Post your favorite T-day family recipes.......I could use ideas

[Teakafrog]

Think non-traditional and ethnic foods too. DH’s family is German, and we always have real German sausage for the holidays. I’m so used to it now, it’ll seem weird to go to my family’s this year (since we moved) and not have sausage! Try something like that, that is traditional for your background, or just one dish that is ‘different’ than the norm. It may be the surprise hit!

 

[juno24]

How does this recipe taste with just regular white/wheat bread crumbs? The ILs don’t like cornbread or potato bread or any kind of bread that isn’t Wonder Bread. I love homemade stuffing, especially sausage stuffing, but no one can find my Great Grandma’s recipe…

It’s great with white bread. Just make sure the bread you use is good and stale. The recipe that was posted is almost the same as the one I have used for years (with only slight differences), and I use white bread cubes or crumbs. I usually buy them by the bag, but if you are inclined to make your own the easiest way to make them stale is lightly toast them a day or 2 before you want to make the stuffing, cut them into cubes and let them sit uncovered until you are ready to use them. They will get nice and stale that way.

 

[Giannawannabe]

… the easiest way to make them stale is lightly toast them a day or 2 before you want to make the stuffing, cut them into cubes and let them sit uncovered until you are ready to use them. They will get nice and stale that way.

OH MY!! Thank you for this tip. I probably would’ve set the bread out for a few days without toasting it, and had nice green, moldy bread…hmmmm, maybe MIL has a point about my cooking

 

[lifeisbeautiful]

Last year I asked for sweet potato.yam recipes and got some very yummy ones… I ended up using more than one of these recipes and people liked the recipes (thanks again ) forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=85316

 

[mary_bobo]

Ain’t this the truth!!! I had T-day with a new baby and a toddler one year. MIL was mad all day because I didn’t prepare the turkey the way she liked. She still brings it up. I cried all night after she left. It took everything I had to make that stupid turkey and stuffing. I had about 1 hour of sleep, as baby was colicky, and IMO everything turned out great. It’s my turn to have it again, and I’m trying to mentally prepare myself! In fact, I think I will call all the SILs today and tell them what they are going to bring. The only thing I am doing is the turkey/stuffing, and I’m making it the way I want.
(Sorry for the rant… )

I think I would very sweetly ask MIL that since she does turkey so well you would appreciate it if she did the turkey and brought it with her. You could even have other family members bring things too. That way no one has the whole burden and can enjoy the day together (I hope).

If you need a good recipe with yams and apples, nut, raisins, etc., let me know.

 

[bjj]

Waldrof salad, sweet potatoe casserole with mini marshmallows, raspberry/pineapple jell-o, asparagus rice risetto. If anything sounds good pm for the recipes. Good luck, picky eaters are the pits!

 

[juno24]

OH MY!! Thank you for this tip. I probably would’ve set the bread out for a few days without toasting it, and had nice green, moldy bread…hmmmm, maybe MIL has a point about my cooking

Hey, what’s a little mold amongst family? Just tell MIL that it is your own “secret ingredient”!! LOL.

 

[Mummybee]

If your in-laws are adamant that the mashed potatoes be real (not instant), you can make them in advance and use your crock pot to re-heat them/keep them warm. You just lube up the sides of the crock w/butter, put the potatoes in and set it to low. Stir it every now and then to make sure they heat through, and check to see if you need to add a little milk. Maybe hubby could make them for you the day before, and then you just need to throw them in the crock pot an hour or so before you sit down to eat.

(You’d mentioned crock-pot recipes would be good.)

Regarding their demand for stove top stuffing, I have this to say:
Eeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwwwwwww. Not to judge anyone or anything, but that really says a lot! Of course, you could still stuff teh bird and save the good stuff for yourself!

I would keep the meal simple and satisfying, but honestly, with a baby that nurses every hour, they shouldn’t even be imposing on you. THat’s just not fair. On the bright side, maybe they like other processed foods, too, which would lessen your time in the kitchen.

