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Post by meeggaannw on Nov 9, 2017 20:06:23 GMT -6
My mom has asked me to take thanksgiving off her plate which I'm happy to do but a little nervous about. It's just our immediate family and my younger brother and his wife won't be there so it's only 17 people but I've never hosted a holiday meal. We also have lived in our house 3+ years and I have only decorated the entryway and dd's room. I feel the need to completely decorate my house on top of deep cleaning and cooking the whole meal. I'm a little overwhelmed but also welcoming the distraction.
Anyway let's talk about the day and maybe share some favorite recipes?
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Lakes
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Post by Lakes on Nov 10, 2017 5:49:06 GMT -6
I've only ever hosted Easter which isn't as complicated because I didn't have to cook the ham. I'd find one of those Thanksgiving timelines because I'm awful at planning out cooking times when multiple things need oven time. I made as much as possible the day before, squash and sweet potatoe etc, so I only had to heat it up.
Maple butternut squash is a favorite here! Roast the squash, mash, add in some butter and maple syrup.
For decorations I focus on just one room so maybe pick the dining room or living room if you'll be hanging out there. Thanksgiving is a tough one to decorate for imo. I'd have your dd make some turkey handcrafts for some fun decorations!
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carrots
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Post by carrots on Nov 10, 2017 13:13:06 GMT -6
meeggaannw I have the exact same panic any time I host something at my house and then want to buy new furniture and actually decorate and then finally realize that I'm being crazy. So I would say let the decorating go - as long as everybody has somewhere to sit, you're good! If you need extra seating, maybe borrow a folding card table or two from friends? I like Lakes' suggestion to find a day of timeline online to prioritize your oven timing. I'm currently trying to find some new side dishes to bring to my MIL's house. She usually does all the cooking and doesn't stick to a traditional Thanksgiving meal (outside of the turkey) so I'm feeling some pressure to do something different than my normal sweet potato casserole.
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Lakes
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Post by Lakes on Nov 10, 2017 14:34:49 GMT -6
Mil makes a really good roasted brussel sprouts with bacon and a delicious salad with cranberries, pecans, goat cheese, and a maple vinaigrette.
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Lakes
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Post by Lakes on Nov 10, 2017 18:47:53 GMT -6
Corn pudding!
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peaseblossom55
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Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear.
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Post by peaseblossom55 on Nov 10, 2017 19:51:23 GMT -6
Anytime I've hosted my mom does the cooking. Green bean casserole is always good. I've done mashed sweet potatoes, I roasted the potatoes with cinnamon until soft and I mix with coconut milk, regular milk works too.
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Post by meeggaannw on Nov 10, 2017 20:22:02 GMT -6
I talked with my SIL for a couple hours last night and corn pudding was on the menu and we nixed it, haha. It is one of my favorites so I might have to sneak it back in. I've done a little research on what can be made ahead of time and actually got green bean casserole in the freezer today. So I'll just have to thaw and top day of.
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Post by meeggaannw on Nov 10, 2017 20:25:28 GMT -6
meeggaannw I have the exact same panic any time I host something at my house and then want to buy new furniture and actually decorate and then finally realize that I'm being crazy. So I would say let the decorating go - as long as everybody has somewhere to sit, you're good! If you need extra seating, maybe borrow a folding card table or two from friends? . Crazy is a good way to describe it, haha. And I can use my moms extra tables and chairs. Thanks for helping bring me back down to earth. I sat down tonight and divided out a daily agenda to get everything ready, if a little decorating happens, awesome; if not, that's okay too.
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Post by meeggaannw on Nov 10, 2017 20:26:34 GMT -6
Anytime I've hosted my mom does the cooking. Green bean casserole is always good. I've done mashed sweet potatoes, I roasted the potatoes with cinnamon until soft and I mix with coconut milk, regular milk works too. I might use this for my mom. She is the sweet potato eater and is also dairy free so coconut milk would be great. I wonder if I can make this day before.
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carrots
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Post by carrots on Nov 10, 2017 20:37:02 GMT -6
Glad you're feeling good about your plan! You've got this!
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peaseblossom55
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Hope. It is the only thing stronger than fear.
Posts: 1,461 Likes: 3,090
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Post by peaseblossom55 on Nov 11, 2017 22:13:17 GMT -6
Anytime I've hosted my mom does the cooking. Green bean casserole is always good. I've done mashed sweet potatoes, I roasted the potatoes with cinnamon until soft and I mix with coconut milk, regular milk works too. I might use this for my mom. She is the sweet potato eater and is also dairy free so coconut milk would be great. I wonder if I can make this day before. I don't see why not.
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Post by judyblume14 on Nov 13, 2017 9:57:17 GMT -6
meeggaannw, definitely do NOT redecorate your house. Definitely DO ask for family to pitch in with a few sides/ dessert. And if you're cooking the turkey, buy one NOW. frozen turkeys take approximately 17 weeks to thaw.
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ellabee
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Post by ellabee on Nov 13, 2017 13:37:02 GMT -6
Homemade cranberry sauce - SO easy and can be made in advance!
1c water, 1c sugar, heat until dissolved. 3c cranberries, bring to a boil. After 8-10 minutes, add zest of 1 orange.
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carrots
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Post by carrots on Nov 13, 2017 18:36:01 GMT -6
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Post by pibblemom on Nov 13, 2017 22:55:20 GMT -6
Anytime I've hosted my mom does the cooking. Green bean casserole is always good. I've done mashed sweet potatoes, I roasted the potatoes with cinnamon until soft and I mix with coconut milk, regular milk works too. I might use this for my mom. She is the sweet potato eater and is also dairy free so coconut milk would be great. I wonder if I can make this day before. I've used almond milk in a crock pot sweet potato casserole and it came out amazing. I'm a weirdo that LOVES hosting big meals at my house, especially thanksgiving (eve) and Christmas Eve. I set up a menu and break it down by how long each takes to cook and how it is cooked. Stuffing gets done first because I like stuffing my bird. Once the turkey is in the oven, I usually get my crock pot sweet potatoes on, then peel white potatoes for mashing, and everything else seems to fall into place. I don't cook any desserts, and buy frozen corn, grands biscuits, and pre-chopped lettuce for salad. My mom is the queen of green bean casserole so she brings that. Day of stuff is always done with Hs family, so we invite my family (of whom only a few show) and mostly friends for the Eve dinners. Christmas Eve last year we had 25 in my house 😂😂
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