED CHEESECAKE
PECAN PIE
PUMPKIN PIE
FRESH APPLE CAKE

Now that our kids are grown, the girls do some of it and that helps alot.

Tip: For a pretty presentation for cranberry sauce, place a bowl on top of a plate or saucer and put the cranberry sauce in the bowl and put fresh whole cranberries on the plate around the bottom of the bowl. I saw this in a magazine last year so I tried it, it looks really nice on the dinner table!:)

Hi L.,
I am always in charge of our FAMILY gathering and there is about 50 of us!! WHOLE FAMILY... we always have a mixture, but one thing that seems to be a tradition is Broccoli Cheese Casserole, Oyster Dressing (sounds nasty I know but quite good!) Deviled eggs, and a CRANBERRY Jello sald w/ fruit in it an Marshmellow and Creamcheese topping!!! Plus the regulars, of Mashed potatoes, Gravy, Corn, Green Beans, TURKEY!! Rolls, TEA PUMPKIN PIE... smile....
IM gettin hungry~ smile... Hope my response helps!
Have a Great day!

Pink Hugs~
N.

I make a side that is kid friendly and tastes pretty yummy too. It is one can of mexi-corn, a block of velvetta, and several servings of rice. You can cook the rice in the microwave, then add chunks of velvetta and the corn. Stir often and seems to go over well.
I also found a good baked mac-n-cheese recipe off of kraftfoods.com. It seems to go over well with kids too.
Happy Turkey Day

kool-aid-pie. Everyone will love it and no cooking.

one pack of your favorite cool aid
one bowl of cool whip
one small can of condensed milk
and a graham cracker pie crust

mix the milk, cool aid and cool whip until you see the color is mixed, add a few drops of water to get a good color. Try lemon or blueberry. After all is mixed, pour into the pie crust, cover with the lid and refigerate until ready to serve. You better make a couple, it's going to go fast. The kids will love it

queensizechic!yahoo.com

I myself are making turkey, with mashed potatoes, baked beans, green bean casserole, rolls and gravy. that is about it. I dont do much other then that

Every Thanksgiving and Christmas that I can remember we always make brocolli and rice casserole...Its pretty easy and we all love it...

1 large bag Frozen Brocolli,
1 big jar cheese whiz
a box of minute rice
cream of mushroom
cream of chicken
celery & onion sautaeed in butter...

Prepare the rice...saute the celery and onion...boil the brocolli..mix all in large pan and bake until warm...
there are several recipes out there for this but that's the basic idea...don't use a knockoff brand of cheezwhiz!yucky

A tip for making turkey, I learned this from deep frying but it works great for oven cooked turkeys....inject the turkey with a mixture of butter and seasonall before you bake, it adds flavor and keeps it from getting dry.

I don't make anything different than what is already listed here except for the way I make my rolls. If you like rolls and cheese then you will love my cheese rolls!!!! You just buy the rolls from the store, I can't remember what they are called but it's something like warm and serve or bake and serve, anyhow they come in a package of 12. You make a "pocket" in the middle of the roll, you don't really need to remove any bread just make a slice in the top center and push the hole open. Then you butter both sides of your "pocket". Then you take shredded cheddar cheese and a couple teaspoons of mayonnaise and mix together. Then scoop a spoon full of the mix into the buttered pocket. Bake according to the package. And trust me if someone doesn't like mayonnaise, they will never know that this is made with unless you tell them, lol. My Grandfather and husband both HATE mayonnaise and they can't get enough of these every year!

There was a food network special last week about Thankgiving sides:

there was a butternut squash soup
Autumn Panznaella
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_mo/episode/0,,FOOD_1...
there's an italian Salad on this one that we may use instead of dressing.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_ei/episode/0,,FOOD_9...
the recipes are at the very bottom

there's a whole list of them here:
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/et_hd_thanksgiving/articl...

The Barefoot Contessa made something instead of rolls.
Tomato Basil Elephant Ears
http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/recipes/recipe/0,1977,FOO...

On a personal note, we had seafood one year because our oven was broken.

This year we're having
Holiday Crockpot breakfast and Christmas Rolls
Ham Roll sandwhiches for lunch and snacking while cooking
Roasted butternut squash (we're not pureeing it)
Bread salad I saw two versions so I can't decide which one
Mashed Potatos and gravy for the kids
Green Bean Casserole
Turkey with Cranberry sauce
Pies

I am making a fruit salad that has manderin oranges, chunk pineapple, coconut, sour cream and marshmellows! It might sound gross but it is so sweet and good!

HI L.!

OUR FAMILY MAKES THE TRADITIONAL TURKEY, STUFFING, BBQ GREEN BEANS, CORN PUDDING, RICE WITH ONIONS, BACON AND MUSHROOMS AND THEN OFCOURSE DESSERTS SUCH AS PUMPKIN PIE, PECAN PIE AND CHEESE PIE.

I have a recipe for an extremely easy pumpkin pie... You dont have to make a crust... I actually like it better than regular pumpkin pie... We have used this in the family for years...