OH! I almost forgot! MARKET DAY!!! They have a lot of great T-Day sides you can order and even (shhh, don’t let anyone hear this…)…nuke. They have really good sweet potatoes, corn souffle, etc. If your parish doesn’t do the Market Day thing, there are lots of other parishes in your area who do, I’m sure. Check out their website. They also ship direct, but the list of offerings for that option are limited.

www.marketday.com

One more thing. Lots of grocery stores, delis, and restaurants offer a full pre-cooked T-Day meal. They also sell sides (one year, many moons ago, we ordered our sides from Dean and Deluca, back when we worked in NYC. It was a splurge, but amazing!!!) That’s what we’re doing this year. I love to cook, but we’re going 2 hours away to my MIL’s, and she is not able to cook. Prices for a meal to serve 6-8 run between $49 and $75. The one we’re getting is $64.99, includes a 10-12lb bird, stuffing, potatoes, gravy, cranberry relish, green beans, apples and yams, dozen rolls, pie, etc.

Good luck!!!

 

[Giannawannabe]

I think I would very sweetly ask MIL that since she does turkey so well you would appreciate it if she did the turkey and brought it with her. You could even have other family members bring things too. That way no one has the whole burden and can enjoy the day together (I hope).

If you need a good recipe with yams and apples, nut, raisins, etc., let me know.

The second time I had Thanksgiving, she beat me to the punch!! She told me that SHE was bring the turkey, so I didn’t have to “worry” about it!!! OUCH!!!
This year, I called the SILs and MIL and they are all bringing a dish to pass. I’m still in charge of turkey/stuffing and a couple of other things.
Unfortunately the ILs are Stove Top stuffing, no yams, no salad type people. I LOVE yams myself, but I will just make one for myself…Thanks for the advice!

 

[Giannawannabe]

Hey, what’s a little mold amongst family? Just tell MIL that it is your own “secret ingredient”!! LOL.

LOL------ Sorry for hijacking masondoggy!! I wish I had some good recipes for you…as you can tell here, I can’t even cook a turkey right!!! I’ll stop posting now, and just see if I can read about some good T-day family recipes…

 

[Ma.Eugenia]

Fettucine Salad

8 oz. Fettuccine
1/2 C. Mayo
1/2 C. Frozen Corn
1/4 C. Grated Parmesan Cheese
1/2 tsp. Garlic Powder
1 tsp. Fresh Cracked Pepper
Salt to taste

Cook pasta according to directions. Drain. Mix pasta and corn in a bowl. Mix together the mayo, cheese, garlic powder, and pepper. Combine the pasta, and sauce, and mix well. Salt to taste. This is best if refrigerated for a couple of hours before serving.

This looks like a good, simple (but different) recipe I could try out. I live in the Philippines and I like to try out recipes with ingredients that are available here.

I never thought I could make a salad out of fettucini noodles. Looks very interesting.

Thanks for the recipe.

 

[maggieodae]

We’re having dinner at my house this year. I am such a pitiful cook.

DH will be frying a turkey. His family is pretty picky about their holiday meals and I’m tired of the same old thing. They won’t eat homemade stuffing, it has to be stove-top.

So anyway…I’d like to do something different with the green beans or maybe some other side dishes. (preferably something to do in the crockpot…baby nursing every hour this is going to be a busy chore)

Ideas…or just share your favorite family recipe for T-day.

I just watched this show the other day. Awesome ideas.

Rachael Ray’s Thanksgiving in 60

 

[mary_bobo]

This looks like a good, simple (but different) recipe I could try out. I live in the Philippines and I like to try out recipes with ingredients that are available here.

I never thought I could make a salad out of fettucini noodles. Looks very interesting.

Thanks for the recipe.

How about kidney bean salad. Can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed with cold water. Set aside, dice onion, green pepper and add to beans. Add several tablespoons of sweet pickle cubes, Add enough Miracle Whip to hold together. Chill before serving.

 

[Ma.Eugenia]

How about kidney bean salad. Can light red kidney beans, drained and rinsed with cold water. Set aside, dice onion, green pepper and add to beans. Add several tablespoons of sweet pickle cubes, Add enough Miracle Whip to hold together. Chill before serving.

