I love going to Thanksgiving dinner at someone else's house. They cook the turkey, clean the house, set the table, and I show up. It isn't quite a free ride, though. Even if the Thanksgiving host, who's usually family, says they don't need anything, I feel terrible arriving empty-handed. But knowing what to bring can be challenging.
I once brought mashed potatoes to a Thanksgiving dinner I attended as a newlywed, because I heard my husband's aunt never served them. No mashed potatoes with gravy seemed like a crime at Turkey Day, so I was delighted to surprise her with my very own homemade contribution. Unfortunately, I had never made them before. And I didn't know they would dry out out after they sat for hours of travel on the Long Island Rail Road. And I was too shy to ask if I could add a little more milk and butter before they were served. It was a disaster! That was 13 years ago and I still feel panicked when I try to think about what to bring to someone else's house! Thank goodness Patsy Kreitman of Family, Friends and Food, has done the thinking for me--and you--this holiday!--Diana
Thanksgiving is a time of giving thanks for all that you have and sharing a holiday meal with family. So, what’s a busy working parent to do when they want to contribute to the feast? Look for quick and easy recipes that can be made ahead of time or prepared that day without a lot of stress.
Side Dishes are often best made the day of the feast, so choosing something quick and easy like corn muffins or steamed green beans are great choices. The great thing about vegetable dishes is that they can be done without having to refer to an exact recipe, with tasty results.
Corn Muffins – pick up a package of corn muffin mix and add ½ a can of creamed corn to the mix. This will ensure the muffins stay nice and moist, and the extra bits of corn throughout make it taste like it’s homemade.
Vegetables – Steamed green beans are a wonderfully simple way to add something healthy to the table. After steaming them, add the juice of ½ of a lemon and a drizzle of olive oil. To dress them up a bit, toast some slivered almonds in a hot skillet for a few moments, then sprinkle them over the top.
Desserts are one of those easy things you can put together ahead of time, and you can get the kids involved in making them as well. One of my favorite desserts to make is a trifle, a layered dessert, because it is looks so impressive when you arrive with it.
You can have the kids help rip up the pieces of cake and crush the cookies. They are also great at assembling this kind of dessert as well. This recipe was inspired by one I found in Cooking Light Magazine a few years ago and is always a hit. It’s nice to have something a bit different at Thanksgiving beyond the usual pecan and pumpkin pies.
Mocha Chocolate Trifle
- 1 (18.25-ounce) package light devil's food cake mix
- Cooking spray
- 3 cups cold fat-free milk
- 1 (5.9-ounce) package chocolate instant pudding mix
- 1 (8-ounce) carton frozen fat-free whipped topping, thawed
- 1/2 cup chopped crushed chocolate cookies
Directions
- Preheat oven to 350°.
- Prepare cake mix according to package instructions, and bake in a 9x13 pan. Cool in pan 10 minutes on a wire rack; remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack.
- Combine milk and pudding mix in a medium bowl; prepare according to package directions.
- Tear half of cake into pieces; place in a 3-quart bowl or trifle dish (if you don’t have a trifle dish, use a deep glass dish instead); top with half of pudding, whipped topping, and chocolate bars.
- Repeat with remaining cake, pudding, whipped topping, and chocolate bars.
- Cover with saran wrap; chill at least 4 hours.
Yum! We're going to try that Mocha recipe soon. Why save it for Thanksgiving, right? Or at least give it a test run, first!
What do you bring when you're a guest for Thanksgiving Dinner? I'd love to add more recipes to my repetoire!