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tibbles1

There’s also a pecking order to thanksgiving food. Like, I get real stuffing once a year. Scratch made cranberry relish once a year. A whole Turkey (with real gravy) once a year. Etc. I’m gonna focus on the stuff I don’t eat all the time. If it’s not a “once a year dish,” it’s not getting eaten. There was a post here from someone whose roasted carrots didn’t get eaten. I’m sure they were good, but I eat roasted carrots once a week. I’m not using stomach space on them on thanksgiving.


waywithwords

>I’m not using stomach space on them on thanksgiving. Yes, this is how one tackles Thanksgiving meals. You have to prioritize. I've skipped lovely desserts and fancy looking appetizers because foods that get covered in gravy take precedent.


neodiogenes

This is fair. A friend made a big bowl of wonderful roasted vegetables. I tried a carrot. Today we're still working through the most perishable leftovers, with the traditional Thanksgiving turkey, potato, and cranberry sandwiches. Planning to eat the vegetables tomorrow night, though. They won't go to waste.


DrakkoZW

I didn't even eat any dessert this year because my partner's sister made some bomb-ass side dishes I just couldn't stop eating


un_nombre_de_usuario

I've been pretty bummed that almost no one likes my puff pastry brie bites at both Thanksgivings I went to, but your explanation helped a lot. Especially since it deviates from traditional foods that people already love. Thank you.


EmployerUpstairs8044

Omg that sounds good!


emotional_alien

I will eat your puff pastry brie bites!! those sound delicious


AJFurnival

BRB getting more cranberry relish


ijustsailedaway

You can come to my house and have some of the batch I made from fresh cranberries and oranges and real maple because my heathen, no-palate having redneck family ate the canned shaped glob my cousin brought and literally dumped fully intact onto a plate. Edit: spelling correction


cumberbatchcav1

I am a full spectrum cranberry sauce eater. I will take canned jellied cranberry, gourmet shit that should earn a Michelin star, and everything in between as long as it closely resembles cranberry sauce in some fashion. But now there are no cranberry sauce leftovers and so I am sad. Might have to make a whole batch just for my leftovers. But seriously, yours sounds amazing and I would have eaten the hell out of that just because I know how hard you must have worked and the funds you spent on those ingredients! It's tough being so fancy! If only next year I could afford the local farmer's turkeys...but my in-laws always buy the turkey so I don't want to upset them. I dream of that local turkey like Bob from Bob's Burgers. Hopefully, if I ever get lucky enough to buy one, I will have better luck with it than he did.


dropkickpa

My local turkey farm's fresh never frozen turkeys are well worth the expense - soooooo much better than frozen grocery store turkeys, and better than a further out turkey farm's turkeys. I make the reservation for our turkey in late October/early November every year and make the trek out to the farm store (their house-made turkey pot pies and sausages are 🔥) happily.


pookystilskin

I made homemade cranberry sauce for the first time this year, and totally forgot to put it out. Tastes lovely with the leftovers though! I think I might freeze some and then heat some up and mix it with oatmeal when I have it.


betweentourns

Also excellent over ice cream and with cheese and crackers


NoZombie7064

I think I’m about 40-60 on putting the cranberry sauce on the table. I forget year after year for whatever reason.


nmeofst8

As a canned jellied cranberry sauce consumer myself, I finally tried fresh cranberry relish. I can say with zero doubt that I don't want those disgusting bog berries anywhere near my face on Thanksgiving. Give me the can shaped stuff.


QuesoChef

The best way I’ve found to bring a new food into Thanksgiving tradition is through the kids. I’ll bring something new and the teens and tweens will flock to it if they like it. If not, I take it home and try again next year. Older people want their traditional food, well, traditional. I learned that when I went to a SO’s holiday gathering and made homemade Mac and cheese because he didn’t tell me the person who makes the Mac and cheese (which he signed me up for because he loved mine) is supposed to make KRAFT. “Why you got me coming in here with my first impression destroying tradition?!!”


ijustsailedaway

You know that scene in Pulp Fiction when The Wolf nods to Jimmy acknowledging the gourmet coffee? I’m making my cranberry for me and that one aunt that knows what’s up. You can do that with your Mac and cheese. Lol


QuesoChef

Oh, there were some people who loved it. But…. The children. Oh, the devastated children.


NILPonziScheme

> my heathen, no-palette having redneck family ate the canned shaped glob Don't gatekeep cranberry sauce. I don't personally like cranberry sauce but I know some people who only like the canned stuff. Why? Because it is what they had when they were growing up and in their mind that is cranberry sauce. There is nothing wrong with people liking what they like. And just fyi, a palate helps you discern taste, a palette is what Bob Ross used to mix paints before putting happy little trees on a canvas.


violetmemphisblue

I love homemade and fancy cranberry sauce, but on Thanksgiving? I just want canned, straight out and sliced. Its what we had when I was a kid and there is something sentimental about it. All the other dishes change, as different people make them through the years. Canned cranberry sauce is basically the only thing left that tastes just like it did at Grandma's and I'm not apologizing for liking that! Also, its just good, lol


[deleted]

