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Food I prepare ahead of time: cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes or mashed cauliflower and stuffing (they go into the oven to warm up after the turkey comes out of the oven for "resting" and carving - I don't carve the turkey at the table), and dessert.
Food I prepare on Thanksgiving day: turkey, stuffing, vegetables, rolls.
Dang, now I'm hungry! Thursday can't come soon enough.
You and your mom seem to invent things to argue about. If your mom is cooking, it's her call as to how she wants to do it. You can offer to bring some fresh vegetables if you want, but otherwise common decency and manners apply and you should neither make special requests nor criticize what she's doing. If the food sucks, just smile, say "thank you" and get some takeout on the way home.
With some exceptions, I don't like to eat food that's been prepared days in advance. But unless food poisoning is an issue, I just eat it without complaint. It doesn't happen often.
exactly she is cooking, so offer to bring a few side dishes, or else eat what you are given. Food often tastes better after it sits overnight ( think soups, sauces & stews all taste better after they sit)
That sounds okay to me. And if it makes things easier for her, what's the difference? Thanksgiving leftovers are a good thing, after all.
I always make the cranberry sauce the day before. For the stuffing, the day before I saute the onions in butter, add the seasonings and liquid, then refrigerate until just before we eat on Thanksgiving, when I bring it to a boil, then add the bread cubes.
Time-saving shortcuts allow everyone to enjoy the day.
I decided to make a cherry pie tonight instead of tomorrow night. Now I'm worried it will have deteriorated somehow by Thursday! I don't usually make cherry pies, but my daughter left pie filling at my house and hubby can't eat it, so I'm taking it with to her in-laws.
He did request my usual gluten-free pumpkin pie, which is a LOT of work and takes a lot of time, so that's waiting 'til Wednesday night.
I have never made my turkey ahead of time. Smelling it all morning is nearly the best part of Thanksgiving! I make my stuffing a couple days ahead of time, and usually my pies the night before. I'm not cooking this year, we're going to our daughter's in-laws, hence just the pies.
And beer and wine, of course.
My mom doesn’t usually cook for Thanksgiving, but she’s cooking a few things this year just for herself, my dad, and I. She mentioned to me that she plans to cook the turkey tonight (Tuesday) and I said “ok” because I know that takes time. Then she mentioned that she cooked one of the green vegetable sides yesterday (Monday). I told her that I don’t want to eat vegetables that she cooked on Monday on Thursday, and she got offended. lol Am I wrong for feeling this way or do others start cooking Thanksgiving items this early in the week? I know some things will last a few days, but I’d prefer fresh veggies.
Disclaimer: I don’t expect or even want my mom to cook for me, so this isn’t an issue of me being rude and ungrateful. But we’re pretty blunt with each other so I was just letting her know that I think she’s cooking stuff too early.
Cooking the turkey today for Thursday? It doesn't take THAT long lol
I'm kind of fussy when it comes to turkey. I don't like it that much to begin with and when it sits in the fridge for more than 2 days, I get sick of the smell. It actually stinks up the fridge if it's not tightly wrapped.
I like prepping ahead, not necessarily cooking ahead. I have to agree with you about the veggies. Some veggies cooked on Monday for Thursday kind of lose their flavor. I can understand steaming them Monday and then heating them and adding other things to them on Thursday but even then sometimes steamed veggies lose their consistency and flavor after a few days.
I'm cooking this year but it's only 4 of us. I plan to only prep Wednesday and hopefully get a batch of crème brulee done otherwise most of the cooking will be done Thursday. I have a double oven so I can get a lot cooked on that day...I don't have to stress too much
Personally, I cook the Turkey on TG day. I love to smell it cooking while I put on the sounds of the TG Day Parade on tv. But I do as much prep ahead of time as possible and pies and cranberry sauce is made the day before or 2 days before. But... green vegetables, I cook on that day unless it's a veggie casserole, then I make that the day before.
I'm kinda with you on the green veggies being cooked 4 days ahead of time. They most likely won't make you sick but I'd consider them on their last leg by that time. I wouldn't take any for next day leftovers. They're already getting old by that time in my opinion.
It's one thing to say she's hosting and it's her call. It's also your call to say no if it's close to becoming something that you feel might make you sick.
I make the cranberries , cook the sweet potatoes for the casserole and sometimes the turkey ahead. I would not have a problem cooking green bean or broccoli casserole ahead. Pies and rolls I prefer to bake the same day we eat them. To be very blunt, I don't consider what others cook ahead worth arguing about. Life is short, eat the food and be thankful you can enjoy Thanksgiving with your mom.
My mother died the day before Thanksgiving....She was coming to visit us, instead we spent Thanksgiving Day flying up to Michigan to handle her funeral......you truly never know what might happen, remember, tomorrow is promised to no one, enjoy today, its all we truly have
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