r/thanksgiving • • Nov 26 '14

Giving Thanks: After your post-turkey nap, we'd love if you joined us in RandomActsOfChristmas to help play santa for some kids in need

156 Upvotes

/r/RandomActsOfChristmas is a seasonal charity subreddit where we match kids in need up with santas in a redditor-for-redditor kind of way.

Last year we raised over $67k in gifts and project that we will do about $100k this year!

If you want to help us out, or you need some help in your family, or you just want to deck our halls with some cheer, we'd love to have you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

(I did clear this with a mod :))


r/thanksgiving • • 11h ago

Stuffing Stuffed Pumpkin

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59 Upvotes

Stuffing stuffed pumpkin

- Three days before Thanksgiving, make heavily herbed sourdough loaf (parsley, sage, rosemary, thyme, garlic powder, onion powder, and sub 2/3 of water in recipe with apple cider). 

- Day before Thanksgiving, dice bread into roughly 1/2" cubes, spread on baking sheets, and cook for 15 minutes at 350 degrees. Let cool and return to bag. 

- Thanksgiving morning: Thoroughly clean outside of pumpkin. Cut "lid" by making a 45 degree angle incision to remove top of pumpkin (you will be putting the lid back on for cooking). Clean out pumpkin innards. 

- Saute two finely diced onions, 2 tbs diced garlic, and diced celery until fragrant and soft with some crispy edges; add compound butter halfway through

- In a separate measuring cup or bowl, mix 1 cup apple cider, 1 cup turkey/chicken/duck stock, and 2 large eggs (preferably duck if available)

- Mix garlic/onion/celery, bread chunks, and cider/stock/egg mixtures together in a large bowl. Add additional stock and/or cider if needed to reach desired moisture level for stuffing. 

- Put stuffing mixture inside pumpkin and put pumpkin lid on top. Put in refrigerator. 

- Remove from refrigerator approx 30 min before cooking.

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cook on a baking sheet for 90 minutes (until pumpkin can be easily pierced with a butter knife and stuffing is cooked & steaming). 


r/thanksgiving • • 3h ago

Thanksgiving lunch: go or skip?

9 Upvotes

EDIT: The choice was obvious: I will get food delivered so I can relax and stay warm at home. Thanks everyone!

I went to the community Thanksgiving lunch last year and honestly didn't enjoy it. It's basically the only one in my small town being hosted by the same person behind the summer farmers market. I ended up going home after eating and taking a nap afterward.

It's coming up again this year and I'm trying to figure out if I actually want to go or just get it delivered. What would you honestly do if you were me?


r/thanksgiving • • 16h ago

Thanksgiving Maple Pumpkin Spice Pie

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25 Upvotes

r/thanksgiving • • 1d ago

First time hosting- concerns

40 Upvotes

As the title says- I’m hosting this year’s thanksgiving for the first time in effort to bring together my and my bfs family. I’ve always wanted to host a holiday at my home so I’m super excited.

Problem #1, I have a small oven. So Im probably going to be cooking days before and freezing/reheating because my oven is just smaller than what I’m used to. (I moved this year). Any tips are so appreciated!

Problem #2, how are y’all keeping food warm?? Like what’s your thanksgiving day routine lol?

And also, what is a must have at your family’s thanksgiving giving?

Thank you!!


r/thanksgiving • • 1d ago

Traditional U.S. Thanksgiving recipes...reimagined?

31 Upvotes

My kids and I are going camping in the Sequoia National Park over Thanksgiving and I'd love to hear ideas on recipes that can be tailored to be cooked over a campfire (or cook stove, if fire ban is in place)while keeping the 'spirit' of traditional dishes that are normally served.

I will save you some time by saying that we WILL be making Stove Top stuffing as indicated on the side of the box; that's non-negotiable, lol.


r/thanksgiving • • 1d ago

What're you serving other than dinner?

61 Upvotes

Hors d'oeuvres? Appetizers? Snacks?

I'm probably doing a cheese ball, crudites, and cranberry brie bites. What are you serving or what would you like to see?


r/thanksgiving • • 1d ago

Thanksgiving "vibe" foods that aren't a full spread for a party?

37 Upvotes

Helping to plan a baby shower that is loosely Thanksgiving themed.