Hi mary bobo,

Thanks for giving me this recipe.

Red kidney beans are available in my country, but I’ve never heard it mixed with Miracle Whip. Another interesting recipe!

I’ve noticed that my family and relatives tend to appreciate more, foods that are different and new.

I want to “wow” them this Christmas so I’m practicing. But I usually choose simple recipes because I am not an expert in cooking.

Thanksgiving is not celebrated in my country, so our family reunions are Christmas/New Year’s eve and Christmas/New Year’s day which are national holidays.

Though, I would like to say “Happy Thanksgiving” to the OP and the rest of the posters here. Thank you for sharing this recipe with me, mary bobo.

Nice thread.

 

[Jennifer_J]

This is the yummiest sweet potatoe dish!

Streuseled Sweet Potato Casserole
14 cups (1-inch) cubed peeled sweet potato (about 5 pounds)
1/2 cup half-and-half
1/2 cup maple syrup
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 large egg, lightly beaten
Cooking spray
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chilled butter, cut into small pieces
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preheat oven to 375°.

Place potato in a Dutch oven, and cover with water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat; simmer 12 minutes or until tender. Drain.

Combine the half-and-half and next 4 ingredients (half-and-half through egg) in a large bowl, stirring with a whisk. Add potato to egg mixture; beat with a mixer at medium speed until smooth. Spoon potato mixture into a 13 x 9-inch baking dish coated with cooking spray.

Combine flour and sugar in a food processor; pulse to combine. Add chilled butter; pulse until mixture resembles coarse meal. Stir in pecans; sprinkle over potato mixture.

Cover and bake at 375° for 15 minutes. Uncover and bake an additional 25 minutes or until the topping is browned and the potatoes are thoroughly heated.

 

[bluerose]

This is a family staple… but it wasn’t until about 10 years ago when I found it in the Farm Journal’s Country Cookbook and made it. It’s called HOMEY SCALLOPED CORN. My family just calls it…

THE CORN STUFF

(serves 12)

8 slices bacon, chopped
2 1/2 cups crushed saltine crackers
1 large onion (white or yellow) chopped
4 eggs, beaten
2 15 oz. cans cream-style corn
2 cups milk
2 cups grated cheddar cheese
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. pepper

Cook bacon in large, deep skillet until crisp; remove from skillet. Combine 4 Tblsp. bacon drippings with 1/2 cup cracker crumbs; set aside.

Cook onion in remaining bacon drippings until tender. Add remaining crumbs; mix well until slightly browned.

Combine onion-crumb mixture with eggs, corn, milk, cheese, bacon, salt and pepper. Pour into greased 3-quart casserole (a 9x13 baking dish works best). Top with reserved crumbs. Bake at 350 degrees for about 1 hour or until knife inserted near center comes out clean.

Here’s how to make it easy on yourself*

Some of the prep work can be done well ahead of time: grate the cheese and measure it out into a ziploc bag. Crush the cracker crumbs and divide into bags as well. Chop the onion and set it aside. Then, except for the bacon (which would be hard to do ahead of time since you need the drippings for the recipe), you just pretty much throw it together in about fifteen minutes, then into the oven for an hour.

We delegate in our family: Mom and Dad make the turkey, gravy, and stuffing, BIL makes the mashed potatoes (homemade, not from a box, and yes he puts them in the crock pot), SIL makes the sweet potatoes and pies (apple, cherry and pecan) and I make THE CORN STUFF and the green bean casserole, plus the pumpkin, coconut cream and chocolate cream pies. I know it looks like I do a lot, but I don’t make my own pie crusts (like SIL does) and my casseroles involve a lot of opening of cans. This year, I’m thinking of delegating the casseroles to my husband and my 12-year-old son (especially the 12-year-old–he thinks he’s Emeril Lagasse), since I usually have to work Thanksgiving morning (at the WalMart bakery making pies for other people !) The dinner rolls are usually from WalMart–since I’m there anyway (white or wheat dinner rolls or yeasty dinner rolls).

Whatever you make, ENJOY!