My family (5 kids dh and myself) always spend Thanksgiving at my in-laws. And myself and my SIL's bring the side dishes and some desserts while the in-laws do the main items. My MIL called me several days ago and asked what I wanted to bring and also informed me that my 13 year old daughter needs to bring a dish too. I didn't like the way she handled it because my daughter loves to cook and is very helpful at family functions (she is the oldest granddaughter all the others her age and older are grandsons). Anyway my dd said she would make the green-bean casserole. MIL told me that one SIL is taking a corn dish and a dessert and the other SIL is taking a squash dish. I always take a cranberry dish, but she told me that is actually a dessert and I needed to bring a side!!!! Well, they, the in laws she said are making the turkey, dressing and gravy. So I asked if I could take sweet potatoe's....no she said that is to much like the squash, so I said how about home made rolls.....no she said she doesn't like homemade she wants to get a particluar kind of store bought and NO she didn't want me to get them. ugghhhhhh sorry but I needed to vent the whole story.
Sooooo, my question is anyone have any ideas of what to take? My daughter said mashed potatoes, but I was worried about how they would be after a 1/2 car ride and then sitting on the counter until everyone gets there to eat. I am seriously open to any suggestions. Please no commentary on the crazy disfunctional relationship with the MIL....it is what it is.....
Oh and I HAVE asked her what she would like me to bring and she says something like oh I don't know you'll think of something!
I have the perfect recipe for you! Its called "Make ahead Mashed Potatoes" and its amazing! If you make this recipe you will blow them all away, they'll be thrilled! I make them every Thanksgiving and Christmas and everywhere I bring them someone wants the recipe.
http://www.food.com/recipe/make-ahead-mashed-potatoes-34059
If she won't tell you what you can bring or what she wants you to bring then I would take whatever you want (cranberry dish or sweet potatoes) or rolls (the whole meal isn't about what she likes) and if there are other rolls then you have variety. I would personally ask her again if there is something she specifically wants you to bring and if not take one of the things you have already mentioned.
That said, I think I would consider making the whole meal and staying home w/ my immediate family....I have never been told that specific family members needed to make/bring something just the family as a whole.
Dear lord...you are a patient woman! There are mashed potato recipes out there that you can make in advance. Go to Cooks Country online-I know for a fact that they have one. IF you need to join to get it I would say that this is one that is 100% totally worth it. These are the best recipes I have found. They are part of the America's Test Kitchen family. Each recipe is put through so many paces and different variations to come up with the best possible recipe. I get their magazine and LOVE it.
do mashed potatoes. boil them in the Am - put them in a warm crockpot like someone said and then mash them when you get there. Make sure the milk/cream you use is at room temp or they will get lumpy. throw in some room temp butter too.... you should be good to go. Just keep adding more milk if they look like they're drying up.
Who the heck eats cranberry sauce for dessert?? Yeah - it's on the menu at all the best restaurants in town!!! Good luck w/ the crazies!!
hmph.
i think you are being VERY gracious and accommodating with this difficult and demanding MIL. if she were a decent person she would have been delighted to accept your cranberry dish, especially since it seems as if all categories are very well taken care of. and then won't even give you any suggestions after shooting down all of yours?
hmph. double hmph.
probably some stewed apples, or a root vegetable casserole, or cauliflower with cheese sauce would work.
but at this point i'd probably get pissy and bring a bag of chips.
you are a nice person.
:) khairete
S.
I have a great recipe for a macaroni salad (also could be potato salad if you use potatoes instead of the macaroni). People love it and ask me to make it every year. You could also do some sort of jello salad with fruit in it perhaps. Or scalloped corn.
Cranberries for dessert? Seriously? You put it on your plate with the potatoes, turkey, corn, etc. It is not a dessert. Pumpkin pie is a dessert. Your MIL sounds like a piece of work.
Ok 1st of all....... You don't ask someone to bring a side and then EVERY single side they suggest say no. (LOL is she kidding?) 2nd, what about homemade macaroni and cheese? YUM. I make it every year and it's always a big hit. Once you decide what you are bringing DO NOT tell your SIL! lol
Oh and ps - cranberries is not a dessert. It's a side. She's wrong.
You can make mashed potatoes and put them in a crockpot to keep them warm. You might have to add a little more liquid to them though.
Sounds like all the major food groups are pretty well covered! The only other things I can think of (besides the mashed potatoes - you CAN make them ahead and they do reheat well - or perhaps a potato gratin?) would be maybe a green salad that you can dress when you get there, or a savory bread, like a zucchini bread. Or even glazed carrots, which are a good do-ahead dish. My SIL gave me a delicious recipie for zucchini casserole that uses Jiffy corn bread mix - I would be happy to send it to you if you're interested. Hope one of those suggestions works for you! Have a great day!
honestly, I would still take the cranberries! .....& the crockpot mashed potatoes. There's no harm, no foul in taking both!
