On The Menu - 2015

I've already shared my menu plan for this year with the family - they all think I'm nuts. Making too much. But hey, can never have too much for Thanksgiving - especially since left-overs are a must.

Appetizers
Shrimp Cocktail
Cheese & Cracker Platter
Stuffed Mushrooms
My Mother-In-Law's Spinach Dip with Crackers
Pigs In A Blanket
Harvest Pumpkin Soup
Pumpkin Bread

Main Course & Sides
Roasted Turkey (of course)
Homemade Gravy
My Father-in-Law's Homemade Stuffing
Stove Top Stuffing
Baked Ziti
Mashed Potatoes
Marshmallow Topped Sweet Potato Casserole
Baked Yams
My Mother-in-Law's Sautéed Mushrooms
Garlic Cheese Biscuits
Pillsbury Grand's Biscuits
Cornbread
Mashed Turnips
Mashed Butternut Squash
Creamed Spinach
Brussel Sprouts in Butter Sauce
Glazed Baby Carrots
Baby Peas in Butter Sauce
Roasted Asparagus
Homemade Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Homemade Savory Applesauce
White Corn in Butter Sauce
Broccoli in Cheese Sauce
Steamed Green Beans
Green Bean Casserole

Desserts
Homemade Pumpkin Pie
Homemade Apple Pie
Homemade Sweet Potato Pie
Reese's Peanut Butter Cup Pie
Fresh Baked Cookies from my Sister-in-Law
Additional Pies my Mother-In-Law is planning on bringing
Pilgrim Hat Cookies

Beverages
Fresh Apple Cider
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider
Soda
Wine
Coffee
Homemade Eggnog


The Cheese & Cracker's Platter will consist of baby swiss, fresh mozzarella, Vermont Cheddar, NY Sharp Cheddar, and Pepper Jack Cheese. Plus Ritz Crackers & Wheat Crackers.

For the Pigs In A Blanket, instead of buying already prepped frozen Pigs In A Blanket, I am using the Mini Cocktail Franks wrapped in Pillsbury Crescent Roll Dough - they taste so much better done this way. Bake them at 375F for about 15-20 minutes, just until the crescent roll dough is puffed & crispy. Serve with a small dish of ketchup & mustard.

Meal Plans From My Past Years Thanksgivings

I'm still working on this years meal plan, it will likely look like all the previous years plans, just with a few new dishes added to it. My mother-in-law often makes my life easier by picking up lots of boil-in-a-bag veggies. Keep in mind these huge menus are so huge because I have to feed 17-18 people. Because my menu's are so large, I begin the Monday before Thanksgiving, all the pies can be made 2-3 days ahead and stored in the refrigerator, the same goes with the cranberry sauce, applesauce & soup. The pumpkin bread can be made 2 days ahead. I also prep the sweet potatoes, turnips, squash, ziti, cornbread, peanut butter pie, eggnog the day before. Wednesday night with the kids help, we make the Pilgram Hat and Turkey Cookies. Everything else I made on Thanksgiving itself, but most can be prepped and left on the counter while the turkey is roasting.

Thanksgiving 2011

Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms
Cheese and Cracker Plate
Candied Pecans
Shrimp Cocktail

Main Course
Turkey
Gravy
Stove Top Stuffing
My Mother-in-Law's Homemade Stuffing
Sweet Potato Casserole
My Mother-In-Law's Sauteed Mushrooms
Mashed Potatoes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Green Bean Casserole
Corn in Butter Sauce
Creamed Spinach
Baked Ziti
Broccoli In Butter Sauce
Cauliflower With Cheese
Baby Peas in Butter Sauce
Brussel Sprouts in Butter Sauce
Mashed Turnips
Mashed Butternut Squash
Steamed Glazed Baby Carrots
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
Honey Cornbread
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits

Beverages
Apple Cider
Sparkling Wine
Soda

Dessert & Coffee
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Pilgram Hat Cookies
Autumn Cupcakes
Coffee
Eggnog

