Thankgiving menu- thinking about purchasing pre-made

[jelloshots4all]

I don't know what our plans are yet.  I'm assuming my parents will come to my house.  I don't think my sister and her family will come (covid and they usually have plans with her DH family).

I usually cook everything but it's not over the top with 5 of us- turkey breast, mashed potatoes (and yes gravy), stuffing, broccoli, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie and have snacks before hand.

I'm not working, so I have time to cook everything (except the pumpkin pie- we like Costcos).  But I'm thinking about buying the meal from a restaurant.  It's about $20/person.  I know I can make it cheaper and most ahead of time, but I'm really considering this.

Thoughts? 

[NancysSummerSip]

I used to think it was the worst thing ever to buy anything pre-made, or that putting anything on the holiday table that I did not sweat and slave over meant I hated my family.

Meh. What was I thinking? I spend a week cooking and cleaning and organizing and dinner is inhaled in an hour.

It's fine to do it. Or if you feel guilty, buy some and make some and don't tell anyone which is yours and which is restaurant food.

[Opti]

If there ever was a year to try buying Thanksgiving dinner, I think this would be it. I will probably buy something because it won't be safe to go where I usually go.

[giramomma]

My ILs are likely going to do that for us for Thanksgiving. There's 8 of us, but Miss M still is hit or miss with eating. There's two of them and they could cook ahead, as could we.

So eh.

We're in pandemic.

[Lizard Queen]

Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite meals, and I'm quite particular about how it should taste and everything that needs to be included. I have no qualms about ordering out--I don't love cooking like, at all, but I don't think any place would satisfy the flavors I want for a Thanksgiving meal. Most restaurants try to spice things up, but this is the quintessential comfort food for me.

[stillmovingforward]

Everyone in my little family cooks part of the meal. So all I need to do is buy the ingredients and cook the turkey. They do the rest; taters, gravy, rice, rolls, stuffing, cranberry sauce, salad. We're good.

[irishpad]

No family gathering this year.   I'll open up a can of soup.  lol   Actually we have a dozen college students that live in housing we provide (all considering religious vocations)   If any of them are around on Thanksgiving Day, I'll invite them over to my house and experience my wonderful cooking.   

[thyme4change]

Last year we stayed in an air-bnb out of town for Thanksgiving, and I found a "fancy" grocery store and ordered their meal. We also made a few things. Like it came with a pumpkin pie, but we also made an apple galette. My mom made deviled eggs and cole slaw. I think the meal come with sides of mashed potatoes, glazed carrots and something else - maybe cranberries? It came cooked, but mostly cold, and in pans I could use to heat everything up.

It was awesome. It was delicious. It was easy. It cleaned up easy, and we had leftovers for the whole weekend. I asked my husband if we could just do that at home this year. He has not yet agreed.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 7, 2020 20:05:34 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

I don't know what our plans are yet.  I'm assuming my parents will come to my house.  I don't think my sister and her family will come (covid and they usually have plans with her DH family).

I usually cook everything but it's not over the top with 5 of us- turkey breast, mashed potatoes (and yes gravy), stuffing, broccoli, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie and have snacks before hand.

I'm not working, so I have time to cook everything (except the pumpkin pie- we like Costcos).  But I'm thinking about buying the meal from a restaurant.  It's about $20/person.  I know I can make it cheaper and most ahead of time, but I'm really considering this.

Thoughts? 

If you were to prepare the traditional T'day meal, which one or to dishes do you least like to prepare. Buy the foods you least like to prepare and then prepare the rest yourself.

Or not.

[jelloshots4all]

I honestly love to cook, and don't mind preparing any of the dishes (although I probably need to buy a new crockpot because my current one did not do well on the turkey breast last year - I miss my old one).

My family is very much meat and potatoes traditional style.  I like to cook "fancier" dishes if that is even to word I'm looking for.  They eat whatever I make and enjoy the "new' items, but the effort is kind of lost on them.  If that makes any sense.  I guess I'm just not excited to cook it?

[Sharon]

So far this year it just Mom and me, DD and her family may come.  If they do that would then bring us up to 6, two of which are toddlers.  If it stays at two I am just doing a turkey breast, which Mom won't like because she likes dark meat.  It will be kept simple no matter what, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a veggie and pumpkin pie.  Mom will bring the pie.  She was talking about making two pies, I told her that didn't need a pie apiece.  Her response is I like leftovers.  Whatever, it doesn't matter what I say she is going to do what she wants anyway.

