What is the ‘bare minimum’ of a Thanksgiving spread

[Anonymous]

I don’t care if you ask for contributions or store buy anything or everything, but to me, the “bare minimum” a host should organize (not “provide,” but organize) would be:

Turkey
Gravy
Mashed potatoes
Dressing
Cranberry sauce
Something green, whether it is asparagus, green beans, or salad, whatever
Pumpkin pie
One not-pumpkin dessert
Drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic)

What would you add or subtract?

[Anonymous]

Sounds about right. Our mashed potatoes are sweet potatoes rather than white potatoes. But I'd be fine with this as a spread. Of course we do a little more, but not that much more.

[Anonymous]

Sweet and mashed potatoes are needed.

[Anonymous]

Sweet potatoes
Mac and cheese

I don’t want mashed potatoes that aren’t sweet aka orange.

[Anonymous]

I would add some kind of rolls but I would take out a non-pumpkin desert

[Anonymous]

Some people don't care about cranberry sauce. And don't do multiple desserts.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sweet and mashed potatoes are needed.

NP. Disagree for bare minimum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sweet potatoes
Mac and cheese

I don’t want mashed potatoes that aren’t sweet aka orange.

Apple pie w option of icecream

[Anonymous]

If I had to choose one version of potatoes, it would be mashed white potatoes. Sweet potatoes, I know many people like, but they aren’t in the “bare minimum” category.

[Anonymous]

Bare minimum? Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, cranberry sauce. And at least one pie- I’d say pumpkin. Everything else can be on a case by case basis. Like Mac and cheese, a sweet potato dish, a salad, pecan pie, Brussels sprouts, etc

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sweet potatoes
Mac and cheese

I don’t want mashed potatoes that aren’t sweet aka orange.

Neither of these are bare minimum thanksgiving dishes. Turkey, potato, gravy, stuffing, cranberry. These are the classic staples.

[Anonymous]

I never understood mac and cheese at thanksgiving. Never served it, never been served it (except at a potluck Friendsgiving).

[Anonymous]

Whipped cream to go with pie
Coffee and tea to go with dessert

Not asparagus, unless you live in the southern hemisphere! That's a spring vegetable.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whipped cream to go with pie
Coffee and tea to go with dessert

Not asparagus, unless you live in the southern hemisphere! That's a spring vegetable.

My dh would agree with you, but for some reason specifies COOL whip from the tub for the pie instead of the spray kind.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I never understood mac and cheese at thanksgiving. Never served it, never been served it (except at a potluck Friendsgiving).

Same. Never actually even heard of it on thanksgiving menus until DCUM. I assumed it was for picky kids but interesting that adults seem to want it too.