Thanksgiving Advice (Columbia, Aiken, Edgefield: for sale, apartment, buy)

[Colokev]

I'm relatively new to Columbia and just heard that my in-laws are coming for Thanksgiving...which I guess means we have to cook dinner! I'm ok with preparing everything else but I'm nervous about the turkey. Are there any markets or specialty shops where I can order and get a already cooked and prepared turkey? I'm really nervous to actually cook it myself-if I could just pick it up, that would be perfect.

Does any place like that exist around here?

[innovator82]

Publix offers what you are looking for and usually promotes the cooked Thanksgiving meals heavily around this time. Not sure if you can get just the turkey or have to order it with the trimmings, but go to any Publix to check it out.

[ranger17]

seems I was just emailed something from Fatz Cafe that they have all the trimmings that can be ordered and picked up ahead of time. Bet there are other palces like that as well.

[Colokev]

Thanks!

[drexellake]

You can also order them online from places like Hickory Farms though their prices are high.

[scyogi]

I would recommend two things:
1) Try cooking a turkey....tons of great easy receipes out there. I promise it is not that hard!
BUT if it still gives you the YIKES
2)Try to find a place that you can order the Fried Turkey...OMG, sounds gross...simply amazing. When we lived in Aiken a guy out of Stop Light Deli would do them. Aiken is only about anywhere from 40-70 minutes away depending on what part of Columbia you are in. (Stoplight Deli Menu Page One)

[DFBonnett]

A turkey isn't hard to cook. Butterball - Celebrate Everyday has just about all the info you will need.

[LynchburgLover]

And if you mess it up, you can laugh about it for years! Trust me. The first year we were married, it was just the two of us and I cooked the whole thing before realizing there was a plastic bag inside with the giblets, neck etc. The aroma filling the apartment wasn't exactly what I imagined for our first Thanksgiving!

ALWAYS, check the cavities!

[LexingtonDad]

I understand that Popeye's offers fried turkeys. Has anyone here ever gotten one from them? My brother fries several at Thanksgiving and Christmas but I have to drive to Edgefield to get one and it's just not worth it.

We plan to bake a small ham here this year and buy a smoked turkey from Hudson's. This time of year is bad for my waist line.

[waccamatt]

Most grocery stores offer fully cooked turkeys for sale. I usually just buy the turkey breasts that are wrapped and cook as many as I need and they are delicious. The only problem is there's no wishbone.