Thanksgiving with my family seems to be different every year. The menu is pretty traditional, but my parents have always opened up our home to anyone for the holidays. I love that about my family. My sisters and I always had friends over and several were adopted the title "our other daughter" by my dad.
So this year our group will consist of my parents, my sister Mary, my sister Emily and her husband Chase, his parents and grandmother, my aunt, my dad's 2 cousins and their family. So that equals about 16 people. The more the merrier!
Anyways.....I offered to come up with the menu and do most of the cooking. I'm pretty sure my mom didn't even think for 30 seconds before saying YES! Soooo, I thought I would share my menu, just in case you need some inspiration. I even gave you links to the recipes I'm using. So hear we go.....
The Bird
Thank goodness my dad is smoking a turkey, so I don't have to worry about the "Main Event"
The GOOD STUFFing
I say the good stuff, because dressing is my favorite part of Thanksgiving. I prefer the white bread version, my dad likes cornbread dressing, so my mom is making the cornbread stuff and my sister is trying a crockpot version of the white bread version.
Green Bean Casserole
No canned stuff here! I'm actually making this from scratch! I just finished making the cream of mushroom and it is smooth and oh so rich!
Honey Glazed Carrots
I'm not a huge fan of cooked carrots, but these are tooooo yummy. I think they would be a good replacement for sweet potato casserole, that is if you dare to replace sweet potato casserole.
Sweet Potato Casserole
So about that Sweet Potato Casserole...........I'm not making it....either my sis Mary is or someone is bringing it. Nothing against it....just choosing to let someone else make it.
Mashed Potatoes
Have you ever baked your mashed potatoes? I think this is key to amazing, creamy, melt in your mouth mashed potatoes. Ok maybe the butter, cream cheese and half and half have something to do with it. Thank you Pioneer Woman!
Broccoli Salad
This has become a tradition at our family Thanksgivings. This recipe is pretty close to what we make with the exception of the pine nuts. Plus, don't you feel healthier if you have a dish that's called a "salad".
Cranberry Sauce
So tell me this, do you really like cranberry sauce? I mean I know its tradition, but I'm not crazy about it. I made this a few years ago, because I just couldn't put a can of what looks like red jello on a plate and call it a dish. It actually was quite a hit!
Dinner Rolls
Why not? Don't you have to have at least 3 carbs for the Thanksgiving meal?
And the finale........DESSERT! We are actually going to be going to my brother-in-law's parent's house for dessert, so I offered to bring this, but really I've just wanted an excuse to make Pumpkin Bread Pudding. I decided not to make both sauces, sorry but it just seems like too much. I made the pumpkin bread today and it is delish!
So what are you making for Thanksgiving?
Much thanks to the following for inspiring my Thanksgiving Menu:
Martha Stewart's Everyday Food Magazine
Pioneer Woman Cooks (love her and her cookbook!)
Food Network and Bobby Flay
