What's cooking on your Thanksgiving Day menu?

[Honey Badger]

Yeah, it's early, but good to start this thread now to share ideas. I know this isn't the food forum. 

I'm making dinner just for my son and myself. Might have a bit of company later in the day, but I'm cooking small.
Turkey in the oil-free fryer. Not sure how I'll make gravy...
Squash
Cranberry sauce (I like the fresh so might make that for myself
Potatoes of some sort, probably mashed
Green beans
Rolls or bakery bread
Pie TBD with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream

[Magic Microbe]

We are going to my parents.  I am bringing cranberry sauce (fresh)  and sourdough stuffing mix.

[The Turtle Whisperer]

I'm bringing two things...

Something very similar to this but I add panko crumbs and roasted garlic towards the end.
http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/green-beans-with-caramelized-onions-and-almonds-recipe.print.html

And, that sweet potato thing Meri posted about...
http://www.homesicktexan.com/2011/11/sweet-potato-salad-cranberries-and.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed:+HomesickTexan+(Homesick+Texan)

Not going to even tell them I'm bringing the sweet potato thing.. They are of the uncouth sort who add brown sugar and marshmallows to sweet potatoes and yams.. peasants that they are they no not what they do... just sad really. 

[Dagstag v 2.0]

Going to SO's SIL's parents' house.  We've done Christmas there before, this year they are doing Thanksgiving.

SO is making his cornbread stuffing and I am responsible for making a bundt. At first I thought I'd do something new, but I'll probably just go with carrot, since everyone loves it.

For the two of us, we're also smoking some turkey boob and I'm making my sweet potato marshmallow casserole

[The Turtle Whisperer]

I'm making my sweet potato marshmallow casserole

[Richard21142]

We're going to my oldest daughter's house.  There will be turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, green beans (maybe two other kinds of veggies), corn bread, rolls, pumpkin pie, apple pie, wine, etc.

There will be 13 in attendance, so it should be lively.

[Dagstag v 2.0]

:rofl:

[BonitaApplebum]

I'm eating turkey sandwiches today!

Next week I'm bringing a butternut and spinach gratin and will probably make a pie.

[witchypoo]

turkey roasted with garlic, smoked paprika, and lemon
gravy
ciabatta
roasted, cubed, sweet potatoes with olive oil and rosemary
roasted beets served with yogurt
whichever green vegetable looks good when i go to the market
pear pie
prolly côte du rhône

[DocBuzzkill]

Yeah, it's early, but good to start this thread now to share ideas. I know this isn't the food forum. 

It is now! 

Likewise, it'll be just 4 of us for Thanksgiving dinner, which is fine by me.  The menu will be simple:

Stuffed mushroom appie for the Mister and me; probably some good cheese and charcuterie type stuff for the Spawn since they loathe mushrooms.
Roast capon with an herb-butter rub
Mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with gravy (the Mister is the Master of Gravy)
Dressing with a ciabatta base, sausage, and chopped fresh herbs
Steamed Brussels sprouts
Pumpkin pie w/ whipped cream
Some sort of rosé wine

With regard to the pumpkin pie, I'd like to try a gingersnap cookie crumb crust.  Does anyone have experience with this approach?  Is the technique and proportions of crumbs to butter comparable to a graham cracker crust?

[seattlegirl]

Gingersnap crust sounds good!  No advice, but let us know how it goes.

I'm bringing spiced mashed sweet potatoes, and my BF is making carmelized onion dip and baked artichoke dip.  We're going to some friends' house, where we have often had Thanksgiving dinner.     Usually there we have turkey, stuffing, Alton Brown's decadent mashed potatoes, creamed pearl onions, and whatever else people bring.

[merigayle]

Going to a local Chinese Buddhist vegan restaurant they have a fun thanksgiving dinner.

[witchypoo]

wrt gingernap crust : yes, same ratio as graham cracker crust

[DocBuzzkill]

wrt gingernap crust : yes, same ratio as graham cracker crust

Makes sense.  Thanks!  I picked up a bag of gingersnap cookies at the market today, so I'm good to go.

[siamesedream]

All the usual boring stuff, plus twice-baked tates and lemon bars and fake beer and fake wine.
And pie.

A cheese plate too!