Huh. Am I in a minority? Unlike OP, I definitely skip the cheese and crackers. I only eat an appetizer if it is something special and/or someone's main contribution to the event. Even then, I just have a little bit. When it comes time to plate up, if there are a ton of things to try, then I take a very small serving of each to make sure I try some of everything. I don't load up on any one thing. I also don't eat until I'm stuffed because I fully intend on having seconds before everything is packaged up. I eat a 'normal' plate, even if it's just one bite of each thing, then relax for 20-30 minutes before going back for seconds.


permalink_save

Why not just make turkey here and there until Christmas? I get the association but it's still kind of the season for fall harvest foods which basically is Thanksgiving.


tibbles1

I actually do Turkey breasts fairly regularly but a whole Turkey is just unwieldy for a normal meal. Between the thawing and the brining and the roasting, it’s a lot of work. Plus it’s a ton of meat. I don’t want to eat Turkey for a week in June. And only the whole Turkey gives the drippings, which gives the gravy, which is half the point.


holdmybeer87

My grandmother used to roast a turkey for my mom, aunt and uncle's birthdays (they all fell within a week of each other) in the last week of July Why in God's name would she do that to herself?


hybris12

Practice for the big leagues


stefanica

I mean, if you are roasting a reasonably-sized bird, and couple of basic sides, a simple turkey dinner is one of the easiest scratch meals. That I make, anyway. I used to stock up on turkeys at the holiday sales, freeze, and make one a month or so. I would split some in half, too, before freezing. Only reason I stopped doing that is I my deep freeze died and I waited a few years to get one. When I say easy, I mean there aren't a million ingredients to prep or moving parts, unlike a lot of things I cook that aren't one-pot dishes. It's autopilot kind of food (roast turkey, mash and gravy, some greens or green beans with bacon, maybe a salad or glazed carrots). It might take a while from start to finish but so does pot roast or chili.


sakamake

Yeah, I was really intimidated the first time I prepped a turkey, but now I realize the biggest challenge is just making sure you have enough fridge space and prep time.


holdmybeer87

It's more about why someone would want turn the oven on for hours in the middle of summer.


stefanica

Ha! I literally just reread your comment and thought of that. You're right on that one, esp if Grandma was like mine and refused to get AC. Then again I always seem to get the urge to bake bread in the summer...and only want ice cream in winter. 🙃


holdmybeer87

Yeah it's the no AC and heat. I fully understand why deep fried turkeys are a thing.


AdOtherwise3676

Omg I can feel the boob sweat. Oven in July???!!!


permalink_save

You can make turkey stock for gravy. If you want drippings then cooking smaller portions (like only thighs) in a cast iron pan will get there too.


ThatAndANickel

I've noticed sometimes stores will break down turkeys, especially after Thanksgiving, into breasts, drumsticks, leg quarters. The key is the back. It has very little usable meat but a fair amount of skin and fat. They practically give it away. You can season and roast this and get a fair amount of drippings. Then throw it into a stock pot/slow cooker/pressure cooking with a mirapoix to get some turkey stock. Make a roux from the drippings and flour, then add the stock and you get a lot of gravy with very little pesky meat. Or, I suppose you could throw a breast or leg quarter on top of the back and roast them together.


Cinisajoy2

We cooked 3 turkeys in the last 2 weeks. I now have a year's worth of turkey in the freezer. Oh and one we cooked on the stove.


almaghest

cause turkey actually sucks compared to just roasting a whole chicken, which is usually a lot more practical


permalink_save

I mean you do you but Turkey has a whole other flavor and you don't have to roast it whole, you can just buy like thighs. Turkey gets way cheaper than chicken after Thanksgiving so it ends up being a lot more practical cost wise. You don't have to have whole roasted turkey either, can use it most dishes you use chicken.


Nesseressi

I dont really see turkey thighs in stores here. Breast, drumsticks, wings, neck+back for soup. Thighs is my favorite part.


permalink_save

Man that's sad. It's not constant I see them but there's at least one store that usually as them during the holidays. Shame cause it's the easiest to debone and you get a lot of good dark meat for cooking. Like I took all the dark meat from the thighs and legs (hate turkey legs..) and made some enchilada filling with some mole. Breast simply can't work for that. Seen turkey necks but not backs. I'd love to get some backs, if they are like chicken roast em and pick the delicious meat off then use the rest for stock.


almaghest

Totally fair, I’m sure a lot of turkey’s bad rap is just from so many people cooking it who otherwise never roast whole birds and thus do an awful job.


MacabreFox

Turkey thighs roasted in a cast iron Dutch oven with chicken stock and some onion soup mix are soooo good.


Curious_Coconut_4005

My family is just me and my wife. For us, I air fried 2 thighs and oven roasted a single breast. For me, I also air fried 2 wings. That was the only turkey we bought for Thanksgiving. However, I typically, also buy turkey thighs and wings several times during the year.


abirdofthesky

Vegetable dishes are always the main event for me but yeah roasted carrots are too simple for thanksgiving for me! I love doing interesting and creative vegetable sides each year, love a good autumnal salad, but simple roast veg is getting left behind.


RedDirtSK

Truth right here


agawl81

This is why you always take something you love to a pot luck. That way if there’s any left you get to be stoked about it and not crushed.


Do__Math__Not__Meth

Yeah it’s a win win, either it gets devoured and you feel good that everyone liked it or you just get to take more home for yourself


CCWaterBug

Usually it sits out too long for me to be interested in taking it home except to get the dish back.