Thanksgiving 2012

Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms
Cheese and Cracker Plate
Mozzarella Sticks
Cocktail Franks
Shrimp Cocktail

Main Course
Turkey
Gravy
Stove Top Stuffing
My Mother-in-Law's Homemade Stuffing
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Baked Ziti
My Mother-In-Law's Sauteed Mushrooms
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Steamed Green Beans
Corn in Butter Sauce
Creamed Spinach
Broccoli In Butter Sauce
Cauliflower With Cheese
Baby Peas in Butter Sauce
Brussel Sprouts in Butter Sauce
Mashed Turnips
Mashed Butternut Squash
Steamed Glazed Baby Carrots
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
My Cornbread
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits My Daughter's Pumpkin Bread (made in school)

Beverages
Apple Cider
Soda

Dessert & Coffee
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Coconut Custard Pie
Pilgram Hat Cookies
Autumn Decorated Sugar Cookies
Coffee
Hot Chocolate
Eggnog

Thanksgiving 2013

Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms
Cheese and Cracker Plate
Cheesy Cocktail Meatballs
My Mother-in-Law's Spinach Dip
Shrimp Cocktail
Slow Cooked Maple Butternut Squash Soup
Pumpkin Bread

Main Course
Turkey
Gravy
Stove Top Stuffing
My Father-in-Law's Homemade Stuffing
My Homemade Applesauce
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
My Mother-In-Law's Sauteed Mushrooms
Steamed Green Beans
Corn in Butter Sauce
Creamed Spinach
Baked Ziti
Broccoli In Butter Sauce
Cauliflower With Cheese
Baby Peas in Butter Sauce
Brussel Sprouts in Butter Sauce
Mashed Turnips
Mashed Butternut Squash
Steamed Glazed Baby Carrots
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
My Cornbread
Pillsbury Grands Biscuits

Beverages
Apple Cider
Soda
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider
Sparkling Grape Juice

Dessert & Coffee
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Coconut Custard Pie
Pilgram Hat Cookies
Turkey Cookies
Layered Pumpkin Pudding
Coffee
White Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Eggnog

**In 2013 I was feeling a little "lazy" I opted to buy Mrs. Smith's and Sara Lee's Apple & Dutch Apple Pies instead of going through the work of making apple pie homemade - a mistake I will never make again! The same for the mashed turnips and mashed butternut squash - my mother-in-law bought frozen microwavable pre-cooked squash and turnips, I don't know about everyone else, but thought these tasted like a box. Some things just have to be homemade.

Thanksgiving 2014

Appetizers
Stuffed Mushrooms
Baked tortilla chips & hummus
Cheesy Cocktail Meatballs
My Mother-in-Law's Spinach Dip
Various Chips Brought by my Mother-in-Law
Harvest Pumpkin Bisque
Pumpkin Bread
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Main Course
Turkey
Gravy
Stove Top Stuffing
My Father-in-Law's Homemade Stuffing
Sweet Potato Casserole
Mashed Potatoes
Whole Berry Cranberry Sauce
Baked Ziti
My Mother-In-Law's Sauteed Mushrooms
Steamed Green Beans
Corn in Butter Sauce
Creamed Spinach
Broccoli In Butter Sauce
Cauliflower With Cheese
Baby Peas in Butter Sauce
Brussel Sprouts in Butter Sauce
Mashed Turnips
Mashed Butternut Squash
Steamed Glazed Baby Carrots
Garlic Cheddar Biscuits
My Cornbread
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls

Beverages
Apple Cider
Soda
Martinelli's Sparkling Apple Cider
Sparkling Grape Juice

Dessert & Coffee
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
Sweet Potato Pie
Coconut Custard Pie
Bakery Pecan Pie
Layered Pumpkin Pudding
Homemade Whipped Cream
Coffee
White Chocolate Hot Cocoa
Eggnog