Anyone hosting Thanksgiving? Please critique my menu..

madelyn07

DH and I are hosting Thanksgiving again (for the 4th year) but it will just be us and my dad this year. Normally I do a huge spread...sometimes it is my dad and his +1, sometimes my in-laws, friends, etc., but this year it will just be the three of us so I'm thinking of cutting down the menu drastically. Partly because it is only the three of us, partly because we always have way too much food and also because DH has recruits for the Iron Bowl so he'll be eating out a ton the Friday, Saturday and Sunday after Thanksgiving so he won't be around to help eat leftovers. This is what I'm thinking:

Appetizers

various cheeses with crackers and olives 

fresh crudite with spinach dip 

pumpkin dip with gingersnaps (my dad's favorite)

Main

herb roasted turkey 

stuffing 

mashed potatoes with gravy

spinach salad with walnuts, cranberries and goat cheese

whiskey glazed carrots 

cranberry sauce 

rolls 

Dessert

pumpkin pie (DH's favorite)

pumpkin pie cheesecake (my favorite--my dad loves both)

 

What do you think? Is this too slim? Normally I do regular potatoes, sweet potatoes, mac and cheese, zucchini corn saute, green beans, a few more apps...I really feel like my main dishes are lacking but, then again, there will only be three people.

Obviously I know that everyone attending likes all of these foods and am taking into account all dietary restrictions. 

 

Thanks  

 

I can't believe Thanksgiving is almost here!

 

Rachael07.07.07

Hey love! Miss you!

I was doing the same thing today (menu planning). I just finished up making some centerpieces a few minutes ago. We're hosting again and it's grown to 15 this year. Everyone is out of towners so it will be a full house!

I think your menu sounds perfect. Honestly, that is a great variety and I don't think it's too slim. My only slight (tiny) tweak would be the desserts. Does your DH eat the cheesecake version? If so, I say go with that and something non-pumpkin. I'm in the minority and I do not like pumpkin things. At all. But..if you know both of those will go, then ignore me, lol. My desserts will be:

pumpkin pie

cheesecake

cherry & apple cake thingy (it's super yummy and beyond easy

maybe a coconut creme pie 

and something TBD

madelyn07

Rachael07.07.07:

Hey love! Miss you!

I was doing the same thing today (menu planning). I just finished up making some centerpieces a few minutes ago. We're hosting again and it's grown to 15 this year. Everyone is out of towners so it will be a full house!

I think your menu sounds perfect. Honestly, that is a great variety and I don't think it's too slim. My only slight (tiny) tweak would be the desserts. Does your DH eat the cheesecake version? If so, I say go with that and something non-pumpkin. I'm in the minority and I do not like pumpkin things. At all. But..if you know both of those will go, then ignore me, lol. My desserts will be:

pumpkin pie

cheesecake

cherry & apple cake thingy (it's super yummy and beyond easy

maybe a coconut creme pie 

and something TBD

Yea, I realize it is weird to have two pumpkin desserts but DH "needs" pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and I hate it. In the past I've done a spice cake, chocolate pudding cake, apple pie and so on but this year I've decided I'm going to make my favorite (pumpkin cheesecake) because it is my favorite

Rachael07.07.07

madelyn07:

Yea, I realize it is weird to have two pumpkin desserts but DH "needs" pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving and I hate it. In the past I've done a spice cake, chocolate pudding cake, apple pie and so on but this year I've decided I'm going to make my favorite (pumpkin cheesecake) because it is my favorite

hahaha, then you do just that! K would seriously have an aneurysm if there was no plain pumpkin pie. It would be the.end.of.the.world!  

I last year I made a banana cake with cream cheese frosting and it went over very well. That became my favorite cake so I'm still contemplating doing that again...but I'm torn between doing a repeat or adding something new.... 

reb259

Sounds delish!!  i would love the recipe for the pumpkin dip and gingersnaps.

DeputiesWife

I think your menu sounds fabulous!

And for 3 people I think it is perfect -- I always over-do it and then I end up throwing stuff out because it doesn't get eaten and I hate wasting anything. If you feel that your dishes are lacking the only thing I'd add is sweet potatoes...I like to have both mashed and sweet with my Thanksgiving

gervaisj6

Sounds good! Can I come? Lol.

MrsMAF

All sounds delicious to me!!! GREAT menu!!

theworms

DeputiesWife:

I think your menu sounds fabulous!

And for 3 people I think it is perfect -- I always over-do it and then I end up throwing stuff out because it doesn't get eaten and I hate wasting anything. If you feel that your dishes are lacking the only thing I'd add is sweet potatoes...I like to have both mashed and sweet with my Thanksgiving

i agree

it sound delish cutie!!

katt3233

Sounds delicious! And it's a very creative menu! Love it!

Bella2u07

Your menu has my vote!  Yum!

MBfromBMC

Those carrots sound great!  If you are having carrots, I don't think you need sweet potatoes, too.

It looks awesome to me!

Delta04

For the 3 of you, I think this menu is pretty good.  You might have to share that pumpkin dip with gingersnaps recipe.  I have never heard of it before.

jessican08

One question - Can I come have Thanksgiving dinner with you guys?

Your whole menu sounds amazing. I would love to eat every one of the items you listed!

madelyn07

Thanks ladies. I love entertaining and doing big fun meals at holidays so I'm having trouble cutting back

Here is the recipe for the pumpkin pie dip. It is out of this world good!

 

And, the recipe for the whiskey glazed carrots is from Pioneer Womans blog. I'm not a fan of 99.9% of her recipes but this one is awesoem!

 

 

reb259

madelyn07:

Thanks ladies. I love entertaining and doing big fun meals at holidays so I'm having trouble cutting back

Here is the recipe for the pumpkin pie dip. It is out of this world good!

 

And, the recipe for the whiskey glazed carrots is from Pioneer Womans blog. I'm not a fan of 99.9% of her recipes but this one is awesoem!

 

 

Yum, thanks for the PPD recipe!!  I have a girls night can't wait to make it and take it with me to pass!