I can’t think of anything scarier than hosting Thanksgiving. We have Moms and Mother-in-Laws for a reason, right?? I think people view hosting a Thanksgiving dinner as a right of passage- and you’re a real fine woman if you have successfully put one together. I guess I can’t call myself a woman- until this year. My mom moved to Texas and my in-laws are going to travel for Thanksgiving so I guess I am on my own. In my state of freaking out I’ve been looking up favorite Thanksgiving foods and how to make them. I feel like its kind of a sin to do anything BUT make everything from scratch on Thanksgiving- and after my research I see that I have my work cut out for me.
I decided to start planning my meal now- to help me not feel so overwhelmed when the day comes! Here are some ideas I found for main dishes, sides, sauces, etc for the big day- I am going to choose 1 meat, 3 sides, 2 sauces, and 1 bread so I am not too overwhelmed. Feel free to pick and choose as many or as few as you feel comfortable enough to take on!!
- Meats: Turkey. Duh. My family always had turkey and ham. Maybe we are just weird, but it was nice for the people who didn’t like turkey so much. It also gives meat lovers (like me) another meat to eat. I am only going to make turkey, since my family will be so small this year. But with a big party its fun to have the variety.
- Sides: Green Bean Casserole, Macaroni and Cheese, Yams, Rosemary & Garlic Mashed Potatoes, Cinnamon Sugar Glazed Carrots, Corn Casserole, and Butternut Squash are some all around favorites, but the list goes on and on. You have an endless list of side options on the internet!
- Sauces: I think the two main sauces everyone needs are turkey gravy and cranberry sauce!
- Breads: regular old dinner rolls, cornbread, or you can count stuffing as your bread if you have a mean recipe for that!!
Now, the only thing scarier than the menu is the kids that will be attending your dinner. Make sure you have a kids table set up so there can be some separation, but not too much. Also remember that kids are really picky. My son told me that he would NOT eat a roll last Thanksgiving because it had a blade of grass on it…..the rolls were beautiful, delicious, and it was an herb. Not grass. Kids will NOT appreciate your culinary art, so make sure at least one of your sides is kid friendly and simple. I am doing the macaroni and cheese for the kids table and the adult table- everyone loves mac n cheese.
But don’t worry too much about your menu or your actual dinner. The most important part of Thanksgiving is gathering with the people we love most and reminding ourselves about the people and things in our lives that really matter. Make the dinner with your older kids, and turn the pre, during, and post Thanksgiving experience a family event. Even younger kids can help you put baby carrots in a pot!!
