Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

We decided to host Thanksgiving this year and make the majority of the meal since next year we'll have a baby and there's no way we'd be doing that

I'll be making a number of things I've never made before (got some recipes from wonderful LIFers including Maybeamommy and DPerotti).

Going through the list though, I've just realized that I'll be cooking for a WHILE. Standing. Pregnant. Umm, my back hurts after standing for like 20 minutes. I will try to rest in between when I can, but the last couple of hours I feel like I'll be constantly checking the oven, stirring stuff on the pot, etc.

Anyone else cooking a big meal? We're having about 10 people total. How are you planning on making it through?

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

GOD BLESS YOU!!!

I could NEVER do that big meal!

I make dinner regularly and I am dead when I am done!

I am going to both my inlaws and my mothers house..we split the day!

Good luck to you!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

NOt doing thanksgiving, but Dh and I do Christmas. But, Dh is a BIG help and so is my mom, even when I'm not Preggo. And it's not much standing since I do a roast and chicken parm and stuffed rigatoni (Which all just bake). the sides are easy.

Can anyone help you? Try to prepare as much as you can the night before to ease the stress for yourself.

GOOD LUCK!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

I am hosting Thanksgiving I plan on resting and cooking do my baking on wed. and then the meal on thursday this way i wont be too over whelmed

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Yep - we usually do Xmas, but we are going on vacay until the 22nd, so I switched with my Aunts o I wouldn't have to stress about doing everything when I get home. We are having 17 ppl over.

I'm not really worried about it. My parents are bringing and making the turkey and the rest shouldn't be bad. I plan on trying to get a lot of stuff done the night before and setting the table on Tuesday night.

Other than my sciatica, I feel fine. Plus I know everyone will jump in to help. I am sure your family will do the same

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Wow your awesome. I refused to have Thanksgiving at our apt this year. I even had BIL offer to do all the cooking. The thought of just cleaning before the holiday, and then after made me exhausted. Luckily DH has his last exam for the academy the day after so he needs it to be quiet here so he can focus & study. I now I am a wimp I am going to make a dessert to bring over.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

I'll be cooking thanksgiving this year. It's very important to DH because his family never really did family meals for holidays, so I'm sucking it up for him lol.

I'm not looking forward to cooking, as I can barely grill chicken without getting sick, but my mom will be here if I need some help. I'll be cooking for about 10-12 people, and DH will be watching our 11 month old DS.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

I am not cooking for Thanksgiving (probably just making a dessert) but I am cooking for Christmas Day and not looking forward to it one bit!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

I am! Ill be 36 weeks but I figured I wont be doing this again until we get a house (we're in a little co-op now)
Im having 12 people. My mom is cooking the turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes and I am making everything else.
I am trying to make some things ahead of time, like last week I made and froze the lasagne.
The rest of my menu is:
mashed potatoes
stuffed mushrooms
green bean casserole
cranberry compote
biscuits
cheese platter (for appetizer)

ETA: Another ay Im making it through....I told everyone I am NOT washing all those dishes by hand so they will have to deal with eating off paper plates (my family HATES doing this, but oh well), but i actually found cutlery that looks like silverware and plastic plates that look like crystal.

Message edited 11/19/2009 12:18:19 PM.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

DH is off on Thanksgiving (he usually works every holiday) so that was another plus for us hosting AND cooking. Last year we hosted the ENTIRE family (about 25 people) but I only made the rice and dessert and everyone else brought something so it wasn't so bad.

We are planning on doing all the cleaning between now and Wednesday, setting up the table on Wednesday evening, and then doing all the cooking on Thursday.

We are seasoning the turkey ahead of time. What else can I do ahead of time to save time on Thursday? Seems like everything else just needs to be MADE (stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, dessert)... and the turkey will be taking up most of our fridge until we cook it on Thursday, so I don't think we'll have room to store much of anything else.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Yes and it's starting to really irritate me.

We invited my FIL, who at first said he wasn't going to stay for dinner. So fine, it was going to be 6 of us plus DD which fit perfectly in my SMALL dining room.

