This evening marked the design phase of the Thanksgiving ’08 Project. My sister-in-law and her boyfriend came over to make me a birthday dinner (delicious braised sea bass), and conversation turned to the upcoming holiday of feasting. My sister-in-law will be joining us, though her boyfriend will sadly be away for the weekend. It’s possible we might pick up another person or two, but it’s just as likely that it will be the three of us, plus two toddlers.
In the past, we’ve gone way overboard. Our first Thanksgiving together, probably six years ago, it was also just the three of us. We ended up making an entire 12-pound turkey, and I’d have to guess five sides and three desserts. It was enough for our entire neighborhood. I’m not sure we had enough storage space for all the leftovers. Since then, I’d say we’ve added more people without really cutting back all that much on the food.
But now, back down to only three (plus kids), we put out the idea that we needed to cut back a little. Except that once someone would suggest a dish that could be cut, someone else objected strongly. M said the green bean casserole was unnecessary, I refuse to give it up (I make a rockin’ one from Cook’s Illustrated). I said I could live without mashed potatoes, M balked.
We ended up talking in circles about what could go and what had to stay, until M put on his project management hat, and informed us that we needed to survey customer expectations and put together a scope document. It all ended up getting very, very silly. But I think we’ve agreed in principle on this year’s menu. The only slight question mark is dessert, but we are in agreement that there should be only one dessert (typically, we make three, and maybe half of one gets eaten), and that the one dessert should not be pumpkin pie. I know, we’re so un-American.
This year’s menu:
- Turkey (duh), and I think we will still make a whole, though hopefully smaller, turkey. Primarily for the purposes of leftovers, and the holy grail of late November: turkey sandwiches.
- Green bean casserole (I win!), though only a half-portion.
- Mashed potatoes (also a smaller quantity), with gravy. The potatoes are M’s responsibility, since he’s the one who insisted they remain on the menu. I suspect I’ll be the one doing the gravy.
- Cranberry sauce (homemade, not canned). M advocated a sort of chopped cranberry relish that his mom used to make, but I had to be honest: I really didn’t like it at all. So my cranberry sauce wins.
- Stuffing (I think, or did this one get nixed?), half portion.
- Salad, because we need something vaguely healthy.
- Dessert. Likely something with pumpkin, but not pumpkin pie. Possibly a half-portion of pumpkin bread pudding, possibly some extra pumpkin cranberry bread (which we decided could qualify as dessert if we sort of grilled/sauteed it with some extra butter and then put ice cream on top, otherwise it’s just brunch food. Really awesome brunch food, too. But not dessert.)
I admit. It doesn’t exactly seem minimalist. I don’t think, in the end, that we cut down the number of dishes except in the case of dessert. But we do intend to reduce their quantities.
What about you? What are your must-haves on Thanksgiving, and what traditional dishes can you happily do without?
Since Ed’s family is not much of a dessert family – at least not the way my family is – I now only make 3 pies – pecan, apple, and pumpkin, and I take requests (this year, I’ve been asked to make the famed Brown Derby grapefruit cake, whatever that is). Personally, I’m more of a cake and pastry dessert person as opposed to a pie person but I can no longer watch my efforts sit on the table unappreciated so pie it is. At least it gets eaten (sacrilege, I know). My family on the other hand generally has like a 2-1 dessert to guest ratio. And that’s just dessert. Holidays could feed an army but there’s usually only 5 of us
Funny, like you, I could give up the mashed potatoes, and like M, I could pass on the green bean casserole but stuffing, cranberry sauce, turkey, gravy, candied yams, and lots of dessert – those are not negotiable.
my mom makes an incredible cranberry orange relish. it’s a really old family recipe. my grandmother is from massachussetts and she would flip out if we didn’t have it!
we also have mashed rutabegas. they are so good with butter, salt and pepper.
i don’t know what i would do if there came a thanksgiving without those two items. they’re almost as necessary as the turkey!
cornnut32´s last blog post..fighting back!
I love that! The hubby and I used to have these discussions, but he’s since bended to the inevitable truth that I’ll make enough food for 20 people even if it’s only for five.
A suggestion for dessert: I make pumpkin cheesecake every year. I really don’t like pumpkin pie that much, but the cheesecake is always a hit. Let me know and I’ll send you the recipe if you want
I am so with you on the GBC from Cook’s. Thanksgiving is not Thanksgiving without the GBC…the only problem…Brook’s family doesn’t eat it! So, it’ll just be me and the boys (maybe) this year. I refuse to go without it!
No matter what, I always make the GBC (Cook’s Illustrated), Cranberry Sauce (basic, but I use apple cider instead of water and cut the sugar by half—some years I add orange. I’m thinking this year, I might add orange), Yams (Cook’s Illustrated (or was it Cook’s Country?) recipe…steamed with cream, NOT boiled) and Stuffing (Laurel’s Kitchen recipe). I do like mashed potatoes, but I don’t have a vested interested in using a particular recipe, so usually Brook makes them (then I spend half the day cleaning my KitchenAid and riding it of dried potato).
I’ll be interested to see what you make for dessert. I am fine w/o pumpkin pie (though I do really like it). Maybe I’ll try a pumpkin cheesecake this year.
What is totally lame is that I have to fly out of Anchorage on Monday to Juneau and I’m not coming back until Wednesday. Juneau (our capital) is is a fjord…do you know the odds of getting out of there if there is any sort of bad weather or fog? Seriously…I’ve been there 6 times and I’ve NEVER been less than 3 hours delayed. I have to work Wednesday too…so I am not sure when I will be cooking. Hmmmm…..
CarrieinAK´s last blog post..It’s hell getting old
Yeah, so we’ll be showing up on Friday to eat all those leftovers! You know Abigail alone is good for half a dessert.
for me, i can’t do without sweet potato casserole (no marshmallows on top, but a brown sugar/butter/nuts topping). what could i do without? that’s so hard because i love it all! my inlaws make chicken and pastry (dumplings) and while it’s yummy, there is so much else to eat, i could do without. not that i do, but it’s a thought!
Susan D.´s last blog post..My day of "cooking"
I must have sweet potato souffle, and I must have stuffing. I could completely leave everything else off the list. Just one big plate of the sweet potatoes and stuffing, and I’m good.
MereCat´s last blog post..Mo, Peez, Mama
We’re trying to figure this out, too, for our first ever turkey day of cooking for just the three of us (I typically would serve 15!). Since I already know I will make too many dishes for our three bellies, I’ve started gathering neighbors who will also be in town for a Friday leftover potluck/buffet.
High Heeled Mama´s last blog post..30 Days of Thanks: Day 16