Fun Thanksgiving Alternatives?

[Anonymous]

It will just be DH and our 2 kids (6 & 11) for Thanksgiving this year. We've done just the four of us before and I've previously cooked a traditional meal only to have much of it rejected by my picky kids. Both will eat (a bit of) turkey and rolls, one eats mashed potatoes. Stuffing, cranberry sauce and all the other typical veggie sides would only be consumed by DH and I. We tried a ham last year and it didn't really make a difference - lot's of cooking, little pay off and grumpy kids.

For me the perfect day would be decorating our Christmas tree, a mix of football/Christmas music in the background, festive cocktails/wine for adults and everyone just having fun and enjoying good food that doesn't take a ton of time to prepare. Any menu ideas to fit the bill? We will also be on our own for Christmas and New Years Eve so trying to come up with a a few different ideas to make each day special. My typical go-to is appetizers all day, but I don't want to do that 3 times over so looking for some other suggestions!

[Anonymous]

For Christmas, do fondue. Appetizers for New Year's. So you can do a small turkey for Thanksgiving -- or a turkey breast, or roast a chicken.

[Anonymous]

Cornish game hens, Mac and cheese, a good festive salad and mashed potatoes.

[Anonymous]

For NYE we have a pizza competition. Everyone makes one. Winner of the best pizza gets a prize.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For NYE we have a pizza competition. Everyone makes one. Winner of the best pizza gets a prize.

Followed by a dance off using first the best songs of the past year, then favorites.

[Anonymous]

That's my idea of a perfect Thanksgiving!

Usually for Thanksgiving or Christmas we do a beef tenderloin, often on the grill. Make side dishes your family likes, even if they aren't traditional. We love mashed potatoes so make those, but never do cranberry sauces or creamed or casseroled vegetables since we don't like them. It's fine, no judgement of those who do, but why cook things we don't like? We do appetizer type stuff for midday, not necessarily super fancy since it's just us and our kids similar to you. Cheese, crackers, veggie tray. I might heat up a few things from Trader Joes, but generally nothing that takes a ton of work.

New Years we used to do the Fairfax 4 Miler which is at 6pm, so dinner was pizza after we'd showered and changed into comfortable clothes or pajamas. Then snuggle in to watch a movie and see if we make it to midnight.

[Anonymous]

My French children requested a duck cassoulet for Thanksgiving. Close enough, right?

For Christmas, I always make boeuf en croute (known to Anglo-Saxons victors as Beef Wellington). Luckily everyone likes it, because I love it and wouldn't change my menu for anything.

[Anonymous]

Maybe assign everyone a holiday and they pick what they want? Each kid gets one and the parents pick one and you have to go with what is picked (within reason).

[Anonymous]

For Thanksgiving I'd do turkey (breast if that's easier), rolls, mashed potatoes, and whatever sides you all enjoy. No need to make stuffing and cranberry sauce unless you or DH want it. Same for Christmas. And appetizers all day sounds fun for New Years!