With my new, less than one week old “minimalist” attitude, I lay awake last night thinking of our Thanksgiving dinner. There will be five adults here. We’re having a 16 pound turkey and a ham. We really don’t need both but I will fix them and we will eat leftovers til one of us declares that we will die if we have one more ham sandwich! Seriously, there’s a whole lot I can do with leftover ham and turkey so I’m not too concerned about having those.
But the veggies . . why do we think we have to have so much? Green bean casserole, sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, cornbread dressing. I’ve decided I’m not going to fix the sweet potato casserole unless mom, dad or Vince seriously can’t make it without it.
Cranberry sauce, cherry/cranberry salad and Watergate salad? Do we need three? No! I’m the one who loves Watergate salad. I can live without it so I’ll leave that off.
Pumpkin pie, pecan pie and Five Flavor Pound Cake. Do we need three desserts? No. I’m leaving off . . what? Surely not pumpkin pie. I’ll ask mom, dad and Vince what they’d rather have . . cake or pecan pie. One or the other . . not both. Vince said he wants pound cake. I think that’s what mom and dad would rather have too. I love pecan pie. I’ll just wait and when it’s just the two of us, I’ll make one and I can have more that way. 🙂 The more I think about it . . the more I want pecan pie!
Giblet Gravy and Rolls . . that’s it. My Thanksgiving dinner has just gotten a little easier . . not a whole lot but a little.
Ruth C says
Your Thanksgiving menu sounds just like what we had when I was younger! We also had cloverleaf rolls and corn-and-oysters (yuck). This year I get to have anything I want and am not cooking anything. We’re going to a buffet!
Mary in VA says
Your menu sounds wonderful!
lynne quinsland says
oh yes, keep the pecan pie!!!
Anne C. says
I could never leave out the sweet potato casserole. We’re having turkey, ham,, dressing, sweet potato casserole, mashed taters, green bean casserole (America’s Test Kitchen’s recipe), rolls (Rhodes frozen) and cranberry sauce. For dessert, we’ll have pumpkin pie and chocolate pie. My mother-in-law will probably bring her cranberry fluff and some kind of dessert. Wish my daughter and son-in-law could be here. Their careers and logistics won’t allow all of us to be together until the weekend.
I wish you and your family a very Happy Thanksgiving!
marilyn smith says
Judy, When I told my son I was just going to have the tradional Thanksgiving dinner, he said, “Good……….I don’t like all the extra stuff.” Turkey, dressing, mashed potatos, gravy, stuffing, green beans, slaw, sweet potatos, cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. PERIOD
paula.thequilter says
Mine is even more minimal: turkey with stuffing, mashed potatoes & gravey, cranberry relish, green salad, deviled eggs, and no pie. Gasp! Nope, we are having pumpkin mousse instead, because it is less carbs in an otherwise carb heave meal. I have to feed a diabetic who needs to restrict carbs to a total of 60 per meal. Yikes.
Vicky says
So the firth adult will be me? 😉 Your dinner sounds wonderful! Happy Thanksgiving!
vickievan says
I got a turkey roll…does that count?? hahaa alone and sewing , relaxing and enjoying the day. I really wanted sweet potatoes but I forgot them…so I am going to the store today…turkey roll and sweet potatoes, and silence 🙂 that about covers it. Husband is on his way home….we had a ham last week, when he was home…I always cook 10 times more when he is home. I think I could live on veggies and protein shakes when he is gone. Got one houndstooth quilt (steelers on the back) ready, Motorcycle Quilt ( flannel moto cross for backing) The last Christmas Grandson Quilt is a Lakers Quilt….???? I am printing pictures of some playyers and championship pics, sash it with purple and gold and tada done 🙂 Hope the printing goes well ???
