Frugal Food and Cooking

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

dmc_2008 — Sun, 26 Oct 2008 05:14:36 GMT

I am going to wait until the very last minute to by the bird, (I learned here I will get a better deal). Very simple, low stress menu - Here is my menu.

Turkey
Stuffing
Mash Pots
Gravy (in a can, already in pantry), sorry, but mine is awful
Olives (already in pantry)
Cranberry sauce (Gramma brings)
Deviled eggs (gramma Brings)
Green Veggie (Probably asparagus)
Desert

Sparkling CranApple Juice

And I think I might just bake a cake for desert this year.

We don't have but 4 of us, so it is always a lot of food and everyone has left overs.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Lynnea Berr — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 20:33:02 GMT

There is a great article about planning holiday meals in this weeks Dollar Stretcher:

" Plan Ahead for Holiday Meals"

http://www.stretcher.com/stories/08/08oct20d.cfm

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 13:30:47 GMT

Jane,

Keep us posted on your progress with your family and the Thanksgiving meal. I have been thinking of you and would appreciate knowing.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

gayla50 — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 16:34:58 GMT

we made the big Thanksgiving board .. we are deciding the menu ..

so far the only thing on the list that written in stone is the Dressing my family loves its

and I roast the the turkey it always the best ..

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

jennylyn — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:39:43 GMT

Yes, somehow, holidays dinners do end up in politcal conversations a lot! We have different political beliefs than a lot of our family and some are VERY strong in their opinions and love to start a good debate/argument. Whenever the slightest hint of politics come up though, someone like my mom or grandma quickly shuts it down with a firm "No politics at the dinner table!" which usually cuts it off. I'm glad . . . there are a few people in my family that once the conversation gets started, won't let up until they feel like they have convinced you they're right-which means they never let up!

Tracy, from your post, I assume that your extended family is not vegetarian? Mine either. In fact, my family is fairly hard core meat and potatoes eaters. Dh has only recently become 100% vegetarian-he used to eat veggie at home (because I don't cook or buy meat) and when out or at a family function, he would sometimes eat meat. He has recently (about 6 mos ago) converted to being 100% vegetarian (and I'm glad-I feel like we are more unified as a family now. Took a long time for him to get to this point but it has been really great.) Anyway, I digress . . . sometimes these extended family meals can be a bit challenging in that there is often a lot of meat or my very traditional Southern cooking grandmothers make things and say it's vegetarian but it was sauteed in bacon grease or made with chicken stock. My mom finally does understand that we won't eat it and tries to think about that and of course, I do bring plenty of food for us to eat (things that the rest of the family will enjoy too). It is a challenge too especially as the kids get older as we have always said that the kids will be raised vegetarian but that we will not make it a big issue for them if they want to eat meat as it is a choice for every person to make. (However, if they decide to be meat eaters, it won't be at my house.) Anyway, this statement means that lots of my family love to try and get the kids to eat meat and if they do, the LOVE telling me "Oh, your DS ate turkey and he loved it!" and stuff like that. It's a bit frustrating. My parents do for the most part respect our choices, and I have been this way since I was a child so it's no surprise to them. Anyway, much as I love these family get togethers, and I really do, the vegetarian thing can be a bit tricky . . . and I always cringe when they start hacking into the turkey with an electric knife. Goes right through me.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

littlepitcher — Sun, 19 Oct 2008 15:15:21 GMT

Check the day-old bread stores and make one pan of cornbread and crumble both. Mix both, add beef bouillon in water, a dash of soy, onions, margarine, herbs and celery, plus oysters, pecans, and/or chopped boiled eggs if you like them. Bake it an hour or so at 325. Cheaper than mix, and not as salty.

I do home-canned green beans, sweet tater souffle with bananas and vanilla, whipped Irish taters, mac and cheese (this bunch loves bland comfort food), deviled eggs since I get to eat them only twice a year 'cause of the cholesterol, cloverleaf rolls bought on sale and frozen till used, home-grown greens seasoned with ham, and the bird with a pan of dressing on the side, made half with onions and half without. Cranberry sauce for everyone else, spiked with red jalapenos or habaneros for me. If you don't have home-canned, buy the beans in a can, pour the stinking water off, add a dash of tap water and a few slices of bacon, and cook on very low heat for at least an hour. I have to do the mac and cheese from scratch and am required to have it but no-one eats it except Cuz.