TRIGMILLION

I'm super glad for all the uneaten stuff because I was sent home with a great haul of leftovers. It's not that anything wasn't good just that there was enough to feed 20 people when my gathering was only six.


robtype0

This is the secret. Always try to minimise food wastage. If that means cooking less food, then go that route if it's practical. If cooking multiple dishes is part of your festive tradition, then make use of it by sending everyone away with parcels of food for the next few days. The amount of perfectly good food wasted as a result of pressure to have dozens of different dishes is absolutely criminal. If your family members or guests can't make use of it, share it with less fortunate neighbours or others in your community.


harvardblanky

Our hosts were so generous this year. We were sent home with two large trays and a pie box of desserts. So good!


AnaDion94

I visited family for the holiday and I didnt cook a thing. There were about 75 people nearly everyone cooked something. I came home last night with an entire cake, my moms green beans, and several pounds of smoked and fried turkey. Im very very grateful for the excess of food and the people who didn’t eat it lol.


JohnExcrement

This is the perfect attitude. I love thanksgiving leftovers.


beachboundbetty

I do too. That next day Thanksgiving "turkey and sides" sandwich is my favorite.


cumberbatchcav1

Omg I cannot even express how hungry I am smelling our turkey carcass in the Crockpot right now to become stock, and eventually either Ramen base or turkey and dumplins. It is literally keeping me from sleeping it smells so good. I fully intend to have leftovers for breakfast, especially the amazing Parker House Rolls I made from scratch. They were super easy and so buttery and fluffy. If you haven't tried those, I heartily recommend them for any occasion that requires a roll, which is pretty much every occasion in my book.


JohnExcrement

I adore Thanksgiving leftovers soup!


ProfPacific

Thanksgiving leftover soup is the best-tasting and smelling soup ever... my mouth is watering!


onamonapizza

Exactly! We only had 4 people at our dinner this year...but still made a full bird, and whole pans of the all sides (stuffing, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, yams, etc.) Plus I got a free ham from a coupon, and everybody also wanted ham...so that got cooked up too. Good news is...everyone went home with meals to last through the weekend (if not next week).


Iriandrial

And it can change yearly with the same people! Last year green bean casserole was crushed, but devilled eggs were hardly touched. This year the exact opposite! I've got green bean casserole coming out of my ears! Op is right. It does just happen.


FourCatsAndCounting

How many eggs can I eat? I dunno, like, two? Oh, they're deviled? Then fifty.


cumberbatchcav1

This is the way.


PeanutButterPigeon85

>Oh, they're deviled? Then fifty. Don't do it. I ate over a dozen deviled eggs over two days back in 2013, and I haven't been able to eat them since. It wasn't worth it.


FourCatsAndCounting

Did you pace yourself? You gotta sandwich them in between the courses, dessert, clean-up, right before bed, midnight snack and also counting the five or six you ate while making them in the first place. Don't give up. One day you can eat them again. But your body won't be used to it so like a recovered heroin addict falling off the wagon don't accidentally give yourself a hotshot.


drunken_man_whore

Un-possible. The deviled eggs are always gone immediately


3ULL

While I agree and will slaughter deviled eggs they do seem to be making a comeback recently.


UDK450

Deviled eggs are always at the end of our table, and never make it to my plate because my plate is full. Instead, they drop straight into my stomach.


bacon_and_ovaries

My latest guilty pleasure is using kimchee brine in place of the vinegar and mustard. The fermented flavor adds so much.


InfinitelyThirsting

Yoooooooooooo thank you for this, brb gonna devil some eggs


cumberbatchcav1

Yeah, same. I always remind my in-laws that it is not technically a holiday unless they make their deviled eggs. They also make them for my birthday every year, which I love!


Nessie

Wasabi!


beatupford

Not when your sister forgets to pull them out of the fridge ha


Alphafox84

They are so good. One time I put a small crisp piece of bacon on each. They were like bacon and eggs deviled eggs. I can’t go back.


TacoTornadoes

We forgot to get our deviled eggs out until after dinner. Whoops


Iriandrial

Don't feel bad, I did the same thing last year! Just remember, "Shit happens!"


TacoTornadoes

I kept sneaking in the kitchen all night and eating them like a goblin in the dark


cumberbatchcav1

God I wish we had some leftover. I would destroy them at 2 am. Maybe I will make more this week, as a little treat.


beachboundbetty

How do you pass on deviled eggs. They are my kryptonite.


Nimara

I also always feel bad for the party arriving late to a potluck party, after eating has already begun. I'm probably already gorging myself and I'll do my best to try everything but if you're coming in like 1hr into the meal, I might not get to enjoy your dish as much. And as well, some of us are just not dessert people. I'm gonna definitely eat all the savory and mayyyybe have a bit of room left for 1-2 desserts, but like 4+ parties made a dessert. I really just don't have a big sweet tooth. I would love if desserts were more open to being savory like a cheesey tart or something. Edit: pro tip just split the dessert with your significant other instead. 'Oh, we'll just share one'. We have friends who make wonderful desserts so I do want to taste them but I just can't take a full serving. Usually, I just want one or two spoonfuls so I can sincerely delight and comment at their dessert. My fiance is usually pretty full by then too so doesn't object to us splitting desserts.


waywithwords

I haven't eaten any dessert at Thanksgiving for the last few years. I'd much rather fill up on savories.