Now, not only is FIL staying for dinner he's bringing his brand new fiance (???) and her 2 kids. And he never mentioned anything about it until DH asked him yesterday. I live in an apartment - I don't even have enough CHAIRS for the people coming and he wasn't going to even tell me!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Message edited 11/19/2009 12:23:02 PM.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Yesi-I made Rosh Hashanah and I was about as far along as you. Here is my advice-drink water while you cook and take frequent breaks to sit. Anything you can do while sitting-peeling mixing, etc, do it!

Also stagger what you make so you can throw a few things in at once.

I am not hosting Thanksgiving, but I am making Pumpkin Bread (my BFF Anne's recipe) and another dessert! If you want my pumpkin bread recipe, FM me!

And if you got maybeamommy's baked mac and cheese recipe-OMG so good!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Nope thank god for our italian aunt!!!!!!! God I love that woman!!!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Posted by LoveyQ

Posted by JennB

I am! Ill be 36 weeks but I figured I wont be doing this again until we get a house (we're in a little co-op now)
Im having 12 people. My mom is cooking the turkey, stuffing and sweet potatoes and I am making everything else.
I am trying to make some things ahead of time, like last week I made and froze the lasagne.
The rest of my menu is:
mashed potatoes
stuffed mushrooms
green bean casserole
cranberry compote
biscuits
cheese platter (for appetizer)

ETA: Another ay Im making it through....I told everyone I am NOT washing all those dishes by hand so they will have to deal with eating off paper plates (my family HATES doing this, but oh well), but i actually found cutlery that looks like silverware and plastic plates that look like crystal.

OMG, for a second I thought you were cooking for 36 people!

This is my menu:

Turkey
Spanish rice (we're hispanic, you can't have a holiday meal without spanish rice)
Sweet potatoes with marshmallows
Creamed spinach
Green bean casserole
Stuffing
Salad (greens etc)
Homemade flan
Storebought pumpkin pie

My mom is making a Pernil (pork) and my MIL is making potato salad.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Posted by LoveyQ

DH is off on Thanksgiving (he usually works every holiday) so that was another plus for us hosting AND cooking. Last year we hosted the ENTIRE family (about 25 people) but I only made the rice and dessert and everyone else brought something so it wasn't so bad.

We are planning on doing all the cleaning between now and Wednesday, setting up the table on Wednesday evening, and then doing all the cooking on Thursday.

We are seasoning the turkey ahead of time. What else can I do ahead of time to save time on Thursday? Seems like everything else just needs to be MADE (stuffing, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, creamed spinach, dessert)... and the turkey will be taking up most of our fridge until we cook it on Thursday, so I don't think we'll have room to store much of anything else.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Yes we always host Thanskgiving... Just may not have as large as a crowd as usual being I am due any moment DH is a HUGE help with everything though so it will all work out

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

i wanted to but our renovations got slowed down so we don't have any furniture! good luck!!!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

It's just going to be 5 of us... my mom and I will be cooking!

I'm hoping next year we can host it for real though!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Posted by maybeamommy

It's just going to be 5 of us... my mom and I will be cooking!

I'm hoping next year we can host it for real though!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

GOOD LUCK!

I would usually host things like this, I love to cook elaborate meals, decorate the place and host. But I'm pregnant, so no f-ing way am I putting myself up to the work. And if I simplify I just wont be happy with myself. I'm making it a point to DH that we should go out for dinner on Thanksgiving.

One bit of advice, cook as much s you can the day or two before. Hosting is as big a job as cooking sometimes. Microwaves are godsend for things like heating up mashed potatoes from the day before.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

We divide the holidays between my mother, MIL and I (we celebrate together) and I have Easter which I am not happy about. Will be 7 months then!

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

we're hosting thanksgiving...10 ppl. im excited to use our fine china.

we did it once before we got married.

dh is into cooking so we help each other.

i like to bake as well but decided to let my dad bring stuff instead.

Re: Is anyone cooking for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving is at my house but i dont plan on lifting a finger I will be 37 weeks pregnant and i am sooo tired so my mil is doing everything