We're hosting Thanksgiving!

[Ninedays9]

This is our first year in our new house, so I thought it'd be kinda cool to have people over for Thanksgiving. At first, I was just thinking we'd have one family over... but somehow it turned into both. DH's brother and his wife won't be coming... but it will still be 10, maybe 11 people here. It's a little intimidating, since I've never cooked a big meal before... so I wanted to start a little post to organize my thoughts and maybe see if you all can help.

I want to have:

Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Stuffing
Green bean cassarole
Rolls
Cranberries
Pies (his mom makes pumpkin and pecan every year, and I'll probably ask my mom to make banana)

Maybes:

Corn
Veggie tray (there always seems to be one of those at DH's family gatherings)
Sweet Potatoes (no one in my family likes these but they're always present at DH's family Thanksgivings)

Sooo my question to anyone with experience with cooking for lots of people is... how much of all this stuff do I need to feed 10 people? How many potatoes; how much green bean cassarole and stuffing? I'm thinking we'll ask DH's parents to cook another turkey or use their turkey fryer. And I'm also thinking I'll get MIL's stuffing recipe and also possibly have my mom make her crock pot stuffing. I don't mind having left overs but I don't want there to not be enough for everyone.

I'll probably have help from one or both of the moms, so I'm hoping everything will work out with timing of when to start making stuff... My mom mentioned something about starting stuff the day before, but I don't think anything calls for that except pies.

Oh yeah... is there anything else I should have? Like smaller side stuff that I'm missing?

[dearmissie]

I am no help once we have yet to host our own Thanksgiving, but I did want to ask.. Can I come over?? :p:p

[Ninedays9]

I am no help once we have yet to host our own Thanksgiving, but I did want to ask.. Can I come over?? :p:p

Sure, but you gotta bring a pie, haha. :)

[gwenshack]

I've never cooked for a large group before, but I have done Thanksgiving once. If you need a sweet potato dish recipe, I have my grandmothers and it's wonderful. I also make a killer stuffing.

My suggestion? The Food and Wine magazines always have Thanksgiving issues - that's sort of how I started. I'd buy one of those, get a general idea how many people are served by each recipe and then you can adjust accordingly. Plus they usually have good tips about recipes and table set up and time schedules for preparing. A really good tool. ;)

[SkippyNXC]

I think if memory serves i usually do 2 potatoes per adult for mashed depending on how much your guests eat them... sometimes i throw in a couple more for good measure but i also loved mashed tatos and DH eats HUGE portions

[dearmissie]

Sure, but you gotta bring a pie, haha. :)

Thank goodness there's a Safeway near me!! :lafhard::lafhard:

[dearmissie]

I think if memory serves i usually do 2 potatoes per adult for mashed depending on how much your guests eat them... sometimes i throw in a couple more for good measure but i also loved mashed tatos and DH eats HUGE portions

Yeah.. I can eat like 10 servings of potatoes myself..

[Ninedays9]

Ooh, I'll have to look for those magazines. And I'll also have to watch the ads because I know they do turkey for really cheap this time of year if you buy a certain amount of groceries... which we'll be doing. And the two potatoes per person sounds good.. hopefully I'll be able to fit them all into a pot.

[SkippyNXC]

Ooh, I'll have to look for those magazines. And I'll also have to watch the ads because I know they do turkey for really cheap this time of year if you buy a certain amount of groceries... which we'll be doing. And the two potatoes per person sounds good.. hopefully I'll be able to fit them all into a pot.

If you quarter em before you boil em 1) they'll fit better but 2) they'll cook faster!

[mj512]

I would plan on potatoes for how much you think you will need.... then add about 5lbs haha

I'm not sure that I've ever seen left over mashed potatoes (and gravy) at Thanksgiving... or any meal for that matter.

A thanksgiving classic for us is also scalloped corn - kind of like this recipe http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/old-fashioned-scalloped-corn-2/Detail.aspx except we put cheese on top/in ours and use bread crumbs instead of cracker crumbs.

[gwenshack]

Wow Jacklynn, that sounds YUMMY! I don't think I've had anything like that before. I might make some of that this week - looks awesome!!

[sandy03]

One thing you didn't have listed is gravy. I don't know if your family aren't gravy people, but just something to think about.

