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Delicious? Yes. Practical? Maybe. Easy to cook right? No.
It is once again time to get together, celebrate the things we’re thankful for, and create large social gatherings around a multitude of time-honored dishes.
Hosting a Thanksgiving meal can seem daunting—whether you’re away from your family or not. Large pieces of protein are expensive and can be intimidating, so here are some ways for you to host your own affordable and delicious Thanksgiving dinner.
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COOKING TOGETHER IS BETTER THAN COOKING ALONE
My grandmother used to prepare Thanksgiving dinner every year for a gigantic extended family; I am talking about 40-60 people. Although she enjoyed the role of domesticated martyr, she also loved having her children and grandchildren help her in the process.
So when you host Thanksgiving, resist the temptation to do it all yourself. It might seem like a good challenge, but you will have a better time without the entire burden on your shoulders. This not only lets you to spread the costs over all of the guests, but it also allows everyone to bring their own traditions to the table.
A WHOLE TURKEY SEEMS NICE, BUT…
For over a century, we have been inundated with the classic image of a gigantic, golden turkey as the centerpiece of a “proper” Thanksgiving feast. Rarely does that image produce delicious meal—and when it does, it’s mostly by accident.
Cooking a bird as large as a turkey is wrought with problems. First, the breast meat wants to be cooked to one temperature (62°C) and the dark meat wants to be cooked to a much higher temperature (65°C)—and for a longer amount of time. Second, properly roasting a turkey requires a roasting pan, which is large, expensive, and lacking secondary functionality. Third, turkeys are big, heavy, expensive, hard to transport, and store. Fourth, they are normally sold frozen, requiring you to find space to defrost it for 2-3 days.
…YOU MAY NOT NEED AN ENTIRE BIRD
So how should you deal with turkey trouble? Well, when planning your meal, buy just enough turkey for your guests. If the group is small enough, only buy the parts of the turkey that everyone likes. One turkey breast is still more than enough to serve six to eight people, and it’s massively easier to prepare deliciously with limited resources.
If you are preparing an entire turkey, break it down first or buy the parts separately. Then, start the thighs and drumsticks about 30-45 minutes earlier then the breast. This will cook everything perfectly, prevent the need for specialized equipment, and greatly reduce the thawing time. (Although it doesn’t allow you to use that totally sweet electric carving knife you have for some reason.)
DON’T FORGET THE SIDES
We all want mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce (from a can), green bean casserole, sweet potatoes with or without marshmallows and pecans, and more stuffing. Don’t let these smaller dishes get lost behind your turkey.
Turkey (and meat in general) is expensive; vegetables are usually much cheaper and can provide variety and excitement for your feast. Although I like turkey as much as the next person, my true love at Thanksgiving is creating an obscene amount of side dishes. You can tailor these to your guest’s preference or just go with what looks good at your local market. By creating a great spread of vegetables, you can trim your overall budget—while simultaneously providing a vegetarian meal for anyone who isn’t a turkey person.
A big meal is a great way to enjoy the company of others, and sharing the responsibility and expense with friends creates great project to work on together. Good luck and have fun!
Have some turkey tips for saving money? Share them in the comments.
(Photo: jdolenga/Flickr)