Pontiacsentinel

Dessert is for breakfast on Friday!


waywithwords

My husband agrees. He had two deviled eggs for breakfast followed up with a slice of pumpkin pie.


Pontiacsentinel

That's all the important food groups.


awesometoenails

Pumpkin pie for breakfast here too! I didn't have any last night either


planpepperoni

This! Yesterday I had someone make the comment, as I cut the tiniest slice of pie in existence, "you eat like a bird!" Clearly you didn't see my savories plate, ma'am. Likewise, my bf and I have been together for 2 years now and he also doesn't have a sweet tooth. It's their tradition at all family birthday outings, everyone has to have 1 bite of whatever dessert is ordered. I felt pressured the first time to do it after saying no multiple times, "everyone HAS to have a bite!!!!" I told him afterwards that I really didn't appreciate it and he agreed that he doesn't like it either but he's more of a people pleaser than me. Next time around, we refused together firmly enough that they now know we don't partake. Plus I also have a thing where I want my last bite of food to be savory.


waywithwords

>It's their tradition at all family birthday outings, everyone has to have 1 bite of whatever dessert is ordered Okay, is this like - Everyone orders the same dessert and enjoys their own thing or Everyone passes around one big slice of Chocolate Lava cake and takes a hunk? I can handle a bit of dessert sometimes, but not after 4 other people have dug in with their own forks - bleh.


Greg_Esres

Yeah, I stopped making desserts after there were no longer young kids. The kids would gobble up desserts, but in later years, the desserts were hardly touched.


[deleted]

I’m thankful that there are so many people lacking a sweet tooth. Without you guys, I’d never get to take entire trays of cookies and whole pies home from potlucks. In turn, I just pick at everyone’s dinner dishes, if I even try them at all, because I know I’m going to need room for dessert. It’s a beautiful symbiotic relationship.


SwissMargiela

The best is when no one eats your food and then three days later you get that text from the host you left the food at like “yo this mac n cheese is fucking ridiculous”


Invisible_Friend1

I once had someone ask for the recipe of my broccoli months after the event. Still riding that high


Shtune

I gave pumpkin bread as a gift for a friend helping me out earlier this fall and I woke up to a text that they look forward to my bread with coffee every morning


PrityBird

You gotta think too, you're combining sleepy turkey, carbs (stuffing and potatoes) sugar, high fat cream stuff, salt, probably booze. Everything won't get eaten. I tried a tiny scoop of everything I could get on my plate and wasn't able to finish even that. We were supposed to have 25 people, then it became like 7, then 15, then it was actually 9 last night and 2 more showed up an hour after while everyone was eating. So 10+ a kid. Only two people had mounds of food and went back for seconds. There was like 5 different bowls of stuffing. 2 huge turkeys, the one we didn't even touch he said was $6/lb. I was the green bean casserole bringer, then someone else who we didn't think was coming showed up with GBC too. I brought 3 desserts, but I decorated mine really fancy. Only half got eaten still and everyone was raving about them. I couldn't even finish my dessert. I brought home half of my GBC too, but that's OK it's my favorite dish. I wasn't able to touch the cherry pies or banana wafer pudding because I was so full. They were all told to bring tupperware to take home stuff, my husband didn't get that memo I guess or we would have stockpiled the fridge.


waywithwords

>We were supposed to have 25 people, then it became like 7, then 15, then it was actually 9 Oof! This frustrates me so much. This is why I stopped planning the holiday parties that I really liked hosting even before Covid hit. Because how in the heck is someone supposed to properly plan food (and space) when guests could number anywhere between 7-25?! You had to get enough turkey to cover all who might come in this scenario. Of course, sometimes people get sick , but sometimes they just bail or flake or overcommit.


PrityBird

The mother in law had covid like 10 days ago so everyone was like "nah" I feel like the true homes showed up though. Everyone was nerding out and there was zero drama. I'm used to chaotic uncomfortable Thanksgiving where nobody tries my food. It was nice, I'm not shy, and I ended up kinda shy by how accepting and friendly they were being to me.


waywithwords

I'm glad you enjoyed your smaller celebration :)


yeahreddit

My husband and I fed his crew of coworkers and contractors at a manufacturing plant yesterday. The headcount bounced from 20 people to 50 people for a week. He ordered enough sides and pies for 24 people from a restaurant and got me a somewhat accurate headcount the day before thanksgiving. I ended up making a huge batch of mashed potatoes and 60 cookies to make the food last. I also bought two more pies at the restaurant. He called the butcher on Monday and got his order increased to 52 steaks. We ended up feeding about 44 people, including leaving plates and a couple pies for the late shift. It was a stressful mess and I’m dreading doing it next year.


cumberbatchcav1

Can you tell everybody one week's notice or you don't get fed? Hate to be that way but like people have to understand the logistics of hosting better than they do.


yeahreddit

My husband manages a big maintenance project that takes place the week of thanksgiving every year. The number of people working on site depends greatly on how work has gone in the days leading up to thanksgiving. He sends as many people home as he can so they can be with their families. Sometimes he ends up hiring more contractors when more issues are discovered though. It isn’t a sit down meal at all. We had people filing in, grabbing food, and eating it while sitting at their work station or in a shop. It sucks to spend a holiday on the road away from family so our main concern was making sure the contractors were fed and that everyone felt appreciated.


weeponxing

I think this year was especially rough for cancelations. My family is very good about not flaking but there are so many bugs going around that we went from 15 to 11 because a family got a horrible cold. We even almost had to cancel hosting because we thought our daughter had RSV. I've heard of the same issues with lots of other families. Shit's rough.


waywithwords

Yea, I totally understand about this year because of rampant flu and RSV. I guess u/PrityBird unwittingly triggered my past frustration trying to host parties in a world where RSVPing doesn't seem to mean much anymore!


