GTKY: Thanksgiving food

[soultrane]

I'm excited to spend Thanksgiving with my family for the first time in a few years because I'll get to eat my traditional Thanksgiving dinner again. DH and I disagree on what constitutes a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I'm curious to hear what everyone here considers to be standard Thanksgiving food.


What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?

[twobananas]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving? Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes with marshmallows on top (half marshmallows and half this sweet but topping), gravy, stuffing, something green (I think last year we did brussel sprouts), cranberries

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? Sweet potato with marshmallows are my fav!

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving? My brother in law does a pea salad every year, so now we incorporate that into my families dishes too!

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? I love thanksgiving, can't wait for next week!

[soultrane]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Turkey, dumplings, mashed potatoes and gravy, mac n cheese, "pink stuff" which is totally a family thing, candied sweet potatoes, sweet potato biscuits, some sort of green veggie to balance the carbs, apple pie, pumpkin pie, and usually a lemon pound cake

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?
Mac n cheese - this thread was inspired by my first Thanksgiving with my ILs where there was no mac n cheese. I may have tearfully called my mom later that night to ask her to save me some of hers. I've made mac n cheese at my ILs every year since then. Thankfully, they welcomed the addition to the menu!

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?
Probably the pink stuff I mentioned above. It's a mix of strawberry jello, strawberries, and cool whip mixed together. It sounds weird, but it's delicious and became a tradition because none of my grandparents liked cranberry sauce.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?
I went to a Thanksgiving dinner once at a relative's house that was catered, complete with servers. The relative that was hosting was obviously trying to show off so dinner was delayed so she could do this long drawn-out toast and thanked the servers and it was all really uncomfortable. By the time we could eat, the food was cold. Our side of the family has offered to host every year since.

[soultrane]

twobananas, tell me more about this pea salad. Is it like broccoli salad? I made a broccoli and grape salad this summer that was awesome and I'm always looking for new ideas!

[athn64]

Omg. soultrane are we related? I my family does pink stuff too. I don't like it personally, but it's at every family function.

And I'll come back to actually answer the questions later

[cattuccino]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving? Turkey (and sometimes ham!), mashed potatoes, Stuffing, gravy, vegetables (carrots, corn, sometimes green beans) and or salad and coleslaw. And sometimes rolls. Pumpkin pie!

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? It might be a tie between Gravy and stuffing.

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving? One year H's aunt did a beef roast. It didn't feel right.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? I can't think of any!

[soultrane]

athn64, not gonna lie, I totally just looked at the pinned GTKY post to see where you're from, because I've never met anyone outside of my family who knows what I'm talking about!

[Kevinmac]

What does your family serve? We spend it with ILs- there is always turkey, mashed potatoes, corn, gravy, stuffing, some broccoli rice stuff, MIL makes turnips too. Since I started going I always make green bean casserole.
I'm hosting this year (MIL is still doing the turkey, stuffing (I don't like hers), and rolls. I'm adding sweet potato casserole, some cauliflower casserole MIL wants, cranberry sauce, and butternut squash. I really miss my grandma's coleslaw we would always have. Maybe I'll call my aunt and get that recipe.

What is your must have dish? Green bean casserole for sure

Weirdest thing? Nothing strange, although I don't know why MIL makes turnips. Obviously I cut those from the menu this year.

Any anecdotes? I honestly don't like that much food for Thanksgiving. I'm happier this year since I'm in control of the sides. Turkey is just meh to me.

[soultrane]

Kevinmac, I'm with you on the turkey. I usually take a small helping of turkey and spend my time on everything else instead. But leftover turkey pot pie is my absolute favorite post-Thanksgiving meal!

[origamimommy]

1. Turkey, ham, rolls, mashed potatoes, gravy (homemade please), stuffing, Giblet noodles, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, Mac n cheese, baked Brie, and always pie.