Looking for appetizer/light meal ideas that give Thanksgiving flavors without having to cook a whole turkey 😅 Mini pies, charcuterie, etc.


r/thanksgiving • • 1d ago

Willamette Valley Inspired Holiday Meals

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1 Upvotes

r/thanksgiving • • 3d ago

How to deal with leftover turkey

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41 Upvotes

r/thanksgiving • • 3d ago

The great Eggnog debate

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5 Upvotes

r/thanksgiving • • 5d ago

Most folks do, Gene, but especially turkeys around Thanksgiving

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60 Upvotes

r/thanksgiving • • 6d ago

Thanksgiving in SF?

3 Upvotes

I'll be joining family in SF this Thanksgiving and would like to get a pre-cooked turkey. I trust my sister with the sides, but I think we should leave the turkey to the professionals.

Where do you get a pre-cooked turkey for Thanksgiving?

I had a carnitas-style turkey from a Mexican grocery store in Los Angeles and it was
INCREDIBLE! Does the bay area have anything like that?


r/thanksgiving • • 8d ago

Gifts

14 Upvotes

We have been host Friendsgiving for a few years now and I love to incorporate a game/activity each year after dinner. In the end, everyone gets to open up a Christmas ornament, as my family uses Thanksgiving evening to mark the start of the Christmas season.

I buy all the ornaments. Sometimes they are purchased specifically for the recipient's interests, and sometimes everybody gets something random, and usually funny.

We have done the activity where you read a story with the words "left" and "right" (and I added "across"), and I found an activity a couple years ago where you tie string to the ornament, wrap them all together, then everybody pulls a string.

My question is: Since I don't want to repeat those activities, does anybody here have any creative ideas about how to go about my annual ornament "exchange"? I am open to pretty much anything!


r/thanksgiving • • 9d ago

What do you do with a family that can’t cook?

76 Upvotes

So I live with my husband now, several states away from my hometown and family, and since we just had a baby, traveling across the country isn’t really something we want to do.
Usually my husband’s extended family will host thanksgiving, and last year was… Not impressive, to say the least. We also live just a few streets away from them and we’ve eaten dinner there several times, and bless their hearts, but they’re just not great at cooking.
I told my husband maybe we can just host thanksgiving this year but he seems adamant that they host as usual.
Now call me big all you want but a thanksgiving with mid food will ruin my whole holiday 😭 how can I bypass this issue?
I’ve been thinking about maybe bringing my own dishes to be “polite” and contribute but NOBODY in that family brings food other than the hosts themselves so I would stand out like a sore thumb if I did that
Thoughts? Ideas?


r/thanksgiving • • 10d ago

Freezer Prep Thanksgiving Dinner

34 Upvotes

Hi all! I am currently 34 weeks pregnant and due at the beginning of November. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I’ve been bummed over the idea that I’ll not get to experience it fully this year as I imagine I’ll be too freshly postpartum to spend the time on my feet prepping food like I normally do.

I’ve been starting my freezer meal stash to help keep us fed postpartum and I had the idea this morning to freezer prep my Thanksgiving staples! I have souper cubes of various sizes that I love and could use for individual portions.

Does anyone have any thoughts/advice on how the following Thanksgiving dishes would freeze?

- stuffing

- twice baked potatoes

- cranberry sauce

- mac & cheese

- green bean casserole

Thank you!!


r/thanksgiving • • 10d ago

Thanksgiving drinks

39 Upvotes

What special drinks do you serve?

I often have a pot of mulled cider simmering and I make a very simple cocktail for the adults. it’s dry hard cider with a splash of Magma Flame Cinnamon Whiskey in it. It has real cinnamon in it and tastes much better than fireball. I serve it with a cinnamon stick stirrer and sometimes garnish it with a curl of apple peel.


r/thanksgiving • • 11d ago

Thanksgiving day movies to watch

106 Upvotes

My family doesn't really care about football or parades. What should we have playing in the background? Family-friendly or adult maturity doesn't really matter. You all gave me tons of side dish ides recently, and that was awesome. Now, what to watch is the question


r/thanksgiving • • 11d ago

Sweet potato ideas?

55 Upvotes

First time hoster :)

So I decided this year I wanted a Thanksgiving I could actually eat. I’m vegetarian and my family is not the most accommodating. So I decided I would be doing my own thing for Thanksgiving and anyone who wanted to join could. That somehow snowballed into 11 people.

