Thanksgiving (the holiday and the weekend) plans?

[NancysSummerSip]

Just wondering what y'all are up to for the holiday.

What's for dinner? Are you splurging or cutting back on the feast?

Who's coming over (or are you going out)?

Do you have projects or travel plans?

It's been awhile for many of us to do normal holiday stuff, thanks to the pandemic, and now we have higher prices for everything.

I'll start: it's just two of us: my brother and his family will be in town next month for their company's annual holiday long weekend, so I told him not to make two trips (it's a four-hour drive one way) and we will see him in December. Other brother is going to Pittsburgh to visit with his daughter's BF's family. My niece and her husband will be with her mother, who had a stroke several months ago and cannot travel from her rehab facility.

Dinner is traditional: turkey, gravy, green bean casserole, baked sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and compote, stuffing and pumpkin pie for DH.

I have projects: researching Medicare plans, updating my resume (I retire next April but still want to work after age 65), washing my car and filling in the competition schedule.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Hi! 
All four of our children will be at our house on Thanksgiving Day. 
Both daughters will come down this Wednesday. Both sons live locally (which is why we moved back here this summer). 
We are having the normal dinner of turkey, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole (made with all fresh ingredients), cranberry sauce, rolls, stuffing, roasted carrots and parsnips, and lots of pie. 

[busymom]

DD will be going over to her BF's family home for Thanksgiving.  So, I just need to cook for 3, with the traditional turkey, stuffing, pumpkin pie, etc..  On Black Friday, in addition to a bit of online shopping, I'll be doing some baking for our church's bake sale on Saturday.  So, it'll be a busy weekend, without a crazy amount of relatives.  

[minnesotapaintlady]

I'll be going to my mom's for dinner.  Her garage is nicer than a lot of people's houses and she turns the whole thing into a dining hall for about 40 people on Thanksgiving.  Typical meal.  Turkey (although she has it shredded in a roaster), stuffing, potatoes, a gazillion pies... Lots of people bring dishes to pass so there is tons of food.

Mom is only about 40 minutes away, but if nobody is picking up DS from college I'll be making that 250 mile round trip probably Wednesday night.  The deal is, if his uncle on his dad's side that lives up there brings him down he gets to go to their Thanksgiving.  If I have to go get him, he goes to ours. 

[chiver78]

I have no major plans for the day or weekend, other than shutting my work laptop OFF for the whole thing. my parents are going away somewhere (stlll TBD) for the weekend as their wedding anniversary is the 26th. my sister is burnt out from work and is laying low. I'm not far behind, actually. 

I'm actually roasting a porchetta tomorrow, which will last me the week and provide leftovers to freeze. I bought a turkey today, on impulse due to knowing my freezer had space for it. 12lb, $6 on sale. I'll roast it eventually. 

ETA: porchetta will happen tomorrow, the recipe I found has it sitting overnight to let the meat marinate in the herb spread. this is not a typical porchetta, but a porchetta-style pork loin.

[jerseygirl]

Small meal this year just ODS and his wife. DD is minding 2 dogs for her BIL so not coming here with 4 dogs! YDS family going out somewhere. Jerseyguy still couldn’t handle the 3 kids so that’s why their not coming. GSs going to his brother’s as their dad is coming up from Arizona
So small turkey, canned and homemade cranberry, mashed and sweet potatoes and ?? Green beans?
I like creamed pearl onions and red cabbage but really not anyone else
And no sugar added apple and pumpkin pies, cider and Prosecco

[empress of self-improvement]

It's going to be me, myself and 3 cats. I bought a 3-pound turkey breast and will have that, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and an apple pie from work. I may do up some frozen broccoli too. May go to the inlaws later but not sure.

[Tennesseer]

Going to a friend's home for T'Day dinner. My contribution to the meal is balsamic and honey roasted Brussel sprouts and apple pie enchiladas for one of the desserts.

[Cheesy FL-Vol]

I am not cooking a damn thing except to make a pumpkin cheesecake. Right now we are on the road to Austin, TX to spend Thanksgiving week with my youngest and her 3-1/2 year old little man. 

