"Julie Bove" wrote in message news

"Cheri" > wrote in message
news
> "Cindy Hamilton" > wrote in message
> ...
>> On Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 8:20:41 AM UTC-4, jay wrote:
>>> On 10/30/18 6:42 PM, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>> > For both Thanksgiving and Christms I always print out the following
>>> > and put in a ring binder. Having that in front of me allows for
>>> > additions, deletions, and miscellaneous other notes. The printouts
>>> > include:
>>> >
>>> > Menu
>>> >
>>> > List of every recipe, or instructions for making something that
>>> > doesn't actually have a recipe.
>>> >
>>> > List of ingredients for each recipe. Shopping list included.
>>> >
>>> > Timetable for everything that has to be made, whether it's on a prior
>>> > day or time of day that anything has to be cooked.
>>> >
>>> > I've been doing this for years, and it has saved me from many an
>>> > issue when putting everything together. The best part of it is that
>>> > I don't havae to think about it. It's all there in front of me.
>>> >
>>> > I wonder if any of this would work for anyone else?
>>> >
>>> You are very organized. Me not so much. Do you cook separate TG meals
>>> for the two of you? May try a prepared take out turkey dinner from the
>>> local cafeteria chain. Feeling kinda lazy about it all.
>>>
>>> jay
>>
>> That wouldn't fly in our house--my husband is very particular
>> about his stuffing.
>>
>> We make turkey, stuffing, gravy, and tossed salad. No need to
>> organize it like Operation Overlord.
>>
>> Cindy Hamilton
>
>
> I've never felt the need to "organize" or make lists in advance either.
> Traditional meal like yours, maybe a pie, cake etc. as well. Holiday
> cooking doesn't really need to be complicated.

The only time I felt the need to do that was when I was cooking for a lot of
people and having to come up with essentially two or three different meals
at a time due to medical problems, toddlers or food dislikes. Then I finally
hit on one meal that everyone would eat. Problem solved.

When I was growing up, we often ate holiday meals out because my mom hated
to cook. But when she did cook, it was always a stress filled mess.

She would always cook the turkey the night before and then carve it and
reheat it in the oven, which ensured it would be tough and dried out. We had
scratch mashed potatoes until she discovered Betty Crocker and then we had
instant. Also yams with marshmallow topping. Cranberry salad. Jell-O salad.
Cranberry bread. Brown and Serve rolls. Gravy from a packet. Canned corn.
Green salad.

Prior to dinner we had Fritos and bean dip, mixed nuts, a cheese plate, and
a relish plate. Usually the cheese and relish plate made it to the table
too.

Dessert was usually a frozen carrot cake, served frozen with frozen Cool
Whip. More cranberry bread, fudge. Sometimes divinity. I'm sure there were
other things but I didn't pay much attention because I always scooted the
relish tray in front of me and had at it while they ate dessert.

And every year, my mom forgot to put the Jell-O salad on the table. Why she
even made it, I do not know.

The meal was never enjoyable and we were not feeling thankful at all. Reason
being, there was so much screaming and carrying on as the meal was being
prepared. She enlisted everyone's help but micromanaged everything we did.
And we had to do everything exactly as she said, including whipping the
potatoes very well, despite the box saying not to whip. The addition of a
microwave for some reason only made things worse. The food was never all
ready at once and at some point, she would start shrieking and telling us to
sit down and begin eating what we had. This never worked because we wouldn't
have butter or gravy or some other thing that we really needed and she
wouldn't let us go into the kitchen. She also wound up burning at least one
thing after we cleared out of there.

Memories like that are what make me try hard to keep it simple. I make what
I can ahead of time and if I can find something to buy that's good, I buy
it. I finally found some good pre-made mashed potatoes that actually taste
good. Just potatoes, cream, butter, salt and pepper. Need to try to figure
out where I bought those. I'd rather have less variety, but still good food.

==

Well, she might not have enjoyed cooking, but you all never went hungry. Be
thankful for small mercies