Thanksgiving and other holiday meals

[NancysSummerSip]

There is a holiday spending thread, but this question is focused more on the food and meals.

I noticed that there are no really good holiday food sales in any of the stores so far. That's unusual here. The goods are displayed but they are not priced right. I know fresh produce will be problematic this year, between the fires and hurricanes.

What are y'all planning for holiday dinners?
Are you shopping for food yet?
How are prices in your area and are you finding ways to save/spend less?

[kittensaver]

I've noticed a dearth of sales as well. But I guess it doesn't bother me so much because the stuff they put on sale tends to be items I don't buy anyway (food and food-like products in boxes, bottles, jars, cans, packages, etc).

Back in the day I could get a turkey for free with a $100 grocery purchase, then it went to a turkey for 29 cents per pound with a $100 purchase, and now I don't see this type of offer at all.

I'm probably going to get an organic turkey from Costco. I'll make the bread for the stuffing this weekend. I DID see fresh bagged cranberries at 2 for price of 1, and will put one bag in the freezer for future use. I'll probably also make the pie crusts this weekend and stick the dough in the freezer; I have home canned pumpkin to make filling. The fresh veggie sides (potatoes, green beans, salad fixings), the fresh apple cider and the whole apples for the other pie will come from the farmer's market (my garden plot has been turned over and no winter crops are ready yet ). Someone else is bringing the appetizers and the wine

[mollyanna58]

I still have a free turkey from Easter in my freezer.  Some of the local stores have free turkeys with the purchase of $400.00 over a certain time period.

[NancysSummerSip]

I'll get the cranberries this weekend and freeze them as well (the one item I did see on sale, but likely because they are unaffected by much of the nation's weather disasters). I do use the canned pumpkin for pie (I used the fresh one year, and no one noticed).

I am going to Fresh Market this weekend and will probably order my turkey from them. I did that last year (kosher fresh) and it was excellent.

[chiver78]

I'm not doing the whole spread on the holiday, but I did pick up a frozen turkey for 39c/lb a week or so ago. I think you had to spend $25 to get that sale price. 

I noticed the typical non-perishable items that are common on New England tables on displays around the store with sale signs, but I can't say I paid much attention to how good the prices were. I'll just end up roasting the turkey another weekend so I can get the leftovers.  

[MJ2.0]

I just go to Aldi and get what I need.  They usually have decently priced turkey breast around T-Day, no required purchase amount, so I'll get that and the other basics for the dinner.  Any specialty item I'll get from Shop Rite.

[suesinfl]

Since we will not be home and I have no idea what the kids' schedules are, I'll just pick up a small turkey breast. The kids' don't care for turkey and all the sides, so I'll pass this year, plus if there is anything special that they do want, it will be at older DD's house.

[empress of self-improvement]

Same here. I usually do a small turkey breast for DH and I since my work schedule tends to be all over the place. This year I work at 6 PM so I'll probably do it Saturday when I should be off. DH would prefer a pizza.

[busymom]

One of the new grocery stores in our area is offering a free turkey if you buy a ham.  


We plan to bake a turkey, and eat lots of turkey the next couple of days after Thanksgiving, then freeze the rest to use later.  Bonus:  everyone at my house LOVES turkey sandwiches.  

[dee27]

This year, I do not want to cook on Thanksgiving because it is a lot of work for two people; therefore, I will make a restaurant reservation instead. I will make DH an apple pie since we prefer dessert several hours after dinner or the next day. 

[Sharon]

This week my go to store has a free turkey if you buy a ham.  That sale is usually off brands for both the ham and turkey.   Traditionally next week, starting Wednesday, will be the big turkey sale.  Last year it was .69 lb with a $50 purchase.  I usually buy a 22 or 23lb bird then and put it in the freezer for Christmas.  While we have turkey for Thanksgiving my Mom like to also have turkey for Christmas.  I would prefer ham but turkey is cheaper,  Mom is happy and I have a niece who has a lot of heart issues and is on a severe sodium restricted diet so this works better for her also.  The turkey brand I get doesn't have added sodium and I don't brine it so it works out.

