Planning Thanksgiving Frugally - Page 3

[velochic]

This is my paternal grandmother's recipe. She was born in 1915 and this is how *her* mother made them. She didn't have electricity until they moved from the small farmhouse my father was born in back in the 30's and she cooked these in a wood cookstove. She gave me this recipe back in the 80's before she passed away. These amounts are all close approximations (she originally had no measurements at all for this recipe) and you may need to adjust the flour and sugar based on your own taste and the moisture content of the egg and humidity. Double the sugar and you have a sweet dough perfect for making scratch cinnamon rolls.

1/2 c. body temp water
1/2 c. body temp whole milk
1/4 c. sugar
1 t. salt
1 t. yeast
1/2 c. unsalted butter, room temperature (of someone who keeps their house warm )
1 large egg, beaten
3 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

Combine water, milk, sugar, salt and 5 T. butter in a big bowl. Stir to blend well and then set in a warm place for 5 minutes to let the yeast bloom. Stir in beaten egg. Add flour, 1/2 c. at a time until the dough gets to stiff. Turn out on floured surface and knead 5 - 6 minutes, adding flour as needed to have a dough that is not sticky, but not dry. The dough should be stiff, but not sticky. This is really the part where you have to go by feel. Sometimes I have to add as much as a half cup more of flour. Cover the dough and set in a warm place to rise. When doubled, punch down, shape as you wish (cloverleaf or parker house... whatever you want... I like just a pan of rolls as they are the easiest) and put into a buttered dish or muffin tins if doing cloverleaf rolls. Cover and set in a warm place for 2nd rise. When they have a nice rise, bake at 375F until golden on top... about 25 minutes. Brush hot tops with remaining butter when done.

[velochic]

Originally Posted by Chicky2

We usually have several families come, so the price is cheaper. Except pies. I cannot make less than like 80 pies, lol.

So far we have:
Appetizers: Sweet potato empanadas, relish tray w/olives, home made bread and butter pickles, home made dill pickles, home made dilly beans, home made zuchinni pickles, and pickled peppers, sweet potato cranberry bread, cheese ball and crackers, and I'm soon to find out what all my neighbors will bring.

Sides:
Dijon brussels sprouts (mmm!), grown up green bean casserole, home made cranberry sauce, roasted sweet potatoes, the rolls I posted in above post, and whatever else anyone will bring.

Gravies/sauces:
Giblet gravy and whatever else anyone brings

Meats:
Brined and roasted turkey, smoked turkey, smoked fresh ham

Desserts:
white chocolate cheesecake, pumpkin pie, walnut praline pumpkin pie, sweet potato pie, pecan praline sweet potato pie, lemon chess pie, apple cranberry cobbler, pecan pie, and chocolate pecan pie

I have all the flours and butter I need for pie crusts, all the nuts I need, too. I have the fresh ham in my freezer, and my dd is bringing home 2 turkeys today, priced at .40/lb. I have all the pickles and peppers for the reslish tray. I have all the yeast I need for the rolls. I'll pick up pie pumpkins and sweet potatoes here and there and cook and puree and freeze. I'll probably make a kale dish, too, because it won't stop growing in the garden, lol.

Oh, and we decorate w/things we find in nature, and cover the tables w/tablecloths and my nice earthenware dishes my parents got for a wedding gift.

Lots of really good ideas here. I wish we could find turkey so cheap. Those prices have eluded us for years.

I think I'm going to stick to asparagus... I get it for $1.99/lb. at Aldi (frozen), so it's not really that expensive.

The cheeses really get me, so I think I might do a cheeseball this year instead. We still love our brie, so I may just do those two and instead of more cheeses, do a relish plate. As I said, since I don't like pickled foods, I don't think of that.

Most of the people that come for dinner are in very serious financial straits. They are on fixed income and I don't feel comfortable asking them to spend what could amount to a week's worth of groceries to bring a dish big enough for everyone. I don't mind buying everything, but I know that I need to find a good balance between having a really nice meal for these people and being frugal about it. I've been told twice now to quit whining, so I'll just do my own thing and maybe others can use suggestions here to help them. I've gotten a lot of good ideas already and thanks to those that were helpful.

[mnnice]

Originally Posted by allnaturalmom

I'm sorry.... this just struck me as funny!

Dh's family get together with a group of about forty and everybody is assigned something (we travel the most distance and always get rolls or bread).

On my side the whole group is ten and while my brother and SIL usually bring some food from home to share. The rest of us (my parents, DH/SO, two sons, and my other brother) just hang out and cook together on Wednesday night and Thursday morning at my parents. I either bring unpreped food along or get groceries once we get to their house.