2. My must haves are the Giblet noodles and green bean casserole.

3. My in laws make a rice stuffing. It's gross. They also do scalloped instead of mashed potatoes, and they call green bean casserole green bean goop. Drives me fucking crazy. And my MIL makes green bean casserole with frozen green beans. Come on, it's not thanksgiving without canned green beans, right?!

4. I sound like I'm bashing my in laws but really we're very close to them and they're typically really awesome. I just hate HATE holidays with them. Last year was my first year hosting thanksgiving and FIL brought a fucking steak to grill out on the deck because he didn't want turkey. Oh, I'm sorry. I don't like turkey either bitch but it's thanksgiving so suck it up and eat what I cooked.

This year they made a BFD about having it at their house again and H has asked me to bring stuffing, noodles, and mashed potatoes since they don't make those things. Also they're serving prime rib. On thanksgiving.

[bgkc4]

We typically have turkey, gravy, stuffing, baked mac n cheese, candied yams, collard greens, string beans (no casserole), rolls (though this year I've asked my mom to add cornbread too, *pregnancy craving), mashed potatoes, apple pie, sweet potatoe pie, and some sort of cake (this year will be cheesecake).

I absolutely have to have the mac n cheese. That's a necessity.

The weirdest thing I've ever had was a bean salad one year at my MIL's house. It was a cold salad made up of a mixture of different beans. It didn't taste bad, but it was an odd addition to Thanksgiving dinner.

[frecklesnbrains]

1. Turkey, gravy, stuffing, cranberry relish, mashed potatoes, squash, other veggie (peas, brussel sprouts, beans, etc), pumpkin, apple, AND pecan pies!

2. STUFFING OMG STUFFING! MORE STUFFING!!!

3. Honestly I can't remember ever being served something strange at Thanksgiving, but I've also only ever been with my family.

4. I have strong feelings about the following: a) I don't like casseroles, and b) cranberry sauce should not come from a jar. I freely admit to being a food snob - sorry!

[soultrane]

DUH, how did I forget stuffing?!? I was even looking at my list and was like "I feel like I'm missing something...nope, I guess I got everything!" In addition to all of the other carbs, we also have stuffing.

[frecklesnbrains]

Nov 21, 2015 18:56:06 GMT -5 soultrane said:

DUH, how did I forget stuffing?!? I was even looking at my list and was like "I feel like I'm missing something...nope, I guess I got everything!" In addition to all of the other carbs, we also have stuffing.

Stuffing is so essential. Sometimes I just want a whole plate of stuffing and potatoes smothered in gravy. I can take or leave the rest.

[vivela]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans, brussel sprouts, turnips, squash, peas, stuffing and a few pies and cakes for dessert - usually pumpkin and lemon meringue pie and a chocolate cake.

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?
My mom's gravy is unbelievable (as are her mashed potatoes). When we were kids we were allowed to pick any dinner on our birthdays, and I always chose Thanksgiving dinner. It was a very toned down version of course, but I did it for the gravy.

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?
Nothing particularly weird, but it is always "off" to eat other people's versions of Thanksgiving. I'm glad my parents always do it and it is too hard for us to get all the way to our ILs every year so we visit at a different time.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?
We've always had tons and tons of people so my Mom makes many pounds of potatoes. One year my uncle put the huge pot with the potatoes on the edge of the sink to pour out the boiling water and the side of the sink just broke off. My uncle ended up in the emergency room with some burns (nothing terrible, but painful). My parents got a sturdier sink after that.

[babyzebra]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Deep fried turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, a bunch of different casseroles, green bean casserole, rolls, pies, and lots more

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?
It's a tie between mashed potatoes and green bean casserole

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?
Are deviled eggs weird on Thanksgiving? Not sure

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?
Thanksgiving is always spent with my ILs since DH won't compromise on this holiday. It is always fun seeing the very intoxicated men gently lower the turkeys into the fryers. I know one year they're going to blow some stuff up!

[woodengirl07]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?

My family is pretty traditional. Turkey, dressing, potatoes, gravy, green beans, rolls, cranberry sauce, pies. And I'm sure like 20 things I forgot.

