T'Giving meal - cook or buy?

[pinkytoe]

Somehow, DH and I ended up with the task of procuring most of the T'Day family meal even though it will be served an hour's drive away at our in-laws house.
I must decide whether to buy one of those packages from an area restaurant and take it with us or cook from scratch and take it with us.
I find that the pre-cooked turkeys from restaurants are overly processed and salty tasting but it sure would be the easiest solution. What would you do?
Spend a day cooking it the way you like it or get it to go?
The holidays make me crazy:)

[treehugger]

I would always always choose to cook it myself (doing a lot of prep ahead of time) for lots of reasons (taste, cost, personal preferences about what constitutes a Thanksgiving meal, etc.).

This year, due to circumstances beyond our control, we are going to a restaurant with DH's family this year and I am not looking forward to that (so expensive, not relaxing, no real chance to visit with everyone at the table, questionable food quality). I offered to host, but again, it's out of our control. So, we will go and not complain about it, and then cook our own dinner on the weekend.

It's a very personal decision though, and whatever feels right to you will be the right answer.

Kara

[ApatheticNoMore]

Somehow, DH and I ended up with the task of procuring most of the T'Day family meal even though it will be served an hour's drive away at our in-laws house.

That stinks, in my opinion if someone goes to the trouble of making "The Turkey" then everyone else should contribute side dishes (or at least bring a dessert).


I must decide whether to buy one of those packages from an area restaurant and take it with us or cook from scratch and take it with us.
I find that the pre-cooked turkeys from restaurants are overly processed and salty tasting but it sure would be the easiest solution.

You make those restaurant turkeys sound so aweful :) I know that Whole Foods has ready made Thanksgiving meals, might be better (or healthier), or not, I've never gotten them. Other groceries stores probably offer similar.


What would you do?
Spend a day cooking it the way you like it or get it to go?
The holidays make me crazy

Depends on whether I enjoy the prospect of cooking for others or it's just another task I never wanted that I resent having to do. Personally I'll probably provide side dishes to Thanksgiving (maybe scalloped potatoes), but I can very easily resent cooking for others. Hmpf, it's not enough I have to cook for myself, I have to cook for all you guys as well?

[flowerseverywhere]

If I was an hour away I would probably offer to bring a ham instead of a turkey. Easy to pop in the oven, and you can have peeled potatoes in cold water to make mashed potatoes, rolls and vegetables. If everyone gets mad all the better, they won't ask you to make thanksgiving dinner again. Or someone else might step forward for the turkey.

[Blackdog Lin]

I am having a hard time understanding the family dynamics of expecting one family to provide most of a large meal like that, to be served that far away.
It seems uber-rude - but I don't know the situation.

That said, I think you should do whatever is most comfortable for you. If economics is the larger concern, I'd get busy pre-planning and shopping and pre-cooking. If time and peace-of-mind is the larger concern, I'd say to heck with it, order it from somewhere you have had recommended, and enjoy your easier day.

[redfox]

Do whatever is easiest. For us, that was making reservations... Good luck!

[citrine]

Why are you in charge of the entire meal as well as transporting it?
We are cooking the meal but our guests are bringing desserts and soda/cider.

[Rosemary]

Do you have to supply the entire meal? Turkey reheats well, if you haven't considered cooking in advance rather than day-of.

I prefer Thanksgiving to be the way I like it, but I have to say that DH and I had a lovely Thanksgiving one year when we went to a B&B for a long weekend and had Thanksgiving dinner at a historic hotel/restaurant in a small town in AZ.

[Tammy]

I would order the meal from a restaurant close to the location of the event, and have them deliver it. Pay them at the door, and if people notice and want to throw a few 20s my way I would graciously accept them.

[peggy]

Can you assign the sides to others? Mary, you bring the potatoes, Sue, you bring the salad, etc... If you all smoke, then you could even smoke a turkey ahead and like someone said, reheat. If you are in charge of everything, I'd think of a lot of cold sides, or easily reheated sides to do once you get there. You can dazzle with lots of stuffed celery, deviled eggs, cold marinated carrots, etc... not to mention a few pies you could pick up at the deli.

[peggy]

Wanted to add, if push comes to shove, say I'll do the turkey, but you all need to bring the sides. ((Psst...the turkey is the easiest thing on the menu!))

[pinkytoe]

I think we were assigned the whole enchilada because it was assumed we were buying it all from one restaurant. In-laws are 80 now and not up to it, yet still expect there to be a feast and no one else volunteered.
Other relatives are bringing dessert and relish tray

[Spoony]

I've bought Thanksgiving dinner "boxes" (complete dinner) from different grocery stores, Boston Market, Marie Calendar's, etc. over the years when I was working two jobs and wanted to ski on Thanksgiving day before dinner. For the most part, they are pretty good. I would augment them with a homemade side (family favorite) and a homemade dessert (my famous rustic apple tart).

I usually paid between $40-50 for the meal. It's pretty convenient, you just heat everything up before serving.

[Tradd]

You should consider a turkey BREAST, not the whole bird. Easier to deal with. But I'd think about the ham, too. I prefer ham to turkey.