Happy Thanksgiving Everyone
Debra says
I like the way you think.
freda1951Freda Hendersom says
Lynn and I will be dining alone as the kids are all scattered and can’t come home. I really change up our dinner, not the same every year. This year it is deer ham injected with butter and garlic, baked sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie and apple cake. Your menu sounds delicious but you know you want that pecan pie. lol
Pam in KC says
I’m doing my best to cut back this year as well. I think I’ve got it narrowed down to roasted turkey breast, mashed potatoes and gravy, green beans (opening a can), deviled eggs, sweet potato rolls and cranberry sauce (I’m opening a can). I just hope the rolls satisfy my “need” for sweet potatoes this year.
shirley bruner says
mine sounds easier than that…..we are going to eat at a buffet in town. hahahaha if i lived closer to you….i’ll beg till you let me come eat at your house. i’d even do the dishes after. i’m a good guest. hahahaha
CindyM says
We, too, are trying to simplify,but the Thanksgiving menu is one place that I can’t do it yet! And there’s only 4 of us for dinner this year.
Other holidays have become more simple.. .. Christmas dinner we do something everyone loves, but is usually non-traditional. Crab legs, or this wonderful lasagna. But not 100 things.
pdudgeon says
we’re having turkey (save the ham for Christmas) oyster stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, rolls, corn, cranberry sauce, yams, and 2 pies; pumpkin and mincemeat.
Mary Jo says
We all like lots of different foods, don’t we? I always have a hard time leaving off anything when I am planning a holiday meal! And even when I know that we are having way more than we need, I decide we need something “green and healthy” to go along with all of the staches we seem to like! I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Pauline Kennelly says
It all sounds great, it all sounds like a lot of work. Lately work is a dirty 4 letter word, We’re going simple with pot roast. But please tell me what is Watergate salad? It”s not listed in your recipes. That”s a new one on me!
Melinda says
So, I think you need to do a series on what to do with leftover turkey. lol
Hugs,
Melinda
Beth Strand says
My brother moved up a couple of years ago and said, “You always do Christmas…how about I do Thanksgiving?” Well, at first I was horrified but then I pulled up my big girl panties and decided to share the holidays. Now, all I have to do is show up with the pies and the stuffing and we’re all set to go! It’s especially nice as I have daycare kids all day for the three days leading to Thanksgiving. Just goes to show that change can be good! Happy Thanksgiving to you!
Diana Stewart says
Our dinner will be turkey and stuffing, regular and also stuffing with oysters for dad. Candied yams, broccoli, fruit salad, rolls, cranbberry sauce and a new pumpkin dessert. More than enough for 3 .
Libby says
I always go to my friends for Thanksgiving dinner, lots of family and lots of food. Her house always smells so good! What is Watergate Salad? I must be the only one that doesn’t know.
lorraine croy says
I am breaking with tradition and preparing your roasted chicken recipe…and no stuffing! Gasp! And…I’m sneaking in mashed parsnips for potatoes! Trying to go light on the carbs and heavy on the veggies. And maybe next year it will be someone else in my family who hosts on Thanksgiving!
JanetB says
I cut out the sweet potato casserole a couple years ago. We have enough carbs with the mashed taters and mac & cheese & dressing. We only do turkey or ham, but not both. If ham, then I drop the dressing. I keep trying to cut back, but DH won’t give up the deviled eggs or ambrosia. I did cut back on the pies this year.
dezertsuz says
I’d leave out the giblet gravy myself. =)
coloradolady says
THis year is different here too. NO TURKEY……it is only my husband and I and my daughter, she does not like turkey, thus the ham. We’re having mashed potatoes, mac n cheese, fresh green beans, rolls, gravy, cranberry sauce, oh, and dressing…..I am thinking as I type this I am most likely the one who will miss the turkey. I usually do more veggies, but no one really wanted them, so I made what they requested. Have a great day!
Trina says
We are having turkey, baked sweet potatoes, cooked green beans, dinner rolls,, homemade cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie. I started downsizeing a long time ago because it was usually just the three of us and we moved alot.
julianne says
I thought and thought about this too. I did sticky rolls for breakfast as always. them baked the turkey and did potatoes. I told everyone that they could bring who ever and what ever they wanted. it was wonderful…and got my shower and pjs before 7 pm. everyone is gone and I am relaxed
Diana W. says
I had almost the exact same menu as you did except we had a 27 lb turkey and I had 13 guests. Had a lot left over but it will get eaten. I send some home with a couple people too. Hope your dinner was fabulous!