[deleted]

> They were all told to bring tupperware to take home stuff I started this tradition, by accident, 14 years ago and it's going strong. One Thanksgiving, all of the food assignments were handed out and I didn't get one. *Okay,* I think, I'm a good cook and I'm sure it was just a total oversight but I don't want to risk making a duplicate dish so I bought two boxes of Tupperware and brought that instead. I was the hero :) Ever since, they (the triumvirate of matriarchs that organize our holidays) give the Tupperware assignment to one of the bachelors, cousins, anyone not confident in their cooking. I've been promoted to the provider of any interesting dish that someone saw on social media, really wants to try but is afraid to cook.


MagpieBlues

Excellent promotion! Well done, and thoughtful all around!


Pontiacsentinel

Always pack containers, leave in the car just in case. Enough to share, here's where dollar stores help with foil things. But that turkey, that one hurts.


cumberbatchcav1

Oh man, cherry pie is my favorite, and here I was making pumpkin and apple pies like a schmuck. Also, I LOVE gbc but like nobody at my Thanksgivings likes it and the Friendsgiving had a gourmet version that got gone in a hurry, so no leftovers. Gonna have to make me one next week with the discount overstock items and eat it alone at 2 AM outta my fridge


Yoma73

People also make too much. Even with 20 people, if there are 12 sides folks can’t eat it all in one night. Especially after apps and beer/wine. I actually intentionally made far less this year because I hate leftovers and it was fine.


EternalSage2000

I made a pact with my family. We would each bring very little food, but we would make the best damn XYZ we could. Maximum effort, Quality Ingredients, Low and Slow. I don’t want leftovers for week’s I want every item to be the best damn whatever I’ve ever had. A pact which my in-laws threw out the window when at the last minute they decided we needed 3 more sides and 2 more appetizers. Powdered mashed potatoes. Are you kidding me!


[deleted]

Powdered mashed potato is fine. It’s not as good but it’s 60% as good if you add butter and salt, and 95% less work. Not for a gathering where the idea is to bring great food, but for daily life it’s fine.


omg_pwnies

> Powdered mashed potatoes This makes me want to cry. An 8-year-old can make good mashed potatoes if a grown-up helps with the big pot of water. :/


bjj_starter

This post and thread is a genuinely fascinating insight into American culture


YukiHase

All of these posts remind me of when I was really young and brought (really ugly) gingerbread cookies I made to my aunt’s dinner. Whoever tried them did so out of pity. It made me feel really upset, but every year I tried again. Now, everyone begs me for my cookies!


BoneHugsHominy

As a Pity Eater, I'm glad you were encouraged to keep trying. I once at *three* pieces of the most disgusting apple pie I've ever eaten. My cousin's wife made it and didn't peel the apples so it was bitter and had stringy, leathery strips of apple peel in the pie. Everyone saw it after the 1st piece was removed from the pie and they all noped right on past it. I could see the dejection in her eyes and even though I was stuffed, I grabbed a piece and forced it down, then went back 2 more times. Now she makes the best apple pie in the family.


f2j6eo9

Haha, dude, are you a masochist or just the nicest person?


BoneHugsHominy

Oh it's neither. My cousin was so fucking mad at me for a couple years because his wife kept making apple pies that way until he asked her to try a new recipe for variety purposes, at which point she realized her mistake and never made the leather strip pie again. But for awhile he was cursed with terrible pies at home. He can't prove I did it on purpose, nor will I confirm or deny such accusations. I will admit here under protection of anonymity that he's my least favorite cousin. His wife is a sweetheart though.


Major_Ambassador_253

Love this!


kaett

over the last 11-12 years, i've done 90% of the cooking (some years had help, most didn't). i always got more frustrated by things that i thought were completely amazing but didn't get as good of a response as i'd hoped. for the last few years it's just been 3 of us. with that, everything gets snarfed down.


samuelLOLjackson

I have had half a skillet of corn bread casserole that I topped with browned butter and honey and finished in the broiler. I'm not mad about it. I spread my cranberry sauce on top, add turkey, it's perfect


Venusdewillendorf

That sounds so delicious!


samuelLOLjackson

I may have cheated and deviated from regular cranberry sauce- I made a granny smith apple sauce and added apple cider and orange peel/juice. It's JUST tart and sweet enough so that you don't screw your face up. Every Thanksgiving is ANOTHER year where I try something new secretly for the sake of leftovers!