& still let your daughter do the green beans.
Epicurious.com has lots of Thanksgiving recipies, including salads and side dishes. Take a look!
: )
I was going to say, take a box of instant mashed potatos and a box of macaroni and chees, and say "I am sure you wouldn't mind throwing this together' but a bag of chips is brilliant! Chips and dip...and a store purchased veggie tray takes care of both of you, keeps well in the car, and is not much trouble (sounds like you have all the trouble anybody needs waiting for you when you get there!)
Bless your heart!
M.
This is a toughie...My husband and I make bacon-wrapped asparagus as an appetizer, but it can also be a side dish. Everyone loves it and it can be made ahead of time and served cold or made quickly there either on an outdoor grill or on a small, indoor grill like a George Forman or a Panini maker. We cut the asparagus spears into pieces about 2 inches long then wrap the bacon around them and coat them with a pepper jelly of some kind for a little kick (you could substitute orange marmalade if you don't want spicy). Then we skewer the pieces and grill them. It's quick, easy, doesn't use the typical cooking appliances so you can be out of the way and works well cold also. Good luck!
You're very patient!
Options: mashed potatoes - you can zing them up with some mozzarella & garlic mixed in or chedder. She will allow you some over time when you get there won't she so you can warm the stuff up?
Another option that everyone loves at our house is brussels spouts with bacon & apples. It's a Martha Stewart recipt you can google it.
What about appetizers? cheese & crackers, smoked salmon spread with crackers? (container whipped cream cheese, 1 Tbls of mayo & 2-3 Tbls of sour cream, small package of smoked salmon, chives (or scallions, or onions) and a dash or 2 of worseshire (sp?) sauce - combine in food processer - it's fab on crackers).
My mom and her generation (80's) always loved tomate juice or V8 juice as an appetizer (with a lemon slice). It's very holiday'ish for her - sweet memories.
Or you can do like the NY italian families do - EVERY holiday meal must have pasta - so they usually have lasagna or bakes ziti/penne as an appetizer. If that's too way out make homemade mac & cheese - the kids will love it (campbells chedder soup, package of shredded cheese and a box of macaroni).
Baked apples - have them all in a oven dish ready to go and when you sit down to dinner put them in the oven. They can be the pre-desert.
You will be blessed by your kind & graceful actions. ;o)
what about a cheese potato casserol? You can make it up ahead of time and just bake it there. Or for something more avant guard (acctually this is going to be my thanksgiving side dish/ salad)- a gorgonzola stuffed pear and arugula salad. Sounds fancier than it is: Just bake pealed halved pears with a stuffing made of gorgonzola, canberries and wallnuts (30 min). Make a vinagarrett and serve over a bed of arugula.
How about creamed spinach? I don't cook but will be ordering mine from Boston Market :c)
The Pioneer Woman 's make ahead mashed potatoes are perfect for your situation, and might I add-delish !!!!!!
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2007/11/delicious_crea...
WOW! My suggestions are either macaroni and cheese (everyone loves it -travels well and tastes fine at room temperature) or some type of greens -although they will need to be heated before serving (collards, mustard or turnips). Onion casseroles are also fantastic -but again -need to be served warm. You could do one in a crockpot (google recipes) and plug it into "warm" when you arrived. Deviled eggs are also always good, and you could transport them in a cooler or fridge pack.
I have to add -I would still take whatever I wanted. Thanksgiving lends itself to excess food. What does it matter if there are similar side dishes or 4 starches, 3 veggies and 5 desserts? It's an opportunity to truly enjoy an abundance of food. And cranberry dishes go with the main meal -NOT dessert!
ok - so I have this awesome side dish recipe that I got from my MIL. It doesn't sound like it would be good, but it is AWESOME, and should be able to stand a car ride. So you boil carrots (I use the baby carrots because they are sweeter, my MIL uses big carrotts) and you boil them til' they are sof - then you mash them up with some butter,an egg & salt and pepper to taste. then you finely chop some red onion and mix it in along with some cheddar cheese (I use a lot of cheese). then I crumble up some ritze crackers and mix them in to it, and pour it into a baking dish - cover the top with crumbled ritz crackers and bake it for a bit til' it all nice and hot and melted. (My MIL doesn't add ritz into the carrotts and you can always just put them on top) I always change recipes up a little bit after I get them to kind of make them my own, and cause I like the way they taste better! Hope you have a great time!
Bring a salad of some kind. Something green would be nice. Maybe even a veggie tray. I like MATCHSTICK SALAD.
Here's the recipe:
1 Large red apple, cored, thinly sliced then cut into matchsticks
1 Large green apple, cored, thinly sliced then cut into matchsticks
3 cups carrots, cut into matchsticks (most stores sell these precut)
1 1/2 Tablespoon fresh squeezed lemon juice, or less to taste
1/2 cup chopped chives
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 teaspoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon black pepper, or more to taste
2 ounces feta cheese (French variety suggested), crumbled
Place apples in large bowl and toss with lemon juice. Add remaining ingredients and toss to mix thoroughly. (WAIT to add the feta until just prior to serving.) This is fresh tasting and delicious! You could put it in a cooler for travaling. YUM!!
