I'm cooking a turkey, I own a baster and don't use it, everything else is coming from a can, package or jar...and it will be eaten without complaint.

I'm a bad mom.

Life is a grind...it can polish you or wear you down...it just depends on what you are made of.

-unknown (to me)

 I am cooking my first turkey this year.  I was planning on using some things from a box... like stove top, but my husband just informed me that he wanted real sausage stuffing!  YIKES!  

I have many times, gotten some Mrs. Smith's pies from the market, baked them, and brought them over to someone's dessert "party" where my dh told them I baked them.... They are like homemade!  I haven't baked a pie since!

 Anne Marie

Making the decision to have a child-it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." -Elizabeth Stone

Yes gravy from the packet- Ahh Bisto! I'd make what I can and buy what I can't or don't have time for. Veg seems a no brainer to me to make- quick and easy so I'm unlikely to buy that but I'd try something new.

Never could look a baster in the eye since hearing about how people use them creatively. I'll leave it at that. So just use a spoon to baste.

My plan= not to get overwhelmed and do what I can and enjoy.

Melitsa. Mum of 3 smiley boys          

Denver Moms of boys group & a discussion leader for Denver Momslikeme
si nihil temptes, raro cades = Aim at nothing, seldom miss

I'm old school when it comes to Thanksgiving, and as such my family is spoiled rotten. If they even see a package they freak out and are near tears.

That said...Val, Trader Joes potatoes are great, my mom uses them all the time. Basically, just know if it has Trader Joes on the label it is good.

~Victoria (A.K.A.... "A Whales Vagina)

MLM Super Smartass Club, 1100 posts and going strong....

"Well behaved women rarely make history!"

Live your life in such a way, that when your feet hit the floor in the morning Satan shudders and says, "SHIT, Shes awake!!!"

ugh... I just typed this whole thing out and one little push of my daughters hand and POOF gone... sigh... here goes one more try....

heres your tip for "homeade stuffing"

use the package stuffing (I like the cornbread ones) pre make this to package directions the day before (or when ever your hubby isnt around!)

the day of, cook ur sausage, nice and brown. Add apples, celery and onion (or what ever combo your used to). When those are cooked add some extra poultry seasoning and your premade stuffing. Warm and serve.

I use the cornbread because you can always say " of course I had that predone.. I NEVER would have been able to bake the cornbread on top of everything else today!" presto easy stuffing and he will never know! Just be sure your the one to empty the trash with the boxes in it!

For myself... I tend to do most the basics and then each year find one new reciepe to try - or make from real scratch... like one year I did the REAL green bean casserole. I made the crispy onions and everything.... Now I can say "yep Ive done it..." I am capable, and I choose to not do it every year becaue I didnt like it as much. But now I know that! Ive done the from sratch stuffing, cranberry sauce, blah blah blah... Some things I went back to the easy way.. some things like the yams I kept the long way. Some things - like the stuffing I found ways of making it "my own". In the end - thats what its about... making the holidays about you and your family. Not being a slave to the kitchen!

I have NEVER made a Thanksgiving or holiday dinner! We always have family to visit and bring a store bought pie or wine.

Thanksgiving in our family has always been a big deal, and a lot of fun. Everyone loves cooking together-I think in the past we've bought oceanspray cranberry sauce, and made stuffing like Ryana described above w/a great store bought stuffing mix and add alll of the goodies into it. But for myself and my family-Thanksgiving is about being together and cooking up a huge feast-no one thinks of it as a hassle or work. We really do love it!

some ideas though...:

costco/sam's always has great frozen mini appetizers (quiches etc...) grocery store also has great veggie trays and dips or storebought hummus and stacey's pita chips, buy storebought artichoke/spinach dip and tortilla chips, slice up deli salami, cheeses, crackers and some marinated olives from the deli, buy prepackaged spinach leaves, add some candied nuts, dried cranberries, blue cheese and buy a raspberry vinaigrette, instead of a big turkey, roast a chicken or roast some cornish game hens that have been rubbed with an herb butter and salt & pepper,  boston market (in grocery) has great bottled gravy, Alexia has the best frozen dinner rolls, they have those green bean steamers, that you pop in the microwave, sprinkle on some salt and pepper, some grated lemon zest and some crumbled bacon, buy a box of betty crocker au gratin potatoes and before baking add in some salt & pepper and fresh snipped chives and call it your own, Mrs. Smith's does the best pumpkin pie.

have fun with Thanksgiving!

RED ROCKS MAMA

"Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around."
~Leo Buscaglia

My mom used to make most everything homemade and since I was the one that helped her in the kitchen that was all I knew. Since about 4 years ago i have taken over as the one who cooks the holiday meals since we always have them at my house and I do most all of it homemade as well, pies included. I do use some shotrcuts though like I used canned greenbeans instead of fresh in the greenbean casserole not only because it is easier but because I like it better that way as well as gravy in the jar or in the packet , premade pie crusts and cranberry sauce in the can (my family loves the jellied stuff lol)  This year I am going to try a couple new things. I am going to make sweet potato pie and to go along side with the jellied stuff I am going to make a cranberry apple chutney.

This is how I feel: As long as you cook with Love...it doesnt matter if you made it from scratch or popped it in the oven straight from the store.

Happy Holidays Ladies!!!!

Angela---Siyona & Siyoni's Mommy

Oh my goodness - I would get reamed if I tried to do anything premade. One exception is pie crust (it is not the preferred choice but it is accepted). It took me 3 years to figure out how to pass off the stuffing to my Grandma as being cooked in the bird rather than outside the bird, she has no idea I don't stuff the bird now, but it was an experiment to get that one figured out, the trick is to have the stuffing and turkey out of the oven before she gets there and to put the stuffing inthe serving bowl asap. 
I actually don't mind doing all from scratch - I just wish I had more time so I wasn't so rushed.

Shelly
mom to 2 boys: "Give Me Strength!!"
Riley (5) Kevin (2)

MLM 1000 Club