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?

Pumpkin pie!

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?

My in-laws don't always do turkey, and sometimes do ribs or brisket, which is weird to me.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?

Once I invited a friend for dinner and I asked her to bring rolls, but she decided to make muffins instead. But I guess she didn't have muffin tin, so she just baked the whole mess in a casserole dish. She didn't grease the dish and it was stuck so we had to serve it by basically using a spoon to pull out chunks of muffin.

[txmommy14]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving? I always have Thanksgiving with my DH's family since my family lives so far away. We have your typical spread of everything! I really hope turkey sounds good next week. I still can't eat meat without barfing.

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? Hmmmm....there's this strange dish with Ritz crackers, cheese, and pineapples that I LOVE!

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving? Hmmm not sure.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? I'm boring, I've got nothing! It's always a day of eating with lots of my DH's family, watching the Dallas Cowboys play football, and more eating and resting. Probably less resting now that we have a toddler...

[Deleted]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving? Stuffing, candied yams, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, corn, cranberry sauce, and rolls. For dessert we always have a chocolate cream pie.

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? Stuffing. I would be happy with only stuffing if it was all that was served.

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?
Fish, the first time I spent it with MH's family.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? We always watch the Detroit Lions and play board games. At my parents house, we usually have 20-30 people. It's very informal and a lot of fun.

[manybellsdown]

This thread got long, and it's making me so excited for Thanksgiving food.

1. Mashed potatoes and gravy, mac and cheese, a veggie or two that can vary, cranberries, rolls (though I do not understand rolls), pumpkin pie, some other dessert. When we eat on my mom's side, we have not pink stuff but orange stuff (the same sounding recipe with mandarin oranges instead) and green stuff (with pineapples and green jello). Delish.

2. Mashed potatoes and gravy. I was so sad one year when the ILs didn't make it. Cranberries. Mac and cheese is a DH-and-I tradition. My UO is that I really don't like stuffing and do not care if it's there.

Not sure I've ever been served something too weird! Everyone's pretty traditional.

[ArgyleEnigma]

manybellsdown you didn't understand rolls??? Any chance you're eating the wrong rolls?

I had no idea mac 'n' cheese was a thanksgiving thing at all, I'm so surprised to see so many of you mention it!

AFM, we have turkey, sometimes ham, cornbread, rolls, stuffing, corn, green beans, fruit salad, and twice-baked potatoes (a baked potato with the inside scooped out, turned into mashed potatoes, put back in and baked again). And then the desserts are a whole 'nother list.

My fave is stuffing and I am no connoisseur, I love the 99 cent Kraft box. No shame.

My ILs are all vegetarians and also kooky and non-traditional, so my one thanksgiving with them was BBQ skewers and s'mores. I loved it, but I'm looking forward to the traditional spread this year.

[manybellsdown]

ArgyleEnigma See, I like rolls the next day, for turkey sandwiches. At Thanksgiving, they just take up space on the table and in my tummy. Where lots of other foods need to go. I used to feel pressured to take them and eat them, which may account for my thoughts here. I'd rather have three helpings of mashed potatoes.

[athn64]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Typical fare. Turkey, corn, mashed potatoes, chicken noodles, deviled eggs, pink stuff, olives, salad, green bean casserole(new addition for DH cause my family likes him), pumpkin pie, rolls, stuffing (only a little since most of the family doesn't eat it), cranberry sauce (in can shape, of course), plus all the snacks for post dinner game playing

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?
Chicken noodles, grandma makes homemade

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?
We have a bit of cereal on the table every year for the last 10. My brother got into an accident the day before Thanksgiving when I was a senior in High school. We were supposed to be going to my grandparents out of state. I was left at home alone, and all we had in the house was cereal. So that was my "dinner" that year.

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?
DH proposed on Thanksgiving.

[sandandsea]

My fam is traditional. Turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, green bean casserole, rolls, stuffing, corn, noodles, etc. We even play tag football in the yard afterwards.