[Deleted]

DH and I did this one year from Publix.  You have to pick it up on Wednesday because they are closed Thanksgiving Day.  Fine, we thought.  We will have Thanksgiving on Wednesday.

It was all refrigerated and had to be reheated for 1-2 hours.  Less prep, but not really worth it.  And it was expensive.

I may just eat a Marie Callendar's frozen dinner.  If I cook, it will be a chicken breast since it is me and a ten-pound dog.

[empress of self-improvement]

Nov 7, 2020 23:00:57 GMT -5 @bamafan1954 said:

DH and I did this one year from Publix.  You have to pick it up on Wednesday because they are closed Thanksgiving Day.  Fine, we thought.  We will have Thanksgiving g on Wednesday.

It was all refrigerated and had to be reheated for 1-2 hours.  Less prep, but not really worth it.  And it was expensive.

I may just eat a Marie Callendar's frozen dinner.  If I cook, it will be a chicken breast since it is me and a ten-pound dog.

It's just me and a whiny ass cat. I'm thinking I'll either order a pizza or Mexican the night before and reheat it. I have NO desire to be social with anyone this year. Or I may just buy a chocolate cream pie at the grocery store and just eat that. Who knows🤔

[giramomma]

Nov 7, 2020 22:27:51 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

 If that makes any sense.  I guess I'm just not excited to cook it?

Why do it if you aren't excited about it?

No one gives us extra points for doing things because we feel obligated to.

(The only caveat would be sometimes, I'm not excited about things, but once I start, I'm OK.)

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

My dad passed away in Oct 2014 and that first Thanksgiving, I went by my mom in Austin. My daughters and their boyfriends also came. We all went to Central Market (similar to Fresh Market) we wandered all over the store and everyone picked two or three small containers of premade food from their deli style area, deli meats, cheeses, breads, olives, and wines. When we got home, we spread everything out on the coffee table and had a great time trying all the different food. Nobody cooked and we had fun in spite of recent sorrow.

[alabamagal]

I love to cook big meals, as much from scratch as possible. Even when we have small gatherings we go all out traditional and I try to do some fancy side dishes. And not judging anyone doing store bought, it is all about the gathering, not how it is made.

This year we are going to visit DS and DDIL and new baby. Plan is for only 6 adults plus baby.

[resolution]

I did the Cracker Barrel meal for 10 a couple of years ago, and everyone really liked it. It came cold and it took an hour or two to heat everything, but then at least the house smelled really good. The price came out to $130 for 10 people (including tip). I don't know how that compares to scratch cooking since normally we all would all contribute a dish or two to the meal.  It was a huge relief to my mother in law, who wanted to host but couldn't cook due to shuttling my father in law back and forth for medical treatment.

[mamasita99]

This year it will just be the four of us. My “girls” are now 17 and 21. They actually look forward to picking out recipes and cooking much of the meal. It ends up costing more this way, but it’s great to spend time together when they are excited about helping out. Plus I get to drink while they do the hard work!

[wvugurl26]

I'm cooking the whole meal this year. I put a deposit down on a fresh bird yesterday. It may just be DH and I. His nephew will come for dessert. I'm sure he will take leftovers bc his parents will be away through Saturday night.

I will invite my brother but I'm but sure if he has to work or what time he would need to go in. I know it's in his normal shift but sometimes they get off on holidays. If enough people volunteer for the needed skelton crew he could be off. That's usually decided much closer to the holiday though.

It will be our first Thanksgiving at our house so we are doing all the traditional stuff.

[jerseygirl]

If we do have family for Thanksgiving it will be outside with all in winter clothes and blankets if needed.
I usually cook the turkey and everyone brings sides, pies
All want to get together but outside so not cooking turkey cause it would be difficult to bring and carve outside
We were together in October on our deck. I sadly said goodby won’t have thanksgiving Christmas when they were leaving. So all wanted to get together outside. We have school kids, teachers, doctor, nurse and Jerseyguy and I and DIL are high risk. So outside
Grandson said get pizzas it doesn’t matter what we eat, just be together
We won’t get pizza but everyone will bring something. Whatever food is incidental

[Happy prose]

I'm cooking, but making it easy. I bought two de-boned turkey breasts, and all you have to do is throw them in the oven. I bought one and cooked it a couple of weeks ago to test it first, and my DH said it was delicious. I did buy a frozen pie to bake, but will make all the sides myself. My favorite part is all the pre-foods!

