I really thought I could just peruse and find this had already been asked, but I don't see anyone asking about Thanksgiving menus. I will be having dinner at my house for the 2nd time ever. The first time was just 4 adults and my then 8 month old twins. This year I have decided to host dinner and it will be 6 adults and 3 children. We are vegetarians, but 2 of the adults are meat eaters. Plus there may be a couple of other meat eating friends who drop by. We will be having a turkey, but everything else is vegetarian.
The definites on the menu are: turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, green salad, and dinner rolls. The things up for consideration are corn and steamed broccoli. How much is too much? My girls love broccoli so I really do want to include it. I haven't decided yet on relish tray, appetizers, or deserts. I know I've got to have black olives, carrot sticks? I'm considering spinach dip, and I'm also leaning towards a pumpkin cheesecake. I've never done the cheesecake before, but I think I can pull it off, and pumpkin pie doesn't usually go over so well with the group.
So, any thoughts or suggestions?
IMO, when it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, it's never too much;) If you have tons of leftovers, send some home with your guests. And as far as desserts, we always go way overboard! We end up having about 10 or so pies (for about 25 people, and we also do it potluck style so no one person is making everything). Sometimes someone makes a cheeseball with crackers for an appetizer, and it always goes over well.
make sweet potato pie. yummy. Use the light colored potatoes not the yams.
I prefer peas with my mashed potatoes and gravy.
The relish tray I make is usually carrot sticks, black olives, celery with cream cheese, dill pickles and deviled eggs.
It sounds like you have plenty of food, have fun! What do vegetarians do with the turkey?
your menu sounds good :-) to me, pumpkin cheesecake tastes VERY similar to pumpkin pie. soooo, if no one really likes pumpkin pie, not sure how different pumpkin cheesecake would be. i make pumpkin pie every year but i also make banana pudding. everyone LOVES the banana pudding. i also make mac & cheese. we love brocoli too ...... my friend makes a really yummy brocoli casserole
We're having a few more people, but here's what we're having:
turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, roasted sweet potatoes, brussles sprouts, green beans, biscuits, and mac and cheese. We're having hot spinach and artichoke dip for an appetizer, and for dessert we're having apple pie, maple pear cheesecake, gingerbread cake, and chocolate cookies.
I love to cook, so I don't mind making all this, but I obviously feel that you can never have too much food on thanksgiving! You can always send people home with leftovers. Happy Thanksgiving!
I am having 15 people. Everyone arrives about 2 and we don't eat until 630, so appetizers are a must :) We are having shrimp, pigs in a blanket and cheese and crackers (mini pickles and black olives also). For dinner : Turkey, sausage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, green veggie, twice baked potatoes, cranberry sauce... i think that is it...lol! Dessert is a few pies...apple/caramel, pumpkin, cherry and chocolate peanut butter.
My mom and sisters are all bringing dishes....it is a huge help! I know that we are going overboard, but that is the fun part. I will absolutely be sending everyone home with leftovers :) I usually buy rubbermaid containers just for that purpose. Happy Thanksgiving!
To me, turkey and stuffing, mashed potatoes have to have gravy and cranberry sauce. There is really good canned gravy available. I like the brand in a carton best. I haven't looked for vegan gravy but I think there must be some. With us, canned cranberry sauce is traditional.
my opinion is I would follow your menu with a few changes I would make a jello salad with the crnberry sauce I do it every year. I would go with the relish tray but ranch instead of spinich dip. I would do celery and brocoli would be raw. I would do a triple chocolate pie and a cake this is what my family would eat and they do lots of desserts. I also make puppy chow. but I love it and dont make it often. as far as what you are doing I think you will have plenty.I would do a pumpkin cheesecake at my house but since your group doesnt like pumpkin I would do an alternative. oh I do at least 3 dz deviled eggs. realize I am giving you a list of what I make. but I always have left overs instead of turkey what about cornish hens no left over meat to go bad unless your guest will take turkey home. we also make this for lunch and eat it all day.
In my family we always went nuts with the appetizers. We wouldn't eat breakfast, and skip lunch so thats what we would snack on all day until dinner. Some of the appetizers we did were buffalo wings and blue cheese dressing, vegetable tray with ranch dip, a big bowl of black olives, spinach dip with bread, celery with peanut butter and/or a cheese spread (they come in little jars, I think they are by craft), Tortilla roll ups, potato skins, and salmi with cream cheese. There are plenty of appetizers that both vegetarians and meat eaters can enjoy, mainly because its so common.
As far as desserts we always have a chocolate mousse pie, lemon meringue, cheesecake, apple, and pumpkin (the last 3 were either low sugar, or no sugar added for my diabetic parents). This year for desserts, I am going to do a chocolate cupcake with cream cheese frosting, and a white cupcake with a butter cream, a berry cobbler and lemon squares (i am going to buy the lemon squares from trader joes because I like them).
Some of the things on our menu (that you didn't list on yours) also include a fruit salad (ambrosia), broccoli casserole, and yams. All of those are vegeatarian dishes and meat eaters love them too.
Just some suggestions.
Happy Cooking =)
For all things Holiday, including Thanksgiving, try visiting http://www.FlyLady.com. She has a Holiday Control Journal that will answer ALL your Questions! Congratulations on hosting. You're a brave woman.
Nana R