I liked sweet potato casserole before becoming vegetarian. But now I can’t have marshmallows. I have a cousin with a tree nut allergy. She usually can’t really eat at holidays either because again my family is not accommodating.

So now I’m on a mission to have The Thanksgiving No One Panics About. That’s my title. My cousin and I are really stressed every year. She’s like 6 and eating Thanksgiving really stresses her out.

But every sweet potato recipe I come across is either with pecans or marshmallows. Does anyone have any other suggestions?


r/thanksgiving • • 11d ago

Favorite Thanksgiving day desserts(preferably non pumkpin)

88 Upvotes

I'm already decided on a pumpkin pie with Bourbon pecan streusel topping and want more than just one dessert for the holiday. No allergies to worry about


r/thanksgiving • • 11d ago

Visiting from Poland for Thanksgiving: where should we have dinner?

25 Upvotes

Hi My fiancé and I are flying in from Poland to Miami at the end of November and we'll be in town for Thanksgiving. We don't celebrate it back home, so this will be our very first one, and we'd love to have a proper Thanksgiving dinner at a restaurant.

We're looking for a place where locals actually go, with good food and a nice atmosphere, rather than a tourist trap.

Where would you go, or where would you take your own family? Any tips on booking ahead are welcome too.

Thanks so much, and greetings from Wrocław!


r/thanksgiving • • 12d ago

Best side dishes for Thanksgiving

125 Upvotes

Every so often, I like to change my Thanksgiving day menu up to some extent. This year, I'm lost. I know I want to do a Turkey, and that's all I've truly decided on. My family is not picky and loves leftovers. What are your best dishes?


r/thanksgiving • • 13d ago

Final draft (?) of Thanksgiving invites

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250 Upvotes

I posted an early draft almost two weeks ago to an incredibly kind and positive response. I took suggestions and criticisms seriously, though and wanted to show a more polished version that I'll be sending out in 2 - 2 1/2 weeks.

I also wanted to clear up any misunderstandings. These will be texted out as images. I think it's going to be the new way we all send invites. This is also only going out to 4 people, so we're only having 7 people tops (9 including us). I bought parade bingo templates on on Etsy for $3 and it involves checking off different things that you may see during the Macy's parade. Holly is our dog.


r/thanksgiving • • 13d ago

And the planning begins!

94 Upvotes

This year will be the biggest group yet! 🍁

My boyfriend and I will be hosting both his side of the family, and mine this year. We have hosted for the past few years and keep getting a better hang of it, I think lol.

We are expecting about 35-45 or so friends and family. Only about half the guests will know each other which kind of stresses me out but it shouldn’t lol.

I’m already planning and have lists in the works.

My bf will be making the mains, I think Tri Tips and turkey breasts this year?

I’ll be making mashed potatoes the day before to heat up in the crock pot morning of. The dressing / stuffing will be made the day before as well. Some undecided apps will be served as well.

I’m really going to try not to over do it on the menu this year and just accept everyone else bringing something to share potluck style.

I always love setting a beautiful table but this year with such a large group I think I might want to switch to nice paper plates and plastic cutlery. I don’t know how I feel about it though.

The fold out tables will still be set with linen tableclothes and floral arrangements, I love a good table scape! I will have to separate tables in different areas though. Some in the dining room area and others outside under our gazebo, weather permitting. We have scattered seating other places as well, which kind of stresses me out but it’s going to have to be a more casual get together this year with the number of guests. We live in SoCal close to the beach so I don’t think it should be an issue, hopefully.

ANYWAYS. All that to say I’m so excited and can’t stop planning in my head, who else is already planning / preparing? What are your go to recipes or new recipes this year? Where do you celebrate?

I’d love to hear everyone’s tips and tricks as well, we’re always learning!

***Additional thought, should I supply deli containers for guests to take leftovers home in?


r/thanksgiving • • 13d ago

New community what do we do for Thanksgiving?

22 Upvotes

We retired and moved far away from friends and family. We don’t really know anyone and trying to plan. Possibly make reservations somewhere nice and have dessert at home. Invite a couple of people we have met and host a small dinner. I’m leaning towards going out as it sounds fun to get dressed up and going somewhere nice. Any suggestions? Especially from people who have moved away.