[Chicky2]

Originally Posted by Ola_

I really wanted to make these for Thanksgiving this year but since we were doing the whole thing (for a big group of people too!) DH recommended scratching them off the list so we don't overload ourselves. I still hope to make them one day though!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2...ding_required/

Those look great. The recipe I posted a link to is easier, though. Really, super easy, w/no kneading. I can whip up a batch in no time. I like to replace some of the flour w/cornmeal w/certain meals, too. Or a white flour/ww flour/ground oat mixture. They are SOOOO good.

Originally Posted by velochic

I've been told twice now to quit whining, so I'll just do my own thing and maybe others can use suggestions here to help them. I've gotten a lot of good ideas already and thanks to those that were helpful.

You started this thread to help others get ideas. I get that. It's the same as the Christmas budget wdyd to fit it all in thread that I started. Thanks for starting it. Your menu looks fabulous. I get that fancy some years, and some years it's more 'homey' food. It's all good, though, because it's about family and friends and eating and laughing and oftentimes it's about making sure everyone has somewhere to go and feast.

[mum4boys]

Originally Posted by velochic

Most of the people that come for dinner are in very serious financial straits. They are on fixed income and I don't feel comfortable asking them to spend what could amount to a week's worth of groceries to bring a dish big enough for everyone. I don't mind buying everything, but I know that I need to find a good balance between having a really nice meal for these people and being frugal about it. I've been told twice now to quit whining, so I'll just do my own thing and maybe others can use suggestions here to help them. I've gotten a lot of good ideas already and thanks to those that were helpful.

How many people will be coming to your dinner? I think you need to put it in that perspective. If you have 20 people coming over and you only spend $100 on the meal that is only $5.00 a head. You cannot eat a really nice dinner at McDonald's for that.

Where do you live? Maybe someone can heads up you when Turkeys go on sale. You are paying way too much for that.

[Birdie B.]

Last year was the first time we hosted Thanksgiving, and we had a potluck. But instead of a turkey, we got a large roasting chicken. It was plenty of meat and was really tasty - and much cheaper than a turkey! Except for those of you who get free turkeys - wow!

I don't really decorate either, but I am slowly acquiring holiday decor: one of my mother's old red tablecloths, some candlesticks, and some colored corn and gourds from a friend's recent wedding (I helped with cleanup and got to take some decorations home).

This is a great thread, but it's makng me so hungry!

[madskye]

I don't think you ever whined--you just said you were looking for ideas.

Would you be able to use frozen lobster tail in your mousse, since you know you are making it? No good for you next year, but in August here in NJ the lobsters are "soft" or "peelers" and they are only 3.99 per pound! Less than chicken when it's not on sale! You could freeze a tail and keep it to use for Thanksgiving.

Canapes--you mention that most are stuffed with meat. What about more vegetarian apps this year instead? Potato puffs/cheese puffs--warm and filling but save the meat for the main event?

Cheeses are tough--one thing that you could do is put out more sliced fruit on your cheese board. Maybe smaller wedges of cheese surrounded by sliced apples, pears, or grapes--whatever is less expensive. Better for your cholesterol too!

I bought an organic turkey last year and it cost about the same as a week of pre-school. I hate to buy non-organic, but I'm not sure that I will do it this year. Cheap meat...we all pay for our ideals...and for me it's easier to stand behind my convictions when I'm just feeding my tiny family of 3.

And the wines--well--you know you're hosting again this year--the best thing to do is ask your local wineseller to work with your menu and upcoming sales. Perhaps figure out what you spent on wine last year, and then ask the wine seller what's just as good and would fit with your new budget? I love my wine guy at the local buy-rite! You might even get a free tasting out of that!

[velochic]

bumping for people who PM'd me wanting my gma's yeast rolls recipe



I didn't realize there more posts on the thread.

To answer some questions... yes I will use frozen lobster tail... and I found it on sale a month ago and it's been in my freezer, so that will help.

I found turkey for 99cent/lb. That is the best price I can find for Butterball. My mom refuses to eat any other "brand".

Thanks Madskye for the cheese ideas. Actually Aldi has really yummy grapes (surprisingly) right now for 99cent/lb so that would be a great addition to the cheese board if they still have the sale and the grapes are still sweet.

We will have about 12 people. 4 of us (dh, dd, mom and I) and about 8 guests. My mother will have a few elderly, single people here from her church. I simply will not ask these ladies to bring anything as they are on a fixed income. A couple of friends that are childless are planning to come, and then some family. Everybody says they're not sure what kind of wine to bring, but I may just step outside of my comfort zone of being proper and specifically say, "Bring 2 bottle of Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio".

I hope others can find some tips to save this holiday. Thanks again!

[Leta]

Yellow Tail Pinot Grigio is one of my very favorite mass market wines. Even though it's summery, it pairs nicely with fruit and cheese. And it's not too pricey, so it's not like your asking a lot.