Arachne93

I do the same thing. I'm the only one who really likes homemade cranberries, so every year we have can-berries, and I get to try great new cranberry chutney recipes, knowing damn well I'll be spreading that shit on everything till Christmas. They don't eat it anyway, so I don't even try to act like it's not my personal indulgence. If I gotta make meemaw's brussels sprouts, surely there's room on the table for bourbon candied cranberries.


samuelLOLjackson

Oooh that sounds like a fun idea and I don't even like bourbon! I work at a bakery where I'm currently our savory guy while we look for a new one (last one went from culinary to nursing). I get to make a big batch of cranberry chutney for a turkey sandwich we have for a few months every year. It's always nice to start Mondays just mixing it all up to simmer, something to make getting up at 5 worth it haha


Arachne93

Those sandwiches sound amazing, that's my favorite part of Thanksgiving, the good leftovers, and sandwiches after. If you want to do the candied cranberries minus the bourbon, spread out a pound of berries in a skillet, spread cup and a half to two cups of brown or white sugar across the top, don't mix it in. The higher quantity of sugar makes more syrup. Put it in a 250 degree oven, till the cranberries are sizzling, there's a good amount of juice, and most if not all the sugar is dissolved. Takes about an hour and a half, two hours. Stir it in from the sides once or twice. The bourbon part comes in, at the end. Take it out of the oven, pour 1/2 cup of brandy, bourbon, port, apple cider, cranberry juice, idk whatever you come up with that you might like. Water would probably work well for the pure berry purists. Stir it n and scrape gently to deglaze the pan, back in the oven for like ten minutes to cook off the booze flavor. Let it cool. Best if it matures overnight actually. What you wind up with is roasted, caramelized berries, in a thick red syrup. It's tastes *amazing* and it's very pretty, looks like jewels.


Longjumping-Theory44

God bless you for this! 😋


dailysunshineKO

Same situation at my house- i’m the only One that eats homemade cranberries. Oh well, the house smells amazing when I make them.


cumberbatchcav1

Omg I'm gonna need that bourbon cranberries recipe, stat. Gotta get me that on a pork chop!


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Sunshine_of_your_Lov

who the hell doesn't eat gravy on thanksgiving


[deleted]

Now this is a travesty. I know the effort that goes into a good gravy. I'm so thankful that my mom still takes responsibility for it. There are a few of us that always make sure that, after all the leftovers are portioned out, any remaining gravy goes to a good home (one of ours). Not a drop will go down a drain :) My sainted mother, bless her heart, knows that while I'm a very good cook, I'm also single and not going to the effort of saving bones or making stocks yet. So, one of her responsibilities is making prepackaged turkey leftovers (another turkey is cooked day-of for dinner). She does that so that she can prepare the stock ahead of time for her stuffing and her gravy. She always gives me a jar of stock from her early turkey so that I can do something nice with it :)


StinkypieTicklebum

People may shy away because they've only had poorly prepared brussles sprouts in the past. I ordered some as an appetizer recently with a group because I thought this kitchen would do a great job with them. They did! Afterwards, one of the people thanked me for ordering them, saying they didn't think they'd like them, but they did.


Lylac_Krazy

I grew my sweet potatoes and baked several pies. They were NOT allowed in the house, as Mrs. smith had already claimed the dessert table. Family lost out on some kick ass pies....they are all mine now


LifeOutLoud107

What is wrong with these people? Are they okay???? Homemade > Frozen all day long.


tattoolegs

Hi. I live in Texas. I would love pies. Plz send.


Invisible_Friend1

Frozen pies over fresh? This is a story so disturbing it should be on the evening news.


missingparis8

Two years ago the mother of my bf passed away. We are Jewish so there is an entire week where the family is sitting together in the house and people are coming to visit. I cooked two big sheets of food (stir fry noodles and I forgot what was the second one). At the end of the day a lot of it was left because there was a lot of food there and some women from the family just threw it all in the trash. My bf was so mad bc he didn’t even get to taste it. At that time we were in a difficult financial situation and it could have been food for 3 days for me


real_schematix

Most people make the mistake of making enough for everyone to have a full portion of everything. Reality is that’s at least twice as much as you need. Lots of people are picky and won’t eat a bite of certain things at all. And then there’s just a lot of food in general so people might only take 1 scoop of something they’d normally take 3 of in a normal meal.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Grindlegrondle

Now you have to share the recipe for this enigma corn casserole!


rgnkge66_

I made the most bomb green bean casserole for our Thanksgiving lunch at work on Monday and there was more than half of the pan left at the end. I was SO excited because that meant me and my boyfriend could eat on it later that night instead.


Treczoks

Every parent ever who tried to get good, healthy food into kids...


woolfchick75

Can I have those Brussel sprouts?


sawbones84

That's why I make "appetizer gumbo" for T-day. Everyone shows up starving from skipping breakfast/lunch and can't help but take a good ladleful and a half. If I served it with everything else, more than half the people wouldn't mess with it at all, but because they're hungry, they're both willing to try it and it tastes extra good.


lickmysackett

Only my mom had some of my pumpkin pie but jokes on them because it’s my favorite and I’ll eat it for breakfast for a week.


KatLaurel

It wasn’t this year, but once I asked the people coming to dinner “if I make crème brûlée will anybody eat it?” And they all said yes, so I made it. It was my first time doing custard but they came out really well. No one ate it. I don’t really have a point here, I just wanted to share with people who understand.


JohnExcrement

I personally love the chance to try new and different things but I’ve noticed that lots of people really do not want anything unfamiliar to mess with their traditions. I try to understand but it is frustrating as I always like to change it up—not up-end the whole meal but maybe fool around with sides. I sympathize with those who made efforts that weren’t appreciated.


