Need help with a menu? Here are my simplified menu for 4-6 people, and my traditional menu for 12.
Here’s my simplified traditional menu –
(average 4-6 people)
10-12 lb. Turkey (figure 2 lb. per person)
Stuffing
Gravy
Mashed potatoes (or not)
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Marshmallow topping
Green beans with almonds or Green bean casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Croissants (or rolls)
Pickles, olives
Green onions
Birthday Cake (my daughter’s birthday is on the 25th)
Pumpkin Pie
What about a bigger crowd?
Here’s my traditional menu – this one was the standard for many years.
(average 12 people)
24 lb. Turkey
Stuffing
Gravy
Mashed potatoes (or not)
Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Toasted Marshmallow topping
Glazed carrots,
Green beans with almonds or Green bean casserole
Cranberry Sauce
Croissants (or rolls)
Pickles, olives
Green onions
Birthday Cake (my daughter’s birthday is on the 25th)
Pumpkin Pie
Lemon Meringue Pie (only if sister comes and brings it)
When else can you load people up on all these healthy foods? And they love it! Turkey, sweet potatoes, cranberries, carrots, green vegetables … Heck, everything on this dinner plan except the stuffing, gravy, and desserts is good for you.
So here is my shopping list for this week:
Foil Roasting Pan (cook and toss)
Aluminum Foil
1-2* bags, Brownberry Stuffing (yeah, I cheat here)
2-4* packages French’s Turkey Gravy mix. For homemade gravy- Cornstarch or flour. It’s a good idea to have mix on hand, just in case! Laureys is full of icky stuff.
Bag of Marshmallows
Brown Sugar
1 small bag slivered almonds
Large bag of Green Beans (for green bean casserole.)
1-2* packages frozen cranberries
1 can Fried Onion Rings (for green bean casserole)
2 cans mushroom soup (for green bean casserole)
2 cans Black olives
1 jar green olives
5 lbs. of Butter (I know. Any left can be used for cookies)
Can of Whipped Cream (it will hold up fine) or you can make your own. Its easy.
Lemon Juice for lemonade, or tea for iced tea, or both for Arnold Palmers.
Wine
Coffee
Flavored Creamers
Dinner Napkins
Dish Soap
Paper towels
Toilet Paper
*Use the smaller amount for the smaller menu
I’m also assuming you have the seasonings you need – but you may want to double check your recipes. You can find all of my recipes here if you need them.
Also check bath soap, shampoo and toothpaste. You don’t want to run out of these things if people stay over. I like to have a couple of extra toothbrushes on hand too.
If you want to be a really great host/hostess, go to the sample size aisle and buy small deodorants, mouthwash, etc. for guests to use.
Note: Someone else usually brings the jello mold and lemon pie. I order the croissants and birthday cake. I used to make all the desserts too, but then I got smarter 😉 Ask people to bring things like wine, pop, rolls,… If you don’t like baking, ask someone who is good at it to make a favorite dessert.
Now if you’ve been on my list for a few years, this menu looks pretty familiar. Whenever we start talking about Thanksgiving dinner, everyone starts bringing up their favorite dishes. If you don’t have it for them, they’re going to be upset. They want their favorites, so don’t upset the apple cart!
We’ve had people try trendier things – spicier turkey, weird stuffings, fried turkey, and so on. It doesn’t fly. Don’t beat yourself up trying to come up with something new and different.
The menu has been trimmed over the years. If I can get away with no mashed potatoes, I do. Do we really need stuffing and sweet potatoes, and mashed potatoes? I’ll actually pick 2 or 3 vegetable dishes depending on how many people are coming.
So what does that leave for the next shopping list? Not much:
Turkey
Bag of baby carrots
Green beans
4 – 6 Large Sweet Potatoes
5 lb. bag of potatoes
Green onions
Milk
Eggnog (not good for you, but …)
Just think, this year you can actually enjoy dinner!