I don't really love any of it but I make it all every year because I like the tradition. Oh. My moms cheese ball would be my fave but it's not traditional outside of my family!!!

We had a meat buffet one year at a friends house. Tri tip, chicken, mussels and clams, ribs, etc. it was so yummy!!

Thanksgiving is our one holiday a year at home. We don't live near family so I make a turkey every year for the three of us. DH loves it and I like that DS will grow up with our tradition.

[shoogars]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Turkey cooked on a charcoal grill, stuffing (inside turkey), mashed potatoes and gravy, scalloped corn, green bean casserole, baked sweet potatoes, wild rice, rolls, cranberry sauce

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? Stuffing my mom makes

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving? Jello salad

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? Thanksgiving (all holidays, really) have become far less fun since becoming married/having kids:( it's just not fun hurrying from one place to another with cranky kids. We never get to host, and stay home.

[bgkc4]

vivela : I had a similar Thanksgiving story. My mom and her sister were cooking together one year. They were standing too close in a rather tight kitchen space and my aunt knocked a pot/pan over and spilled hot grease on her arm. The entire family spent that holiday in the ER with her. It was the worst Thansgiving ever. My aunt has long since recovered. The crazy part is that my mom and her 3 siblings took a picture together the next day in my Aunt's yard, and it was the last photo of the four of them together (they didn't all live in the same place, so they saw each other but not usually at the same time). My aunt is in a robe in the photo b/c she was recovering from her burn, and she understandably looked a little disheveled, while the other three siblings looked normal. My uncle passed away two years later, so they cherish that photo of the four of them, even with my aunt looking all haphazard in her robe and bandaged arm. Lol.

[soultrane]

shoogars, that's how my sister feels. Our family and her ILs live within a half hour of each other so they're always expected to bounce from house to house every holiday and never really get to relax and enjoy themselves. My ILs are 8 hours away, so we have the task of choosing where to spend each holiday (and get a guilt trip when we choose my family) but wherever we end up each year, we do get to spend our entire time in one place.

We also made a "rule" when DS was born that Christmas day was going to be spent at our house and I would have breakfast, lunch and dinner on for anyone who wants to come visit. It's worked out well so far and has allowed us to start some of our own traditions. This was decided on the Christmas I was pregnant and we attempted to do breakfast/brunch in Ohio, and then make it back to Maryland for Christmas dinner. We had rushed visits with everyone and it was terrible.

[lakecountrygal]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?

Turkey, potatoes, green bean casserole (yuck), scalloped corn (yum), stuffing, gravy, way too many pies, ice cream, cranberry sauce, and a relish tray (pickles, olives, etc)

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey?

Stuffing with gravy or mashed potatoes with gravy

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving?

Some of the pies my ILs bring are pretty weird

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share?

Last year DH, DS and I had our own small thanksgiving at home and I loved it. I'm sad we have to share this year with my ILs at our house because I'm still sick (with m/s) and it means I have to clean my house and I don't feel like it.

[birdhut]

What does your family typically serve on Thanksgiving?
Green bean, corn and sweet potato casserole
Mashed potatoes and gravy
Turkey and sometimes ham
Stuffing
Rolls and sometimes some kind of tangy fruit salad
Also pies: pumpkin and pecan
We do relish and veggie trays too

What is your one must-have item, aside from turkey? Corn casserole

What is the weirdest thing you've ever been served on Thanksgiving? I don't think I've ever had anything weird

Any other fun Thanksgiving anecdotes you want to share? I am not a huge turkey fan. I would so much rather have ham!

[ArgyleEnigma]

There's a thanksgiving post on who-eats-what-where on Fivethirtyeight.com (blog from Nate Silver, stats guy who got famous around the 2012 election and predicted every state's choice for prez)!

I was amused to see mac'n'cheese on there! You cheese lovers from the southeast?



Linky: espnfivethirtyeight.files.wordpress.com/2015/11/hickey-side-dish-1.png?w=610&h=544