Imposible Pumkin Pie

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup bisquick
2 tsp marg/butter
1 (14oz) can sweetend condensed milk
1 (15oz) can pumpkin
2 eggs
1/2 tsp pumpkin spice
2 tsp vanilla

Mix everything in one bowl, pour into a 8 or 9 inch glass pie plate, Batter will be thin... Bake at 375 for 45-50 min... stick with toothpick to see if done...

our longtime family tradition is called dressed banana's.
You will need banana's,sugar,and a jar of dry roasted peanuts.
Use a food chopper and chop the peanuts till they are small pieces. Peel the banana's and cut in half. Let them sit on a plate for about 5-10min so they can sweat. Then roll them into the sugar and let them sit again to sweat. Once that is done then roll them into the peanuts and you will have dressed banana's. Now that my grandparents have passed my kids want to continue this for years to come. They said it wouldnt be the same with out them.
Enjoy,
K.

we will have turkey (with a spice rub and stuffed with onions before baking), dressing, mashed potatoes, gravy from the drippings, cheese grits, sweet potato casserole (with a brown sugar/pecan topping), green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, and rolls. I keep thinking we need at least another "real" vegetable to counteract all these heavy-carbohydrate foods! Maybe I'll cook some broccoli also.

for dessert, we'll have cherry cheesecake pie, apple pie, pumpkin pie and maybe a brownie/walnut pie.

I am having a bunch of family over and everyone is bringing something so I do not have to make everything. My best dish to make though is a desert. Breadpudding made with Donuts instead of bread. It is really good and everyone enjoys the donuts in it. If you want I can post the receipt later tonight. Just let me know :)

Hi there! I know what you mean. This year my husband decided to become a "vegetarian" so im stumped as what to cook. I watch the Food Network channel. all this week is Thanksgiving week. Are you wanting to make more homemade stuff? Here are a few ideas.:
Green Bean Casserole
3 pounds green beans
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper
3 tablespoons unsalted butter
1 loaf crusty Italian bread
3 tablespoons chopped fresh chives
3 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
1 tablespoon chopped fresh rosemary leaves
4 tablespoons freshly grated Parmesan
5 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
2 pounds mixed mushrooms (such as button, cremini, shiitake), sliced
2 shallots, sliced
1 cup heavy cream

Bring a large pot of water to a boil; add a big pinch of salt and the green beans. Cook for about 5 minutes, the beans should still be crisp, they will be cooked more in the oven. Drain them and set aside. Butter a baking dish large enough to hold the green beans with 1 tablespoon butter and set aside.

Heat the oven to 375 degrees F.

Tear the bread into 2-inch pieces, put them into a bowl, and add 1 tablespoon chives, 1 tablespoon thyme, 1 tablespoon rosemary, 2 tablespoons Parmesan, and 3 tablespoons olive oil. Stir well to coat and spread onto a baking sheet. Bake just until the bread just starts to turn golden, about 10 minutes. Remove from the oven and set aside.

Meanwhile, melt the remaining butter and olive oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the mushrooms and shallots, season with salt and pepper, and cook until the mushrooms have released their liquid, about 10 minutes. Pour in the heavy cream, add the remaining thyme and chives, and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the green beans and stir well. Put the green bean mixture into the prepared baking dish, top with the croutons, and sprinkle on the remaining Parmesan. Bake until everything is hot and bubbling, about 20 to 25 minutes.

Cranberry-Orange Suace
2 (8-ounce) packages cranberries, fresh or frozen
1 orange, zest cut into strips
1/2 cup sugar
1 cinnamon stick

Put all the ingredients into a saucepan over medium heat and simmer until the cranberries burst and the sauce thickens, about 15 to 20 minutes. Cool and refrigerate. Remove the cinnamon stick before serving.

Butternut Squash w/ Tyme and Parmesan
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 boxes, 10 ounces each, frozen cooked butternut squash puree
2 tablespoons chopped fresh thyme leaves
Salt and pepper
1/2 cup Parmesan

In a medium pot, bring chicken stock to a simmer over medium heat. Add frozen cooked squash and cook together until squash is warmed through and loose. Stir in thyme, salt and pepper and cheese and cook over low heat to combine flavors, serve.

Mashed Potatoes with Buttermilk & Dill

2 pounds russet potatoes (about 4 medium), peeled and cut into 1-inch pieces
1 teaspoon kosher salt, plus more as needed
1/4 cup low-fat milk
3/4 cup buttermilk
2 teaspoons finely chopped dill
1 teaspoon thinly sliced chives
Freshly ground black pepper

In a large saucepan, combine the potatoes, 1 teaspoon salt, and enough cold water to cover. Bring to a boil over high heat. Lower the heat to maintain a simmer and cook until fork tender, about 10 minutes. Drain the potatoes and return to the pan. Shake the pan over medium heat for about a minute to dry the potatoes. Transfer the potatoes to a food mill, ricer, or bowl.

Mash the potatoes through the food mill, ricer, or by hand into the pan. Stir in the low-fat milk, buttermilk, and dill warm over medium-low heat. Season with salt and pepper to taste and serve immediately.

Cook's Note: Do not heat the low-fat milk and buttermilk before adding to the potatoes or they will curdle

I cant take credit for these. I found them on Foodnetwork website. But these are the recipes im going to use. Happy Thanksgiving!