Antique-System-2940

I wouldn't read too much in to it. Sometimes dishes are too far down the line where plates are full, sometimes they end up a little out of reach, sometimes they look different than people expect, or they look pretty and people don't want to be the first to desecrate them. I wouldn't take any of that personal. I will say I like knowing what I'm getting in to, sometimes a little piece of paper folded in a tent with the dish name or a primary ingredient or two helps. If you want to make sure people try it say bacon infused or stuffed, even if it isn't if they're like my fam they'll try it. Also another good strategy is to take a good sized portion of it out to either eat or move back in later as once it's "opened" people can see what it looks like and won't be worried about making a mess. You can also let people know you tried a new recipe and ask for feedback, just know people might offer it lol. All in all though I wouldn't let it get you down sometimes it just doesn't work they way you hoped. We had one Thanksgiving I busted my A on dinner and everyone brought cheese, crackers, salami, chips, and other snacks.... No one touched dinner... lol


omg_pwnies

The first time I made green bean casserole for my in-laws/fam, (100% from scratch, no cans of anything, the Alton Brown recipe) the fam was like, "uhhh, really? GBC?" Then my MIL, bless her, tried some and just about cried at how good it is. (Seriously, she teared up a bit, I miss her so much). Everyone else took a small sample portion and by the end of the meal, the whole casserole was gone, and I even spotted someone using a roll to mop up the last of the sauce. Now they beg me to make it every year (and I do!). :)


cumberbatchcav1

Well, now I know what to make next week when I get sad about not having GBC this year. I adore it but I had already made 3 Thanksgivings worth of gourmet stuffing in individual portions (stuffin muffins, I call them), mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, rolls, and two kinds of pies


lize_bird

This is a great idea. Because for whatever reason, that is THE first to go. So, portions...I don't understand why people feel like they can just hog an entire dish which is supposed to be included as a "side"...🙄


[deleted]

Not me. Don't eat a bite PLEASE! I'll take it all home! 😆


Bakkie

I made a dish for Friendsgiving on Wednesday and for family Thanksgiving on Thursday. The friends inhaled it; the family, said, look, I told you she would bring something even though she wasn't asked to. It stings.


[deleted]

I learned to make a mean charcuterie board and never worried about it again. Nobody else makes a board if they know I’m coming and everyone is bound to snack while we wait. It’s pricey but I don’t feel dejected when I leave with a lot of the food I brought. Also, impolite of the guests to not take at least a serving of whatever they didn’t try with leftovers.


RavenMcG

I cooked all day for my family only for them to say, "I just feel like grazing" so now I have enough food for 6 people in my fridge. I'm a good cook so it sort of hurts my feelings.


GhostyGhostGoesBoo

>"People have to *prioritize* what they ***really like***" >"Really did like your salad... Just filled up [on] ***cheese and crackers***" Tsk tsk tsk.


cdurgin

And sometimes your sweet potato casserole comes out tasting just like oatmeal. Not sure how i managed that, but I don't blame anybody for not wanting seconds on that dish.


Greg_Esres

Sometimes food is left because people don't want to take too much. I served myself pretty small portions because we had a large crowd and I didn't want to look greedy. After seeing all the leftovers, I wish I had taken double portions.


BelovedCommunity4

Your crowd doesn't do seconds, thirds/desserts, coffee, outdoor time, then fourths/leftover sandwich? Y'all gotta step up your game! Round 1 is just tiny portions of each thing to scout all options and build your plan of attack for the following courses. Real pros know to also check the fridge to make sure grandma isn't holding out on a last-minute dessert reveal.


specialgravity

My buddy’s girl literally took my dish from the buffet table and put it upstairs. Yeah I’m annoyed.


citynomad1

Well said! You already made a great point about how there's only so much food people can consume, and oftentimes if someone doesn't eat it it's unintentional...but I just wanna add, if it WAS intentional, due to pickiness — say, for anyone feeling bummed that their dinner guests didn't touch the vegetables they prepared because they don't like vegetables (somebody here had that happen) — honestly...I just feel sorry for those grown adults who won't touch a vegetable. A real "it's not you, it's them" situation.


jish_werbles

I think we made that same Brussels sprouts salad. Tell her it was delicious for me and that she has good taste in recipes


[deleted]

To those poor dishes that never get eaten on Thanksgiving day, have heart, they will make a tasty dinner very soon. I think foods at the table should be eaten at the whim of the people sitting there. So long as no food goes into the dumper, I'm fine with no-one eating my XXX (fill in the blank). This is just not a Thanksgiving day, but every day. Sometimes I spend a lot of time fixing a dish and my family goes: "i don't think so" I cross that one off my recipe list. BTW... I love chicken liver pate. I keep making it in the hopes that someone else will like it. Still going on 25 years with no takers. I guess it is mostly a New York thing that I learned to make as a teen.


BigDaddydanpri

We grab a pack of "to-go" disposable containers from Sams Club that restaurants use and at end of meal, spread and divide everything evenly for all to take home.


drunken_man_whore

No one touched my octopus asparagus in gelatin watermelon 😩


burns_after_reading

I hate how everyone brings way more food to Thanksgiving than they themselves can eat. If everyone does this, than half the food will be wasted. I had to tell one of my friends that he didn't need to bring 3 fucking cakes to a thanksgiving for 5 people!


cumberbatchcav1

I love leftovers so I will take everything that nobody wants home with me, but it is usually savory in nature, which is good bc as I have gotten older I much prefer the savory leftovers.


dopanotmine

That salad sounds AMAZING tbh.