There was an article in the paper showing a local harvest of cranberries so I might see if there are some at the local farmers market.

[sesfw]

I ordered a fresh turkey from Sprouts today (14-16 lb), and the cost is $1.49 lb.  Stopped at Costco and saw fresh turkeys for $0.99 lb, and I saw a couple in the 17 lb range.  I'll go back to Costco next Sunday and see what they have.  If they have something small enough we can use I'll buy one and cancel the order from Sprouts.

It's still a lot of turkey for just the 2 of us.  Would love to have someone come over but so far everyone has other plans.  

Want to come over?  The weather in central Arizona is just about perfect now.

[Shooby]

  I bought a 15lb turkey and its' in the freezer.  I am going to try making my own fresh cranberry sauce.  Looks fairly simple so looking forward to that.  DD and I will make pumpkin pies.  DD is in love with turkey salad after Thanksgiving so hoping to have some leftovers.  

[alabamagal]

Fresh cranberry sauce is easy and so much better than canned. DD did some last year just some OJ and sugar. I'm sure there are much more complicated recipes.

We will have 6 people here. Started some shopping this week, will do most next weekend. Thinking maybe 15 lb turkey. I'm not a big fan of turkey leftovers.

[Anne_in_VA]

We're going to SIL for dinner so I'm not cooking.  She wants me to get a ham, so I'll get that.  It's going to be a spiral sliced one and I'll heat it before leaving for her house.  I will buy a couple of turkey legs to cook later as we like the dark meat and we don't like the breast meat.  There may be a little turkey left over at TDay, but with so many families there, we probably won't get any of them.

[countrygirl2]

I have to cook, hubs is going to deep fry a turkey and we will have the standard items

with it.

[irishpad]

Nov 11, 2017 20:42:29 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  I bought a 15lb turkey and its' in the freezer.  I am going to try making my own fresh cranberry sauce.  Looks fairly simple so looking forward to that.  DD and I will make pumpkin pies.  DD is in love with turkey salad after Thanksgiving so hoping to have some leftovers.  

I never had the occasion to make fresh cranberry sauce until a couple of years ago.   Just followed the directions on the package of cranberries and turned out great!   So much better than that cranberry jelly crap.   lol 

[weltschmerz]

Sometimes, I'll roast a turkey just for the hell of it, in February or June. I try to find small ones.
It's no harder than making a chicken. A big chicken.

[tcu2003]

We just determined yesterday that we’ll be hosting Thanksgiving for DH’s family, but it’ll be on December 2nd. Since I’m short on freezer space, I’m probably stuck waiting to buy a turkey after thanksgiving.

On Thanksgiving, we’re going to my sister and BIL’s house. My BIL likes to cook, so I’m bring deviled eggs and that’s it as he’s doing most everything else.

[zibazinski]

DS is cooking crab legs for me!!

[Deleted]

Nov 13, 2017 18:03:31 GMT -5 irishpad said:

Nov 11, 2017 20:42:29 GMT -5 Shooby said:

  I bought a 15lb turkey and its' in the freezer.  I am going to try making my own fresh cranberry sauce.  Looks fairly simple so looking forward to that.  DD and I will make pumpkin pies.  DD is in love with turkey salad after Thanksgiving so hoping to have some leftovers.  

I never had the occasion to make fresh cranberry sauce until a couple of years ago.   Just followed the directions on the package of cranberries and turned out great!   So much better than that cranberry jelly crap.   lol I 

I was watching Food Network while waiting at the dentist's office.  The show was Kitchen Confessions or something like that.  The guest chefs were all confessing a shortcut.

One said that she loves the canned cranberry stuff so she always serves it.  Everyone knows she didn't make it because it still has the lines from the can.