Thanksgiving food plans?

[L.Jane]

I'll post it after I get it from my mom. Her recipe stuffs bell peppers with the ratatouille. But I'm gonna put it in large mushroom caps

OK now I am really salivating because I love bell peppers more than Mushrooms.

[MrsK]

I was planning to have a low-key just the four of us Thanksgiving. So, I'd roast a turkey breast and make a side. Now a friend invited us and she's asked me to bring two veggies and a cake. And, I'm probably going to make the turkey breast anyway because we were looking forward to the leftovers.

Sooo, now, I'm thinking - potato and butternut squash goat cheese gratin and I don't know what. My second go-to pot luck veggie is a broccoli/cauliflour cheese casserole but I'm thinking too much cheese? And I have to see about baking. Maybe I'll do some cookies instead since she's going to have a pie.

[MsSassyBaskets]

Sooo, now, I'm thinking - potato and butternut squash goat cheese gratin and I don't know what. My second go-to pot luck veggie is a broccoli/cauliflour cheese casserole but I'm thinking too much cheese?

Yum! I would love the recipes for both of these if it's not too much trouble!

[Michele]

I'll try to type it up later, but here's a pic.

[Pollyanna]

Hmmm, I'm still in denial that Thanksgiving is in 5 days...

[weeniegeniewife]

Hmmm, I'm still in denial that Thanksgiving is in 5 days...

Me too!

[HouseofWool]

Me 3. And C's birthday is on the 21st. I have to make cupcakes to send to school with him on Tuesday. And we are celebrating his birthday with family on Thursday, so that means another cake. Blerg. I just want to nap. Thankfully my mom is hosting. But that means that they are smoking the turkey and I really don't like it done that way. Last year it made me want to gag. And she just isn't a very good cook.

[Bittersweet]

I'm an idiot and offered to host both our families for Thanksgiving. I have a three week old, an 18 month old, and a completely trashed house. I know some people handle that (and more) with grace and would still whip up a fab meal. Yeah, I'm not one of them. I finally said screw it and ordered a complete meal from a local grocery. I hope it doesn't suck but if I hear even one complaint ...

[GreyhoundsRUs]

I'm an idiot and offered to host both our families for Thanksgiving. I have a three week old, an 18 month old, and a completely trashed house. I know some people handle that (and more) with grace and would still whip up a fab meal. Yeah, I'm not one of them. I finally said screw it and ordered a complete meal from a local grocery. I hope it doesn't suck but if I hear even one complaint ...

Good for you! If you didn't think of ordering from the store, I was going to suggest it. That's what we did last year (DD was 4 weeks) - and it was fine Everyone just wants to see the baby anyway!

[scarlett09]

Cooking for 8: Turkey, garlic mashed potatoes, brussel sprouts, Rub All Over Your Body stuffing (it's so good you want to rub it all over your body)

I thought this was a stuffing that got rubbed all over the turkey's body. And then I thought it was the brand name of a stuffing, hahahaha. I had to read the post a couple of times to get the true meaning of the stuffing.

We are having 7 people (DH, me, my dad's family). There was all this drama about whether or not DH's family was going to come. FIL just had back surgery, MIL is SO indecisive. Thankfully, DH forced her to make a decision and she decided to just stay home.

So anyway, the menu is a 21 pound turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes (Martha's mom's recipe), sweet potatoes, green beans, mushrooms (made by my stepmom), turnips (made by my grandmom), cranberry sauce from the can and from scratch, and enough biscuits to last a lifetime. This is the bare minimum for when there is a 14 year old boy at your holiday table. Dessert includes pumpkin roll, apple pie, and this Oreo cake/pie concoction that my co-worker makes. Plus at least 2 bottles of wine, and some hot apple cider that will start out non-alcoholic but will eventually be spiked.

I'm hoping that my work will close early on Wednesday so that I can get some of these things done ahead of time. Especially since DH agreed to a shift switch that has him working 12p-8p :facepalm:

[MrsK]

Yum! I would love the recipes for both of these if it's not too much trouble!

Sorry, I just remembered that you asked for this. Here goes:

This is the Potato/Squash/Goat Cheese Gratin: http://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-pota...and-goat-90647 I've tried a few variations on this one. It's delicious with butternut squash or sweet potatoes substituted for the yellow squash. I'd imagine that you could use zucchini instead also. Basically, whatever is in season. I've also substituted sage for the basil or thyme. They've all been yummy. It's goat cheese, you can't go wrong.



I improvise on the broccoli-cheese casserole. This is the original recipe that my mom got at a pot luck in the 1960s:

2 packages of frozen chopped broccoli prepared according to package directions
1 stick butter
1 roll ritz crackers (finely crushed)
8oz Velveeta cheese

Melt 1/2 stick of butter in microwave and mix with pulverized ritz crackers, set aside. Cut remaining butter and Velveeta into cubes, melt together, mix in cooked and drained broccoli. Pour individual ramekins and top with crushed cracker mixture. Bake 30 minutes at 325degrees.

Personally, I don't like all that Velveeta and I prefer more veggies. Here is my 2000s variation:

2 packages frozen broccoli/cauliflower mixture
1 small onion, chopped
1 stick butter
2 rolls ritz crackers (broken, not crushed too much)
4 oz Velveeta
4 oz gruyere (shredded)

Prepare broccoli/cauliflower according to package directions.
Grill onion until caramelized.
Melt 1/2 stick of butter in microwave and mix with broken crackers, set aside.
Cut remaining butter and Velveeta into cubes, melt together.
Mix in broccoli/cauliflower, onions, and gruyere.
Pour into casserole dish and top with cracker mixture.
Bake at 325 for 30 minutes.

This is especially delicious the next day as a topping on baked potatoes.


Sooo, if I make both of these for thanksgiving, too much cheese? I'm thinking of going with a quinoa pilaf instead of the broccoli/cheese casserole.

[GreyhoundsRUs]

LSW: is there a place to watch the parade online?

[MsSassyBaskets]

Thanks so much! I love cheesy vegetables, so I'll definitely have to try these. I bet I could make a roux-based cheese sauce with cheddar instead of the butter/velveeta mix and top it with GF cracker crumbs...

[diggitydot]

There is a really good roux-based cheese sauce over at the Food Network website. I've used it a few times when making homemade mac & cheese for the kids. I'll see if I can find it for you. It's flour and butter whisked for 2 minutes while over medium heat, add hot milk slowly while still whisking over medium heat. Add paprika. Remove from the burner and add in the grated cheeses while still whisking. I also added a little pepper. It's pretty basic, but taste SO much better than most other cheese sauces.

[MsSassyBaskets]

There is a really good roux-based cheese sauce over at the Food Network website. I've used it a few times when making homemade mac & cheese for the kids. I'll see if I can find it for you. It's flour and butter whisked for 2 minutes while over medium heat, add hot milk slowly while still whisking over medium head. Add paprika. Remove from the burner and add in the grated cheeses while still whisking. I also added a little pepper. It's pretty basic, but taste SO much better than most other cheese sauces.

Ooh, thanks! I usually just wing it, to variable results. But knowing how to make a good roux is really key when avoiding highly processed foods...