As far as green bean casserole, I would just double the average size (so maybe 4 cans of green beans and 2 cans of cream of mushroom soup)

One mistake I have made in cooking for huge groups is cooking WAY too much. I'm always afraid of not having enough, but I usually over-do it! If a recipe estimates it will feed 4-6, doubling it should be enough. If it estimates it feeds 8 or more, it'll probably be plenty (unless it's something you know your family LOVES)

And even though you don't HAVE to start stuff the night before, it makes it so much easier if you do as much prep ahead as you can. So like put together your green bean casserole and just stick it in the fridge so all you'll have to do is throw it in the oven the day of!

And I have a great recipe for a no-bake peanut butter pie if you want it!

Happy Cooking! I love hosting family holiday gatherings!

[mj512]

Wow Jacklynn, that sounds YUMMY! I don't think I've had anything like that before. I might make some of that this week - looks awesome!!

It is delicious! Cheese is a must on it though :)

[amisteratwisterandme]

Best thing to do: Check and see how long each thing takes to cook, you don't want to have everyone sitting around because the timing is off. Turkey I think you are supposed to average 1 1/2 pounds per person. If parents are doing that though, that would be a huge relief. I always make way too much food, but I would rather that than way too little.

I would also put everyone coming in charge of something. Have one person bring the drinks, mom's the turkeys, and maybe someone else bring dinner rolls.

I always do my pies, casserole, relish tray and eggs the night before. For the eggs, I boil them and mix everything together, but don't put them in the egg whites until the next day. (Deviled eggs are a MUST for us)

Also, setting out plates, napkins and all that the night before would help you out too.

Sounds like a lot of work but Oh so fun!!!

Good luck Heather.

[kgvettegirl]

For potatoes I usually do one per person and then 3 for the pot.

Make stuff a day or two ahead and then just reheat. You also have to plan for how much room you need in the oven and on top of the stove.

good luck it's alot of work but I know it will be wonderful.

[mj512]

oh yeah, I forgot about deviled eggs.

[KMS]

I am looking so forward to hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas one year. I can't wait!

Yep, I agree about the gravy! :yesnod: In our family it's always giblet gravy. Sometimes when they run out of time, they use a package but it just doesn't compare and rarely gets eaten. This looks similar to the recipe my family uses - http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/giblet-gravy-ii/Detail.aspx

We always have a basic green salad as well. Maybe do a different type of sweet potato recipe if the regular one is never eaten. Candied sweet potatoes - http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/classic-candied-sweet-potatoes/Detail.aspx, sweet potato pone - http://www.food.com/recipe/jazz-fest-sweet-potato-pone-53639

Thanksgiving serving calculator -
http://www.yumsugar.com/How-Calculate-How-Much-Make-Thanksgiving-6065779

Here's kind of a breakdown of a timeline (so you don't go nuts!) -
http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845348_prepare-thanksgiving-dinner.html

Pick up an issue of Rachael Ray. I'm sure that she'll have quick and easy Thanksgiving recipes.

[amisteratwisterandme]

I am looking so forward to hosting Thanksgiving or Christmas one year. I can't wait!

Yep, I agree about the gravy! :yesnod: In our family it's always giblet gravy. Sometimes when they run out of time, they use a package but it just doesn't compare and rarely gets eaten. This looks similar to the recipe my family uses - http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/giblet-gravy-ii/Detail.aspx

We always have a basic green salad as well. Maybe do a different type of sweet potato recipe if the regular one is never eaten. Candied sweet potatoes - http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/classic-candied-sweet-potatoes/Detail.aspx, sweet potato pone - http://www.food.com/recipe/jazz-fest-sweet-potato-pone-53639

Thanksgiving calculator -
http://www.yumsugar.com/How-Calculate-How-Much-Make-Thanksgiving-6065779

Here's kind of a breakdown of a timeline (so you don't go nuts!) -
http://www.ehow.com/how-to_4845348_prepare-thanksgiving-dinner.html

Pick up an issue of Rachael Ray. I'm sure that she'll have quick and easy Thanksgiving recipes.

Wow Keely! You really hooked Heather up...

[amisteratwisterandme]

I would plan on potatoes for how much you think you will need.... then add about 5lbs haha

I'm not sure that I've ever seen left over mashed potatoes (and gravy) at Thanksgiving... or any meal for that matter.

A thanksgiving classic for us is also scalloped corn - kind of like this recipe http://allrecipes.com//Recipe/old-fashioned-scalloped-corn-2/Detail.aspx except we put cheese on top/in ours and use bread crumbs instead of cracker crumbs.

I think we will have to try this too!

[Ninedays9]

Thanks for all the responses! I'll look into the links and recipes. I am very excited! :).