[chiver78]

Nov 19, 2022 16:10:32 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

It's going to be me, myself and 3 cats. I bought a 3-pound turkey breast and will have that, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and an apple pie from work. I may do up some frozen broccoli too. May go to the inlaws later but not sure.

I'm not sure what your weekend looks like, but if you want to snuggle some pups, come down!

my goals for the weekend are getting fresh air and unplugging. pack sneakers b/c we will walk. 

[wvugurl26]

We are having the usual turkey breast, ham, mashed potatoes, gravy, sweet potatoes, green beans, corn, deviled eggs, noodles, cranberries, rolls, pumpkin pie, pecan pie and mini cheesecakes.

I need to call and order the rolls. Mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, noodles and mini cheesecakes are assigned to me. I hope grandma will at least tell me what to do because I have no clue on how she normally does those.

I'm going to put the mashed potatoes in the crock pot. We made them that way last year for a tailgate and they were delicious.

My family wanted this pecan pie pumpkin cheesecake and that is not happening for Thanksgiving. Maybe Christmas. There's way too many steps. My dad saw it on Facebook and I've never made it.

I need to figure out when we are traveling. I think Tuesday so that we can get the food and stuff in order. I may also make a veggie tray and some other appetizers. Maybe a nice breakfast.

Also on the figure it out asap list, the family Christmas party for dad's side is the Saturday after Thanksgiving. It's early but for once it's not on a Sunday when I have to travel back 5 hours. And we knock out Thanksgiving and the party in one trip.

All this rambling to say I need to get my plan together when I get home Sunday.

[TheOtherMe]

Me and two cats.  I will bake pumpkin pie.  

That's the plan.  

I don't like gatherings of people who I don't enjoy being around so I will be much better off with it being me and the cats.

[empress of self-improvement]

Nov 19, 2022 16:55:32 GMT -5 chiver78 said:

Nov 19, 2022 16:10:32 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

It's going to be me, myself and 3 cats. I bought a 3-pound turkey breast and will have that, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and an apple pie from work. I may do up some frozen broccoli too. May go to the inlaws later but not sure.

I'm not sure what your weekend looks like, but if you want to snuggle some pups, come down!

my goals for the weekend are getting fresh air and unplugging. pack sneakers b/c we will walk. 

Thanks for the invite. I'm working on Friday and will probably just hide in the house and look at my Christmas crap.

[Opti]

Nov 19, 2022 16:10:32 GMT -5 empress of self-improvement said:

It's going to be me, myself and 3 cats. I bought a 3-pound turkey breast and will have that, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce and an apple pie from work. I may do up some frozen broccoli too. May go to the inlaws later but not sure.

I may do something similar although its me. Moonshadow, and Crestie. Maybe I will try to buy Crestie some TG crickets. Saw some turkey breast but it looked much bigger than 3lbs. 

[NoNamePerson]

Attending:

Son and DIL
DIL’s sister and her husband, and their daughter 
DIL’s and sisters mother
DIL and sister’s dad
My son’s dad (my EX) 
Me

The sisters do all the cooking and just tell us when to show up.  We have a good time in spite of Ex’s (dads) being thrown in the loop for the last few years when both Ex’s moved here.  So it’ll be a good day for all!

They are excellent cooks!  

[debthaven]

Our DS3 went to the American Section of the International Lycee (as did DS1).

When they were 12, DS3 and his friend M asked us and M's parents if we could please celebrate Thanksgiving together. (We always celebrated it here, but the light version because we all worked/went to school that day and the following day... I always did a chicken w cranberry sauce and a pumpkin pie ). We said yes of course! We started alternating years with M's parents. 

Now DS3 and M are 24, and they both live abroad. But M's parents and us still celebrate together!!!

We missed 2019 because it was our turn, and my big 60th birthday bash was the next day, so I asked to skip it, exceptionally. Then we missed 2020 because of Covid. We got back on track last year. 