ETA- there will only be five of us, so it should be fun.

[Lizard Queen]

Just came across this:

www.mlive.com/news/2020/11/northern-michigan-resort-to-offer-chefs-thanksgiving-dinners-to-go.html?outputType=amp&__twitter_impression=true

Too rich for my blood. (Also, farther than I'd want to drive.)

[sesfw]

You have given me wonderful ideas.  I've thought about buying pre-made of everything but wasn't sure on how it would taste.  I think it will be just one other couple with DH and myself.

So now maybe I can go turkey breast, side dish of dressing, cranberry sauce from Costco, steamed  and fresh veggies, frozen pies.  Love Costco pumpkin pie but it's too big ....... and I LOVE a good mince pie.

Going to check with a local restaurant this afternoon on their plans for the day/dinner

Still thinking ...........

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

Nov 8, 2020 11:40:39 GMT -5 sesfw said:

You have given me wonderful ideas.  I've thought about buying pre-made of everything but wasn't sure on how it would taste.  I think it will be just one other couple with DH and myself.

So now maybe I can go turkey breast, side dish of dressing, cranberry sauce from Costco, steamed  and fresh veggies, frozen pies.  Love Costco pumpkin pie but it's too big ....... and I LOVE a good mince pie.

Going to check with a local restaurant this afternoon on their plans for the day/dinner

Still thinking ...........

I have not had mince pie since I was a kid! 

[thyme4change]

Nov 7, 2020 22:49:18 GMT -5 Sharon said:

So far this year it just Mom and me, DD and her family may come.  If they do that would then bring us up to 6, two of which are toddlers.  If it stays at two I am just doing a turkey breast, which Mom won't like because she likes dark meat.  It will be kept simple no matter what, turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, stuffing, a veggie and pumpkin pie.  Mom will bring the pie.  She was talking about making two pies, I told her that didn't need a pie apiece.  Her response is I like leftovers.  Whatever, it doesn't matter what I say she is going to do what she wants anyway.

I think you can buy turkey drumsticks. You could make a breast and one drumstick, everyone happy, and not an outrageous amount of meat. The probably come packaged in multiples- you can freeze the others for another dinner.

[Anne_in_VA]

Hmmm, I may have to buy some turkey drumsticks for DH and I since it will only be us for t-day.  I have some frozen mashed potatoes from TJ’s and will whip up some veggies, maybe green beans or broccoli with hollandaise.  Pie will be one from Costco as I love their baked goods.  Whatever we don’t eat will be leftovers.  

[Happy prose]

Anne_in_VA Costco also sells an awesome frozen tiramisu. It's my favorite. 

[Deleted]

jelloshots4all , Last year we got a premade Thanksgiving dinner from Cracker Barrel, and it was delicious. We got the smallest one to serve 8-10. There were six of us so plenty leftovers.

This year they are offering dinner that serves 4-6. I didn't look at the cost, but guessing maybe $75? I know there are Cracker Barrel restaurants up there but don't know exactly where or how far that would be for you to go fetch it.

The only thing I didn't like was the cornbread dressing because I prefer bread dressing so made my own. The rest of the fam is "suthrun" and prefer cornbread.

ETA: I asked Mr. Google, who said there's a Cracker Barrel in Germantown. That's probably a 30-minute drive for you? 

[Lizard Queen]

I thought we had no cracker barrel a around any more, but just discovered there's one in Grandville, which isn't that close, but not too far from the old one that shut down. I used to love cracker barrel, but my favorite breakfast joint is an old local mom and pop place that absolutely piles on the food--and it's cheap! Or it was a few years ago when I last went there. Not a lot of going out for breakfast these days with kids in tow. Not a lot of going out to restaurants period, even pre-covid.

[Deleted]

Nov 7, 2020 21:22:05 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Thanksgiving dinner is one of my favorite meals, and I'm quite particular about how it should taste and everything that needs to be included. I have no qualms about ordering out--I don't love cooking like, at all, but I don't think any place would satisfy the flavors I want for a Thanksgiving meal. Most restaurants try to spice things up, but this is the quintessential comfort food for me.

I get it about how it should taste. There's also the way it should smell, and Cracker Barrel's dinner didn't disappoint. They aren't exactly what you'd call fine dining, which is probably what I like best about eating the food is consistently good and comforting.

Things that we always have are brandied cranberries (cranberries for cranberry lovers and cranberry haters) and a fruit salad. Aside from the bread dressing that I made, we also did the cranberries and fruit salad.