[Wildflower]

I'd cook the meal the day/evening before, then refrigerate, transport, and rewarm at their house Thanksgiving day. But I enjoy cooking and no longer have a job outside the house. I would have the turkey already carved, stuffing, etc. in casserole dishes ready to go and reheat. I think this would be the healthiest and taste the best, but buying a meal from a restaurant would be fine too. Whatever is your preference. Obviously, cooking yourself and transporting is alot more work. Or you can go to their house early Thanksgiving day and cook the meal there.... I did that often when my parents were elderly and in poor health. It went well and I know they truly appreciated my efforts....

[Tiam]

Oh, my, I've always cooked, but I am so tired of cooking. Now on family get togethers and picnics I cop out and buy food, much to the families chagrin. Oh, the guilt. I'm in charge of this Thanksgiving and I'm just not into cooking it, but neither can I afford to buy it all precooked.

[sweetana3]

I am making the turkey roll and veggies in a big roasting pan and making the pie the day before. We are taking to moms. Since it is just the three of us, that is more than enough. I told her she could provide the bread. She is 80 and none of us eat that much. A Feast! is not necessary except for looks. Just look at them and tell them that none of you want to see the leftovers for 2 weeks.

Tiam, why are you in charge of Thanksgiving? It is always possible to tell everyone that Thanksgiving is a restaurant meal and they are all to pay for their own or to provide a specific portion of the meal or to provide money to pay for the food.

[bunnys]

I enjoy cooking but would not be excited about cooking the hardest to cook meal of the entire year in someone else's kitchen.

I would probably buy and bring if I couldn't convince the others to come to my house.

But if this is the dynamic, I'd accept it and move on. No point in getting worked up about something you don't think you have control over. And we all know that when it comes to family dynamics, bucking the dynamic is very dangerous...

[rodeosweetheart]

If you resent cooking it yourself, I'd go for the purchased meal, as it sounds kind of rough to have to make a meal you don't want to make, then travel with said meal, then wonder if people will even like it.

I love to cook Thanksgiving meal so I would cook, wish I could do it for you, LOL, but you gotta do what makes you happiest/calmest/least unhappy, adn it sounds like maybe purchased the way to go? If you have one thing you'd like to do, like make pies, you could add that in?

[Gregg]

My favorite meal of the year to cook. I start prepping it days ahead and do a crazy juggling act on turkey day just keeping everything hot at the same time. It's a blast. It also helps if I go off my meds for a couple days first. If you don't suffer from that affliction there's nothing wrong with store bought as long as you take it home and put it in your dishes before hauling it to the in-laws! ;)

[zeaxmays]

i personally think the turkey should be cooked at the house of the person hosting the meal, with others contributing easily transportable side dishes.

[Packratona!]

Cook the turkey several days ahead, slice and pour canned chicken broth on top and freeze in freezer bags. Save the drippings for gravy: freeze and remove top layer of grease when you thaw it out the day before. Mix in some cornstarch dissolved in water the day of, and cook until it thickens. Take the turkey out of freezer and put in fridge the day before you eat, to start thawing. Then all you do is stick in the oven (regular or micro) to heat up when you get there. For the potatoes, cook and mash the day before, and put in fridge. The day of, when you get there, heat in microwave, and whip again with hot milk and butter. For veggies: microwave to steam, frozen corn, veggies. or steam lightly on stovetop. For pies: easy, pumpkin pie in Pillsbury pie crusts, make the day before and keep in fridge. Stovetop stuffing make ahead and microwave the morning of, or make there. Buy ready made rolls unless you like to bake, in which case, make the morning you eat or make ahead, freeze and thaw out the morning of. Sweet potatoes/squash: make the day before and refrigerate. Warm in oven with the turkey. Cranberry sauce: make ahead and freeze, thaw out the day before. Or just open a can. Thanksgiving meals are the most fun to do; it is the cleanup that is hard.

[iris lily]

Cook the turkey several days ahead, slice and pour canned chicken broth on top and freeze in freezer bags. Save the drippings for gravy: freeze and remove top layer of grease when you thaw it out the day before. Mix in some cornstarch dissolved in water the day of, and cook until it thickens. Take the turkey out of freezer and put in fridge the day before you eat, to start thawing. Then all you do is stick in the oven (regular or micro) to heat up when you get there. For the potatoes, cook and mash the day before, and put in fridge. The day of, when you get there, heat in microwave, and whip again with hot milk and butter. For veggies: microwave to steam, frozen corn, veggies. or steam lightly on stovetop. For pies: easy, pumpkin pie in Pillsbury pie crusts, make the day before and keep in fridge. Stovetop stuffing make ahead and microwave the morning of, or make there. Buy ready made rolls unless you like to bake, in which case, make the morning you eat or make ahead, freeze and thaw out the morning of. Sweet potatoes/squash: make the day before and refrigerate. Warm in oven with the turkey. Cranberry sauce: make ahead and freeze, thaw out the day before. Or just open a can. Thanksgiving meals are the most fun to do; it is the cleanup that is hard.

Smart! And using paper plates and throwaways, clean up isn't THAT big of a deal.

[Glo]

This will be my 42 nd bird. Its the same meal my mother made; my grown- up sons love the meal and look forward to it all year. In fact, they tell everyone that I'm the only person on the planet who knows how to make dressing! LOL

[pinkytoe]

Lots of good ideas here. We pulled the trigger and ordered a to-go roasted turkey from a local soul food place along with some of their sweet potato biscuits and I will make the sides. I found one sil who will help with some of the cooking. I actually enjoy cooking but doing the bird makes me nervous.