Thanksgiving Menu

I am going to be hosting my first Thanksgiving and just finalized the menu!

I'm stressing so please let me know your opinions. Do I need more of something? Is something missing? Do you think my guests will like the choices? We are having 10 to 16 adults.

Appetizers:
Cheese Platter
Fruit Platter
Bread/Cracker Platter
Cranberry Baked Brie
Chestnut Stuffed Mushrooms
Olive Tapenade
Vegetable Platter
Dip (Sourcream-Garlic)

Main Meal:
Turkey
Fresh Whole Cranberry Sauce
Canned Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Walnut and Orange Cranberry Sauce
Gravy
Applesauce
Sweet Potato Casserole with Marshmallows
Turkey Sausage and Chestnut Stuffing
Plain Stuffing
Mashed Yams & Apples
Garlic Mashed Potatoes
Fresh String Beans sauteed in lemon and garlic
String Bean Casserole
Candied Carrots
Freshly Baked Rolls
Homemade cranberry whipped butter (plain butter will also be served)
Pickles (Sour and Half-Sour)

Desserts:
Pumpkin Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies
Chocolate Pudding Pie with Whipped Cream
Vanilla Ice Cream

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

I think it is way too much food for 10 people...16, maybe.

I think some items may be a LITTLE excessive...you honestly don't need 3 different cranberry sauces, plus applesauce and gravy, plus 2 kinds of butter. No reason for yams and apples when you have sweet potato casserole. No reason for 2 types of string beans plus carrots.

You should have:
Turkey
1 potato side
1 sweet potato side
1-2 stuffings ONLY if there are non-meat eaters
2 vegetables
Bread
Butter
1 cranberry sauce
1 gravy

ETA: Offering variety is good IF there is variety and your menu seems rehash one item over and over again. Stick to what works. No sense in making a ton of food when people cannot eat that much when you have plenty of appetizers.

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

Omg r u feeding an army...that's soooo much food..to much

First off don't serve all those app bc ppl wnt have room for food...I would limit to maybe 3 app

And agree way to many choices for entrees....I mean u prob dnt even have room on table for it...no need to have 3 of the same thing..if someone doesn't like it they wnt eat it...

Deff turkey, cranberry, potato and sweet or sweet and a rice....2 vegetables, stuffing and gravy

For dessert try not to make to much as ppl will prob bring stuff and then u will have sooo much

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

The only things I would leave off are the yam and apple dish and a couple of the apps. I don't know about everyone else but I like to have a variety of things to choose from. And the two versions of the string beans I think is great bc it seems like one is a more healty option than the other. I think it's nice that if someone wants a healthier option for a side dish you'll have it for them. to me the holidays are about having a ton of food, it's not like a regular dinner party, kwim?

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

Thanks girls.

I know there are some double of items, but I have a really picky family eating wise. Some only eat meat, some are vegetarians. DH's side of the family only eats yams and apples my side only eats sweet potatoes with marshmallows. We have to merge our two sides while appeasing everyones preferences. DH's brother only eats regular white potatoes. I prefer fresh whole cranberries and since I am hosting, I win... but mostly everyone else likes the canned version (and since i don't have to make it, why not include it?) and my mother demands the walnut and orange relish although... I might ask her to bring it now since I think she is the only one. And with the vegetables, again people eat different things so I wanted more of a variety.

I will probably cut back on appetizers though, since I don't want people filling up before dinner. But we do tend to go over the top on holidays since we do make a whole day of it... morning to night!

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

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Posted by summerbride20

Thanks girls.

I know there are some double of items, but I have a really picky family eating wise. Some only eat meat, some are vegetarians. DH's side of the family only eats yams and apples my side only eats sweet potatoes with marshmallows. We have to merge our two sides while appeasing everyones preferences. DH's brother only eats regular white potatoes. I prefer fresh whole cranberries and since I am hosting, I win... but mostly everyone else likes the canned version (and since i don't have to make it, why not include it?) and my mother demands the walnut and orange relish although... I might ask her to bring it now since I think she is the only one. And with the vegetables, again people eat different things so I wanted more of a variety.

I will probably cut back on appetizers though, since I don't want people filling up before dinner. But we do tend to go over the top on holidays since we do make a whole day of it... morning to night!

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I understand what you are dealing with having picky eaters but you should consider cutting back or making very small portions of the green beans and sweet potatoes. I made the same mistake the first year I hosted Thanksgiving and in the end we threw out a lot of food. There are only so many left overs two people can eat.

Re: Thanksgiving Menu

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Posted by FutureMrsG

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Posted by summerbride20

Thanks girls.

I know there are some double of items, but I have a really picky family eating wise. Some only eat meat, some are vegetarians. DH's side of the family only eats yams and apples my side only eats sweet potatoes with marshmallows. We have to merge our two sides while appeasing everyones preferences. DH's brother only eats regular white potatoes. I prefer fresh whole cranberries and since I am hosting, I win... but mostly everyone else likes the canned version (and since i don't have to make it, why not include it?) and my mother demands the walnut and orange relish although... I might ask her to bring it now since I think she is the only one. And with the vegetables, again people eat different things so I wanted more of a variety.

I will probably cut back on appetizers though, since I don't want people filling up before dinner. But we do tend to go over the top on holidays since we do make a whole day of it... morning to night!

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I understand what you are dealing with having picky eaters but you should consider cutting back or making very small portions of the green beans and sweet potatoes. I made the same mistake the first year I hosted Thanksgiving and in the end we threw out a lot of food. There are only so many left overs two people can eat.

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Yeah, merging doesn't mean you make basically separate meals/dishes for each person. I again think it is way too much and the variety isn't there if you're offering similar versions of the same things. I also don't think your guests should expect you to cater to their individual preferences (vegetarian is one thing).