The secret to frugal Christmas is to purchase the dinner goodies on sale after Thanksgiving. I do ham for Christmas but with the other sides the same. No cakes or pies because my dear diabetic cousin would go wild.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:55:30 GMT

MarthaMFI:
Brandy, do they have bogo sales on stuffing?

I have no idea. Before we moved, I was getting the boxes of stuffing at the salvage store for .89 or less before we moved but I'll finding out what is normal here.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

MarthaMFI — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 16:42:33 GMT

Brandy, do they have bogo sales on stuffing? We have stuff and such and uncle bens I think. I know there are too common brands so when xmas or thanksgiving comes around they are either .99 each or buy one get one free.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 12:29:18 GMT

latenightleader:
and we went out!

We have done that once for Thanksgiving many years ago. It's more common for Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day and New Year's.

As for political discussions, those are common. Thankfully, we are in mostly in agreement with our parents, siblings and close friends so it's more everyone venting together rather than a disagreement.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

latenightleader — Sat, 18 Oct 2008 04:10:13 GMT

Several years ago, my mom got sick when she was going to be hosting, and we went out! Loved it! Better than trying to host when we are vegetarians for a holiday focused on turkey, and somewhat better than eating sides and hearing political discussions when I'm with my family. This year I fear will be a political one. I am the opposite party than all but my sister in law. Dh joins in, he and I are opposite parties. I would love to go out this year, or just cook at home for the immediate family, 9 of us. We have driven to the in laws a few years. Will have to see what comes up. My first choice would be going to a buffet, and relaxing and enjoying a night out. Expensive, but fun. Maybe we'll just cook in. That's my second favorite one, I think.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Fri, 17 Oct 2008 13:32:34 GMT

My Menu:

Baked turkey
Stuffing
Baked sweet potato
Herb green beans
Rolls
Pumpkin pie

I think I will use turkey breasts rather than a whole turkey. If I can find a whole turkey at a good price, it may be worth getting as I can freeze the meat for later meals and between ourselves and the kids, both white and dark meat is eaten.

I will be looking for Stovetop or store brand stuffing on sale for $1 or less.

I usually have enough sweet potatoes on hand for any dish with those. We like to use a little brown sugar and butter for flavoring.

I am using the green bean recipe I posted. I can use canned beans as I have quite a few and there are on sale for .50 a can again this week.

I will be baking the rolls from scratch from an old Jiffy recipe for cloverleaf rolls. I have all the ingredients in the pantry.

I am making the pie I plan to have. I am choosing pumpkin because we plan to buy two or three for Halloween then remove the pulp and freeze for baking through the winter.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

gayla50 — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:51:29 GMT

Angie I am so sorry

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:17:27 GMT

eyrehead:
It doesn't appear that my father in law is going to be with us much longer, maybe a month or so, if we're lucky

I am very sorry your family is dealing with this.

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

Brandy — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 20:14:28 GMT

gayla50:
wanted to thank you Brandy for the links

You are welcome!

Re: Frugal Thanksgiving Menu

eyrehead — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 19:37:42 GMT

In years past, if we've stayed at home, I've made a big turkey with oyster dressing (in the bird), mashed potatoes, gravy, and corn or green beans. If we stay at home, I'll make up a small veggie tray with dip, for munching on while we wait for the bird to finish roasting. I usually make a pumpkin pie (with fresh pumpkin), and either cupcakes or cookies for the kids.

The last two years, we've gone to my SIL's for Thanksgiving (since FIL was diagnosed with cancer). MIL made the turkey & dressing, and at least 2 pies, my two SIL's made most of the sides, and then I was asked to bring a veggie tray or an apple pie, and I usually made both. My other SIL brought some sort of dessert last year, and I think one person ate some.

I'm not sure what's going to happen this year though. It doesn't appear that my father in law is going to be with us much longer, maybe a month or so, if we're lucky (but stranger things have happened). But for right now, I'm going to plan on us being at home this Thanksgiving with me cooking.

If I end up cooking the whole dinner, I figure it cost us around $20 or so.