Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

So, due to some complicated family drama, I am hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year!! It will be about 25 people, 10 of which are kids.

I HAVE QUESTIONS!!!!!

How many pounds of turkey do I need?

Does anyone have an awesome and not too difficult stuffing recipe?

Talk to me about making gravy... how hard is it? I've seen people do it and it looks complicated.

Can I freeze blueberry, apple, and pumpkin pies in advance?

I do not have china and silverware for all these people. How tacky is it to go plastic?

ETA: TIA!!!!

Message edited 11/1/2010 10:55:17 AM.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

I would get a 20lb + turkey.

I like the stove top stuffing

Gravy isn't that difficult to make, but I buy the jarred stuff since I like that better.

Yes, you can freeze pies. Just make sure you keep them out long enough to defrost!

I don't think it's tacky to go with plastic. It will definitely make it much easier for clean up. Just make sure you get the sturdy stuff.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

I make my stuffing in the crockpot to free up oven space
http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/slow-cooker-stuffing-2/Detail.aspx

Gravy - I used canned

I think plasticware is fine - maybe decorated plasticware?

HTH

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

costco has nice plasticware that we used for our rehearsal dinner! it's white with a silver rim (looks like nice china but it's plastic) and comes in a pack of service for 20 people or something like that for $15

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

I would pre-order a 20 lbs turkey. Although it is more expensive, I would get the empire one as it is pre-brined and will save you a lot of time. Do you have a fat skimmer or gravy seperator? Oxo sells one, and you can take the juices from the bottom of the turkey pan, take out the fat, put in a little wondra flour to thicken it, and strain for lumps.
In my house, I make stuffing outside of the bird as I don't like the idea of cross contamination.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

This stuffing is easy to make and my family goes nuts over it every year. I usually leave our the cranberries.

Sausage and Herb Stuffing


Ingredients:
• 16 cups 1-inch bread cubes, white or sourdough (1 ½ pound loaf)
• 8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 2 cups medium-diced yellow onion (2 onions)
• 1 cup medium-diced celery (2 stalks)
• 2 Granny Smith apples, unpeeled, cored and large-diced
• 2 tablespoons chopped flat-leaf parsley
• 1 tablespoon kosher salt
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• ¾ pound sweet or spicy Italian sausage, casings removed
• 1 cup chicken stock
• 1 cup dried cranberries


Directions:

Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

Place the bread cubes in a single layer on a sheet pan and bake for 7 minutes. Raise the oven temperature to 350 degrees F. Remove the bread cubes to a very large bowl.

Meanwhile, in a large sauté pan, melt the butter and add the onions, celery, apples, parsley, salt and pepper. Sauté over medium heat for 10 minutes until the vegetables are softened. Add to the bread cubes.

In the same sauté pan, cook the sausage over medium heat for about 10 minutes, until browned and cooked through, breaking up the sausage with a fork while cooking. Add to the bread cubes and vegetables.

Add the chicken stock and cranberries to the mixture. Mix well, and pour into a 9x12 baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes, until browned on top and hot in the middle. Serve warm.


Like a PP said, BJs or Costco has plasticware that looks just like regular dishes. They even have silverware that is silver like regular silverware.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

I use the costco white and silver plates all the time. So easy... For the stuffing I use the peperidge farm ag and add stuff to it. I double the amount of chicken stock, onions and celery and sometimes add dried fruit.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

Honestly, I am doing Chinette this year! I'd rather be WITH my family than with my dishes.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

Gravynis not that hard to make, although it takes. Little practice. But IMO it doesn't even compare to canned gravy. IL's use canned gravy and it doesn't even feel like thanksgiving with it to me.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

First time out of gate -
I'd agree w/ the Price Club "China"

Gravy - get a jar of gravy and add some pan drippings from the turkey (no fat) and some italian herbs

Stuffing - Stove top - cook w/chicken/turkey broth. Put on a sheet pan and brown for a little bit after its cooked to get some crunchies.

Unless you have the time and money to practice, this is how I'd approach it.

I don't see why you can't freeze pies - mrs Smith does!!!

Message edited 11/2/2010 1:12:33 PM.

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

They have decorative plastic for holidays at national liquidators that is so nice, noone would ever notice

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

Re: Halloween is over, so it's time for Thanksgiving questions!!!

You can make quite a few of the "sides" a day or two before so you don't have so much to do that day. I am not having it this year but I usually make:

1. Stuffing (Rachael Ray's Stuffin' Muffin recipe)
2. Mashed Potatoes
3. String bean casserole (I put it together the night before - put the crunchy onions on and bake T-Day)
4. Peas & Carrots - can be microwaved
5. Sweet Potatoe casserole - made and I put the marshmallows on the day of and bake
6. Pillsbury biscuits - easy enough to do that day and warm up later on - or put in while you take the turkey out to "rest" before you carve it up

I don't know what else you are planning to make - any veggies can be made in the microwave - BirdEye has a great broccoli/cheese - it's frozen and goes in the micro.

As pp said - all the wholesale places - bj's ,etc. have the really nice plastic dishes, forks, etc.

Also, I would recommend for that many people - if you have a Dunkin' Donuts near you - get the Box O' Joe - a few of them for dessert. You can go that morning and "order it" and they will have it ready for you at whatever time you say you are coming to get it.

Good luck!!