By Stacey

November 17, 2008 2:44 PM | Link to this

Whether I’m in town with my in-laws or out of town with my family, we generally come up with a menu (it’s pretty much the same every year) and ask who wants to do what. After all of these years we know each others stregnths and weaknesses and we try to plan around them. The only issue we had is that one sister-in-law would volunteer to bring a side dish but would always go to her parents’ house first so we would be through with dinner by the time they arrived. We decided to just ask her to bring a dessert (we have a variety for holidays) and by the time they arrive we are ready for dessert.

By Question for Jeanne

November 18, 2008 8:54 AM | Link to this

Jeanne, will you share how you make mashed potatoes? Do you use garlic? I am trying to figure out how to give mine more flavor. Sorry for posting this here, but I couldn’t find an email address.

By Mattie

November 18, 2008 9:13 AM | Link to this

Back when my parents were still in their big house, my siblings and I would gather there for Thanksgiving. One person was responsible for picking and distributing the menu beforehand, along with the recipes so everyone could make something. Because we only had to focus on one dish, the recipes could be, and were, “gourmet” versions of the old standbys. We had some great meals. Now my parents are in a small home, and all the siblings are scattered across the country. I cook for my own family, and it’s pretty basic, mashed potatoes, stuffing, vegetables, etc.

By lovelyliz

November 18, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this

My divorced sister’s daughter will be spend Thanksgiving with her father and the various factions of his divorced parents’ families.

My newly married sister will spend Thanksgiving with her in-law’s.

I will be having Thanksgiving on Friday. It’s a tradition westarted when we realized that cooking on Thursday means adding one more place and one more meal to everyone’s agenda and more stress than anyone needs to deal with. My way means everyone will get to drop by and stay as long as they wish.

After shopping of course……

By Not Jeanne but...

November 18, 2008 9:30 AM | Link to this

To add flavor to mashed potatoes, Garlic (I prefer roasted), chicken stock, cheese (any kind really), onion (carmalized yum). Just a couple of ideas. Hope it helps.

By Pie Guy

November 18, 2008 9:36 AM | Link to this

I am the pie maker - crust is made from scratch - fruit is fresh from the market or frozen by me earlier in the year for the off-season. Nobody does it better so I always volunteer to make and bring pies whether it’s a family or friends gathering. So far, no one’s ever refused one of my pies or pulled the control freak card.

By Jeanne Besser

November 18, 2008 9:42 AM | Link to this

In response to question for Jeanne - I boil my potatoes, usually Yukon Gelds that don’t need to be peeled, that I have cut into large chunks. When they are tender, I drain them well. I add a generous amount of butter into the empty cooking pot and let it melt. I return the potatoes and add a bit of milk, half & half or cream and generously salt them. I beat them with an electric mixer or a potato masher until they are creamy but still have some bits of potato in them, adding liquid as necessary for creaminess. If I want garlic mashed potatoes — during the last few minutes of boiling I add some garlic cloves to the water. Cooking the garlic eliminates the bite, which can be overpowering to some. If I want to add other flavors, I sprinkle with chives or mix in some sour cream. Check out the Nov. 24 Food & Drink section for a mashed potato recipe that is topped with roasted garlic cloves.

By mel

November 18, 2008 9:45 AM | Link to this

This year mom is making turkey. I am bringing in mac n chesse, potato salad (mom’s recipe) and some non alcoholic sparkling grape juice. My sister can’t come and my brother is making dessert. Mom said she was tired of always making everything and I understand. We don’t mind helping out.

By David S

November 18, 2008 9:51 AM | Link to this

For lump free potatoes consider buying a potato ricer. It is like a large garlic press for potatoes with 1/8 inch holes or so. Actually if you like playing with Playdoh back in the day, you’ll love this too. You can leave the peels on the potatoes too, since the ricer will keep the skins out of the mix. Works great for sweet potatoes too. Guaranteed lump free.

Personally I like to do most of the cooking myself. My wife handles the simple items but the big stuff like the vegetarian roast or Tofurkey or whatever, the stuffing, the mashed potatoes and the gravy I like to handle.

By clyde

November 18, 2008 9:52 AM | Link to this

We have decided not to bother with holiday meals this year.

By la

November 18, 2008 10:02 AM | Link to this

I am a bit of a control freak and like to do it all. However, I want my guest to be just that, guest so I don’t want them to have bring anything. Only themselves.

By Becky

November 18, 2008 10:03 AM | Link to this

One of my sisters cooks the turkey, the other the ham.I make potato salad, corn bread & biscuits (from scratch)..Everything else, we cook together..

By GG

November 18, 2008 12:48 PM | Link to this

I always do the Turkey, dressing, & Gravy, (I’m famous for it) & mashed potatoes, & sweet potato souffle, everyone else brings whatever they wish to bring, I’ve tried assigning dishes to everyone, but they bring what they want anyway, so if we have 4 mac & cheese and no green beans, it’s OK. Mashed Potatoes, I add salt, pepper, 1 1/2 sticks of butter and about 1/4 cup Mayo, & half & half if needed - really wonderful

By Mil Mom

November 18, 2008 2:04 PM | Link to this

Well, as my 5 siblings and I have grown, my father has made some adjustments to our tradional Thanksgiving; I don’t remeber the last time we actully celebrated it on T-day’ usually the weekend after. My younger sibs go to their moms while their outta school, up until last year I worked retail and always worked T-day, now I’m in the Army and will be lucky enough to come home for part of the holidays. My dad will cook a ham, and fry a turkey,and make some fresh bread, then its pretty much up to my sisters and I to do the rest. Our biggest conflict is usally to make mashed potatoes from a box or from scratch, or skins or no skins, so now we alternate. Me and my sisters love cooking the rest, and chasing our dad from the kitchen (he did most of it himself for almost 20 years). The week before I will usually make the trip to the package store and me and my dad will experiment with differnt mixtures wihile everyone else watches the game. My MIL on the other hand let her daughter help once, and it was the last time (her daughter is a health food junkie, we ended up with a green turkey that year, literally)She goes all out for the traditional southern meal, and always make too much food (then sends it with me to give to my dad and siblings, she lives alone). This will however be the first T-day with a grand-baby. My dad has already said the 6 month old will be eating mashe potatoes and pumkin pie. LOL, I’ll see about that.

By Anne

November 25, 2008 1:04 PM | Link to this

I like to do it all myself if I invite guests over, which isn’t too often usually its just immediate family.

By fedrik

December 2, 2008 8:43 AM | Link to this

Hi,

You want to know how people delegate holiday meals then better check it out in www.tabup.com. You can have recipes delivered to your TabUp page (via RSS), schedule your recipes for the week on a calendar and keep a running grocery list (all without leaving your TabUp page).