[diablita]

Makes sense.  Thanks!  I picked up a bag of gingersnap cookies at the market today, so I'm good to go.

perfect.  chiming in late but I agree.  I really good GF gingersnap cookies for my key lime pie crust.  They're perfect with the tart/sweet filling and all my friends can eat the pie.

[nadra24]

I mentioned in another thread that we're just doing a mashed potato bar for Thanksgiving. I might make some rolls to go with it. I'm making a blueberry pie and a chocolate dream pie for Pie Meal on Friday, so I'll make a small version of each of those for us to eat on Thursday.

[moroccangirl]

I don't love cooking in general, but I love cooking on thanksgiving food because it's easy and I love thanksgiving food. And It's DH's most favorite meal of the year.

I ordered a cajun fried turkey 
I'll make:
Sweet potato casserole
Green bean casserole (I love alton brown's homemade recipe)
Mac and cheese
Cornbread dressing
Cranberry sauce (I had to buy a can for the folks who don't like homemade)
Brussel sport salad if I find brussel sprouts here

Sweet potato pie
Pecan pie
Pumpkin Pie (an extra for adam to have leftovers)
Maya Angelou's banana pudding

[Run Amok]

Nadra-- I LOVE that idea!!!

[nadra24]

Nadra-- I LOVE that idea!!!

Mashed potatoes or Pie Meal? Both are pretty excellent.

[Run Amok]

I was specifically referring to the mashed potato bar but I think I love the idea of pie meal too. How does it work? I've totally done pie for breakfast the day after.

[ihop]

Smoked turkey
dressing
brussels sprouts - roasted
cranberry salad
mashed potatoes with manchego
Pumpkin pie
cranberry tart with hazelnut crust

[Dagstag v 2.0]

cranberry tart with hazelnut crust

Did you see this recipe?  I want to try that!

[witchypoo]

mr. 'poo has offered to make this for thanksgiving.  i'm not going to say no.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hazelnut-rosemary-caramel-tart

[Run Amok]

mr. 'poo has offered to make this for thanksgiving.  i'm not going to say no.

http://www.foodandwine.com/recipes/hazelnut-rosemary-caramel-tart

OMG! That sounds amazing. And can be made ahead. Might have to add this to the list!

[nadra24]

I was specifically referring to the mashed potato bar but I think I love the idea of pie meal too. How does it work? I've totally done pie for breakfast the day after.

My mom is one of five siblings, and now that my generation has kids there's just too many people to all get together on Thanksgiving Day. Plus with everyone dealing with inlaws and different schedules it gets complicated. So instead of trying to coordinate that rigamarole (which it sounds like you know first hand what kind of nightmare that can turn out to be), we plan to get together on Friday. My aunt and uncle always host, and people come when they can. My cousin usually makes a turkey pot pie out of leftovers, but some years she makes turkey soup instead, it's pretty low key. Then whoever else comes brings pizzas (cuz they're pizza pies, yo) and many different kinds of pie. People come when they can and stay as long as they want. It's especially nice because my grandma's second husband always comes, and we don't get to see him much now that my grandma has passed away and he is remarried.

Every year we are invited to regular Thanksgiving dinner at my aunt's house and she has enough guest bedrooms that we could stay the weekend, but we like to stay home and keep it low key on Thursday and then go down for Friday Pie Day.

[DocBuzzkill]

Mashed potatoes or Pie Meal? Both are pretty excellent.

The Pie Meal sounds pretty awesome, but mashed potatoes are the Food of the CarboGods!

[Run Amok]

That sounds so awesome nadra! 

[ihop]

Did you see this recipe?  I want to try that!

I did see that. 

We are doing this one - https://www.washingtonpost.com/recipes/cranberry-tart-with-hazelnut-crust/12522/

[Run Amok]

Started witchy's caramel tart last night. DD is making this: http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2013/11/12/dining/essential-thanksgiving.html?_r=0

[Run Amok]

My daughter just texted me to say that she is excited to help with thanksgiving preparations this year and she is glad we're cooking and not just showing up to eat someone else's food.  I guess maybe she's mine after all.

[BonitaApplebum]

I'm eating turkey sandwiches today!

Next week I'm bringing a butternut and spinach gratin and will probably make a pie.

No need for a pie, it turns out -- somebody else is on pie duty.

Eliza wants to bring an appetizer, though -- so we are also bringing a seven layer dip.