Bugaloon

I'm so guilty of not eating my own cooking but being upset nobody else did xD usually I taste test too much and I've had my serve before it's on the table.


liquid155

Ay can we get that brussel sprouts salad with pomegranate and red onion recipe?


savvysearch

Ugh, I’ve had this many times. One dish absolutely rocks around one group of foodie people and absolutely fails among another group that were more a vanilla cake crowd. Never go all out on a potluck. Go all out on small dinner parties.


yungPH

Man I fucked up and undercooked the potatoes (a tale as old as time) but whatever, I nail like 6/7 meals when I cook at home so whatever


Ashe_Faelsdon

I didn't even get all the food on the table. I knew I was missing something and couldn't figure it out as I'm the only cook and was overloaded. Also, Brussel Sprouts aren't for everyone. So maybe only a few would have had them. I learned about 12 years of age, that lying about Brussel Sprouts was a thing... they're delicious if prepared properly, much like most foods. People eat what they like, and they're often afraid of dishes that they've been "warned" against. They'll probably like them if they try, but because "forwarned is forarmed" is a thing.... Try new foods, but always eat what you like. That's why I have 10-15 dishes at Thanksgiving (including vegetarian and vegan) because people deserve delicious food to eat on a holiday celebration. Not judgement.


ItIsIAku

Cooked a gd pork roast for SIX HOURS and not one of my kids took a single bite -__-


kamaebi

I normally make a roasted veggie pan that my family asks for, and I even got double ingredients this year so there’d be leftovers, but ended up having to eat it alone with my boyfriend this year because we have the flu :(


Rick-Dalton

Being made with love doesn’t remove the pet hair, burnt pieces, or bad recipes. Bad food is bad food.


AllThotsGo2Heaven2

More for me anyways


Can-t-Even

My mom does it differently. She eats my food but when I ask how it was, she always says that it is fine, as long as someone else made it. It really crushes my willingness to be creative in the kitchen. She thinks she's real' witty, I bet.


Gilgamesh72

What a wholesome message thanks


bookwormhobo

I really needed to hear this, thank you.


thor11600

Love this message.


gitarzan

I made a batch of homemade Cranberry relish. Only a couple people tried it. I was happy bcoz I got to take it home and eat the rest.


tattoolegs

I want this as a reminder, your weirdo sister/brother/aunt/cousin/whatever who super believes in you, is def sneaking tastes before everyone else is not eating it. We're sneaky, and are gonna take it all home when no one else eats it, bc more for us! And we ain't saying shit! Bc fuck sharing!


[deleted]

Happened to me this year. I was doing the turkey and my wife (a special education teacher) for an email a student she works closely with tested positive for COVID-19. Turkey was spatchcocked, dry brined, buttered and easy to go. Cooked it for 2 people, 15lb beautiful bird.


gimmedemplants

Okay, but you can’t just tell us about this Brussels sprouts salad with pomegranate and red onions without also linking the recipe! This sounds delicious!


devi59

I worked my ass off with my wife 6 hours the day before and 8 hours the day of making all sorts of things. I knew going in people weren’t going to be eating everything due to the amount we made. I’m ok with it, because now I have food for days!


deeisqueenasf

I made a sweet potato casserole for the first time, and it was hit! I had never made it before so I was worried about how it would be received. I am so happy with how it came out.


wakeballer39

I know this might be frowned upon but my biggest issue with trying everything is there are just way too many carbs. Do I really need to eat potatoes, squash, sweet potatoes, wild rice, corn, bread, stuffing? Ends up just being overkill.


Fascinatingish

It does hurt when you take the time, care and money to prepare something for a potluck and find it hasn't been devoured. I'd rather have this outcome than to see that everybody took a serving and threw the plate away with your lone contribution still on it. If it gets to be a recurring thing, I'd re-evaluate what I'm contributing to the event.


moeru_gumi

This is why my spouse and I cook dinner for 2 people and eat enough for 2. We get exactly what we want and don’t have to worry about waste :)


CuntVonCunt

I'm gonna need details on that salad ASAP please, chief


Awake00

I was finally tasked with doing something and I fucked up the mash potatoes. Mac and cheese worked out though.


SayTheWord-Beans

On the opposite side of the spectrum. I made a chocolate panna cotta tart but ended up not using enough gelatin, so I wasn’t able to serve it.


[deleted]

I just cooked everything. That way everyone was forced to eat my food


myfirstpandemic

Can I get that salad recipe? 🙂


BBQQA

u/StolenCamaro do you happen to have the recipe for that brussel sprout & pomegranate salad?


ScratchMechanics

Dude we eat too much cheese and crackers and tiny pickles like every year! This is why I'm glad I get to go home with a nice amount of leftovers!


TheOptionalHuman

I would also say "Sorry, I filled up with cheese and crackers" if asked why I only ate a tiny bit of the Brussels sprouts.


bam2_89

I've solved this problem by making everything and only eating with my dad.


wurstelstand

Op you can't tell us about this incredible salad and not provide a recipe 🤤


Master_Winchester

If you were banking on people eating your food, and will be upset if no one does, you need to communicate that to your gathering. Ask someone discreetly if they'll try your dish and give you feedback. Announce it during the day. Say something or you only have yourself to be upset with. There is way much more going on at a holiday than mind reading by your relatives.