Mashed potatoes would also be fine. You could add garlic, cheese (Parmesan, cheddar, or Monterey Jack), a package of dry ranch mix, chives (or green onion or scallions), butter/sour cream, or something else to make it 'different' and special (in other words: make it your own way).
Hmmm...let's see...some of the things my family loves and were ALWAYS on our Thanksgiving table when visiting my Grandparents farm were:
*Fruit salad or Ambrosia Salad *Potato Salad or Macaroni Salad * Deviled Eggs (Any of these might be a good one since you could keep it in a travel cooler on ice.)
*Creamed Spinach or Spinach Casserole
*Asparagus Casserole or Roasted Balsamic Asparagus
*Sweet Potato Casserole (it has a crunchy pecan topping and I know your mother-in-law said "no" but REALLY (!) unless the squash dish your SIL is making is a sweet one there is no reason...most squash dishes are "hearty" not sweet.)
There are so many more ideas but I'm afraid to list everything we had on the table (we always had a crazy spread because we would have a minimum of 20 people, sometimes way more!!!) especially since we grew up in a farm family and your mother -in-law is being persnickety. (I don't find too many people who say "Mmmmm...SPINACH!!!! You know as in totally boiled/plain!) Most of these recipes are loved, or at least well tolerated, by everyone. I hope this helps you and I hope you, and your family, have a BLESSED AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
Since you mention mashed potatoes. This recipe should work fine just heat it before serving or add the cheese and heat when your there. Boil potatoes with or with out skins until done. Break up potatoes into chunky pieces put into casserole dish and mix in a 8-oz. bowl of cool whip. Cover with your favorite shredded cheese melt in 350 degree oven til cheese is melted. I love watching people's reaction to the cool whip in the potatoes. It gives them a rich creamy flavor. If you want a take a dessert take a Dump cake. You will need 1 yellow/white cake mix-1 stick of butter-1 can of pie filling any flavor-1 20 oz can of crushed pineapple. Take a 13X9 pan and dump the pineapple and pie filling into pan take a fork and slightly blend these together. Then sprinkle the dry cake mix evenly over the top of the fruit. Next step is to evenly dot the stick of butter over the top of the cake mix. Bake at 350 for 1 hour until browned. It taste like a cross between a crisp/cobbler.
Have you ever tried to make a 7 layer salad? My step mom used to make it for thanksgiving and I loved it. You can probably search some recipe sites for an official recipe. I'm thinking the salad would be good because you could bring it in a small cooler and wouldn't need to reheat it.
The bottom layer is "salad" (it's going to be the largest layer) - use whatever kind you like or buy one of the fancy mixes, then layer with red onion, water chestnuts, frozen peas (don't cook them- just thaw them), bacon (cook crispy and then crumble), shredded cheese (again use any kind of cheese you like). The final layer is the dressing. Instead of normal dressing use a ranch dressing mix with sour cream and a little mayo to thin it out some. I did find one similar recipe on tablespoon.com "seven-layer salad." If you don't like my ingredients to the layers, use your own favorite veggies. remember to slice or shred them kind of small to make it easier for everyone to eat.
I'll also second the opinions that you are being very kind to your MIL. Hope the holiday goes great.
I would bring potatoes, it almost sounds as she is trying to ask for those but not coming out and saying. Potatoes are an easy thing to rewarm.
how about pasta of some sort.. pasta is always good and holds pretty well.. Also, what about fresh salads? you can dress it when you get there.. Arugula is in season.. get some cherry tomatoes, calamata olives, feta cheese and make a nice homemade vinaigrette.. and violia!!
let's see what else... Baked beans? mix it up... I think holiday meals should be exciting and fun.. which to me means trying NEW foods... even if they are your typical holiday foods... as long as they are good :)
also Lasagne... I LOVE it as does my family.. again, people needn't eat the pasta or lasagne as the MAIN meal, but rather take a small serving.. unless of course they want more.. lasagne actually holds up VERY well..
in any event.. happy holidays and good luck!
My contribution for turkey day is a fruit salad - and NOT that stuff in a can!
Bad thing is your travel time - but if you held off the bananas until there and then add, it would do pretty good!
Basically it's just a variety of apples, pears, oranges/tangerines/tangelos, bananas, and grapes (I use both green and purple for color). Cut the fruit into bite size pieces (seeding the grapes!) - and let the juice from the citrus mix w/it all. (this is where bananas might need to be held until arrival)
We have what we call lemon honey that is used as a dressing on this fruit salad. Will have to look up exact recipe for you if you wish to try this! (I have to pull it out each time - but it's really easy!)
~~another suggestion would be banana croquets - tho that's always been a summer dish to me!