The hosts make the turkey and some sides, the others bring some sides and pumpkin pie. 

This year it's at their place, so we'll bring some sides and a pumpkin pie. 

M's mom is vegetarian now. I suggested that perhaps she'd rather cook a turkey breast than a whole turkey ... she said no way!!! She said, this is the one time/year I eat meat, and how can you have Thanksgiving without a whole turkey?! LOL

[debthaven]

PS Some friends here do Thanksgiving on the following weekend. We've attended one of those, but for me, it's weird. Thanksgiving needs to be ON Thanksgiving. 

[teen persuasion]

We always go out to mom & dad's house for Thanksgiving, and she never lets us bring anything. All the traditional stuff: turkey, mashed potatoes, 2 kinds of stuffing (stove-top for sis who prefers it), squash, corn, rolls, cranberry, etc. Several types of pie. It is hit & miss which of my sibs' families will make dinner - some are out of state, some are doing the IL dinner instead. Might stop in for a bit, though. Also included are dad's remaining sister and her single daughter, and another single niece who has lost both her parents.

I try to have another turkey day at our house with as many of my kids as can make it (Hawaii is unfortunately too far), whenever we can agree.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 19, 2022 19:43:44 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Attending:

Son and DIL
DIL’s sister and her husband, and their daughter 
DIL’s and sisters mother
DIL and sister’s dad
My son’s dad (my EX) 
Me

The sisters do all the cooking and just tell us when to show up.  We have a good time in spite of Ex’s (dads) being thrown in the loop for the last few years when both Ex’s moved here.  So it’ll be a good day for all!

They are excellent cooks!  

Thank goodness. No chance of ptomaine poisoning if they ate at your home.

[swamp]

I’m cooking.   There should be me, DH, my 2 kids, my dad, my brother, his 3 kids, my sister’s oldest kid, and her friend.  That makes 11.  Maybe more will show up.  

I’m making turkey, potatoes, stuffing, Green bean casserole, squash, deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, and probably a few other random things. 

My brother will bring Italian wedding soup, and some pies. 

My dad will bring ham and tourtiere.  

I have no idea if my niece will bring anything. 

Friday were going to Ottawa, whoever wants to go.  My nieces friend has never been to Canada. 

[NoNamePerson]

Nov 19, 2022 20:50:07 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nov 19, 2022 19:43:44 GMT -5 NoNamePerson said:

Attending:

Son and DIL
DIL’s sister and her husband, and their daughter 
DIL’s and sisters mother
DIL and sister’s dad
My son’s dad (my EX) 
Me

The sisters do all the cooking and just tell us when to show up.  We have a good time in spite of Ex’s (dads) being thrown in the loop for the last few years when both Ex’s moved here.  So it’ll be a good day for all!

They are excellent cooks!  

Thank goodness. No chance of ptomaine poisoning if they ate at your home.

 Wouldn't be from my cooking. I know of the very best places in town that do a bang up job of making dishes that taste homemade and I have all the appropriate dishes to transfer food into. They would never know. I have this down to a fine science to avoid the kitchen. Has worked well for me over the years. Heck, some pEEps actually think I'm a good cook   

[giramomma]

Thursday I'm going to DH's aunt and uncle's.

Friday I'm working.

Saturday and Sunday I need to get a good jump on painting DS's room. I'll probably start on cookies.

We have like half a free weekend until Christmas.

[NomoreDramaQ1015]

We will be having it at my house this year. Since none of us wanted to take on the challenge of cooking a turkey for the first time we're doing catered Cracker Barrel.

Then my dad, me and the girls will head out to Estes for five days.

Then I took Wednesday through Friday off work so I can decompress at home sans kids. Considering doing some Christmas shopping one of those days.

[Tennesseer]

Nov 19, 2022 20:55:12 GMT -5 swamp said:

I’m cooking.   There should be me, DH, my 2 kids, my dad, my brother, his 3 kids, my sister’s oldest kid, and her friend.  That makes 11.  Maybe more will show up.  

I’m making turkey, potatoes, stuffing, Green bean casserole, squash, deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, and probably a few other random things. 

My brother will bring Italian wedding soup, and some pies. 

My dad will bring ham and tourtiere.  

I have no idea if my niece will bring anything. 

Friday were going to Ottawa, whoever wants to go.  My nieces friend has never been to Canada. 

How is your dad and the rest of you and your family doing with your mom's passing and the holidays coming up.

[swamp]

Nov 19, 2022 21:39:31 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Nov 19, 2022 20:55:12 GMT -5 swamp said:

I’m cooking.   There should be me, DH, my 2 kids, my dad, my brother, his 3 kids, my sister’s oldest kid, and her friend.  That makes 11.  Maybe more will show up.  

I’m making turkey, potatoes, stuffing, Green bean casserole, squash, deviled eggs, pumpkin pie, and probably a few other random things. 

My brother will bring Italian wedding soup, and some pies. 

My dad will bring ham and tourtiere.  

I have no idea if my niece will bring anything. 

Friday were going to Ottawa, whoever wants to go.  My nieces friend has never been to Canada. 

How is your dad and the rest of you and your family doing with your mom's passing and the holidays coming up.

I think I’m doing ok.  Sometimes I’m a mess,sometimes I’m fine. She was sick for so long that it was almost a relief. I think my dad grieved her when her dementia got really bad a few years ag. 



Thanks for asking. 

[Tennesseer]

Nov 19, 2022 22:47:55 GMT -5 swamp said:

Nov 19, 2022 21:39:31 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

How is your dad and the rest of you and your family doing with your mom's passing and the holidays coming up.

I think I’m doing ok.  Sometimes I’m a mess,sometimes I’m fine. She was sick for so long that it was almost a relief. I think my dad grieved her when her dementia got really bad a few years ag. 



Thanks for asking. 

My mom also had Alzheimer's disease and she wanted out. Mom finally got her wish and we were glad but also sad she did.

[toomuchreality]

I expect to be home alone and sleep. If I wake up for a period of time and am hungry, I might make so Stove Top stuffing. If I get real adventurous, I may also make instant mashed potatoes and gravy. Then go back to bed.

Jealous?

[finnime]

I'm hosting. For most of the family it will be their first time at this home now that we've moved to Massachusetts. We'll have 12-16 for dinner, depending on whether DSis's younger son and his family do come.

Oldest DB is coming at 7 a.m. with a 30-lb turkey to roast here. I'm making the stuffing, mashed potatoes, crescent rolls, cranberry sauce, creamed onions, gravy, 3 types of pie, DSis's birthday cake (her birthday is the 25th), Chex mix and banana bread. DH is planning on making hush puppies and a corn dish. Other people are bringing green beans, turnip, shrimp, stuffed dates, fruit platter, green salad, butternut squash, cranberry nut bread, Irish soda bread and sweet potatoes. We'll all eat too well, drink wine and beer, and have a great time. I'm glad I bought a double oven. I'm grateful to be able to have people I love over.

I need to send all information on where to park. Houses here are closely spaced. My neighbor is a snowbird and has urged me to use her driveway while she's gone.

The weekend will go fast, too. DD is leaving Friday morning to go back to Maryland. She'll be back in 4 weeks. DSis and I will go to a park and collect greens to decorate for Christmas, which she'll host. We'll put up the tree I bought.

[ners]

My family is not getting together.  It will just be me and DF.  We will have a turkey breast and potatoes and maybe stove top stuffing.

[Sharon]

I will be hosting and Mom is coming.  It will the first time she has been here since I moved.  An assortment of DD's family will be here.  Who ends up here depends on when the new baby arrives.  DD is due on Tuesday.  So at a minimum I will have the 3 older grand kids and possibly DD and DSIL.

We will have turkey, potatoes/gravy, stuffing, cranberries, rolls, asparagus, and a jello salad.  For dessert there will be pumpkin pie and lemon meringue pie.