Post Thanksgiving Dinner

[Anonymous]

We are hosting out of town family for a couple days over Thanksgiving weekend. We are having our Thanksgiving meal at a local club around 1:00pm (unfortunately could not schedule it a later time). I will need to feed everyone dinner that evening. I have limited oven space and prefer to order catering or assemble easy to heat items in advance. Looking for some menu suggestions for a casual dinner for 20 adults, including 10 college aged kids (primarily male). We will be smoking a couple turkey breasts and I will pick up a spiral ham with rolls. I don’t want to recreate another Thanksgiving dinner. I’m stuck on sides and apps. This crowd likes to eat.

This is what I’m thinking so far:

Chacuterie
Chips/dip?

Turkey
Spiral Ham
Rolls, condiments, cranberry sauce
Mac and cheese
Large mixed green salad (any fabulous salad recipes for a crowd appreciated.)
?

Pecan pie
Pumpkin pie
Brownies?

[Anonymous]

I would probably do soup and charcuterie, which you can order catered/picked-up.

If you do not have a crock pot, I'd find a way to (via friends who are not hosting, or your guests if they're driving/willing) to get 3 of them. Heat butternut squash soup, tomato soup, and chicken noodle soup and keep warm for self-serving. You can use mugs. You can literally buy these at Whole Foods (get two large containers of each).

Have a robust charcuterie with cheeses, meats, olives/pickles, and also have dipppers and veggies. Baguette slices and sauces (mustard, etc..) if they're more sandwichy.

Have some festive desserts (mini pies, mini cheesecakes, candies and cookies) and drinks (wine, beer, sodas, etc...).

And if there are kids involved, have mac and cheese to make real quick just in case.

[Anonymous]

Aaaand I just read you have college aged kids. Yeah, smoke more meats.

[Anonymous]

I don't understand -- you say your are going out for Thanksgiving dinner and you don't want to recreate it, but you are serving smoked turkey and thinking about cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?

Just make some big lasagnas in advance (or frozen ones from the store) and serve with a green salad and call it a day. No one is going to want much anyway. And they certainly arent going to want more turkey.

[Anonymous]

What about cake instead of the pies since most will have already had pie for lunch.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand -- you say your are going out for Thanksgiving dinner and you don't want to recreate it, but you are serving smoked turkey and thinking about cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?

Just make some big lasagnas in advance (or frozen ones from the store) and serve with a green salad and call it a day. No one is going to want much anyway. And they certainly arent going to want more turkey.

+1

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand -- you say your are going out for Thanksgiving dinner and you don't want to recreate it, but you are serving smoked turkey and thinking about cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?

Just make some big lasagnas in advance (or frozen ones from the store) and serve with a green salad and call it a day. No one is going to want much anyway. And they certainly arent going to want more turkey.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Good point about the turkey. Since we won’t have any leftovers per se, I thought that was a nod to Thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

I would do something totally different. Asian food or something like that, unless maybe you've seen the menu at the club and know that something you love (e.g. I notice you have mac and cheese) isn't on the menu.

If I wanted to make something at home, I'd make a couple different soups, a nice salad, and put out things to make sandwiches.

[Anonymous]

If you're having a full Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime, I would not include turkey for dinner that night. I love turkey, and that's to much turkey even for me.

Personally I'd go with lasagna, salad, breadsticks for that night. Simple dessert like brownies or a cake would be great.

Another option would be a catered BBQ spread - ribs, brisket, cole slaw, beans, mac & cheese, corn on the cob, cornbread.

[Anonymous]

I would do anything BUT anything you had at that Thanksgiving lunch. Why turkey? Unless there's been a general outcry for more turkey, of course...

What about a pork tenderloin with veggies? Plus reheat some quiches your ordered? Plus reheat one large lasagna you ordered?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I don't understand -- you say your are going out for Thanksgiving dinner and you don't want to recreate it, but you are serving smoked turkey and thinking about cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?

Just make some big lasagnas in advance (or frozen ones from the store) and serve with a green salad and call it a day. No one is going to want much anyway. And they certainly arent going to want more turkey.

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Good point about the turkey. Since we won’t have any leftovers per se, I thought that was a nod to Thanksgiving.

The truth is very few people actually like turkey.

[Anonymous]

We always order a pizza Thanksgiving night!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:If you're having a full Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime, I would not include turkey for dinner that night. I love turkey, and that's to much turkey even for me.

Personally I'd go with lasagna, salad, breadsticks for that night. Simple dessert like brownies or a cake would be great.

Another option would be a catered BBQ spread - ribs, brisket, cole slaw, beans, mac & cheese, corn on the cob, cornbread.

Lasagna after eating a full Thanksgiving meal and desserts that day? Good grief.

[Anonymous]

I would just put out sandwich fixings, fruit tray, cheese tray, and a soup or chili. Plus some chips and pretzels. No one wants a fancy meal post thanksgiving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:If you're having a full Thanksgiving meal at lunchtime, I would not include turkey for dinner that night. I love turkey, and that's to much turkey even for me.

Personally I'd go with lasagna, salad, breadsticks for that night. Simple dessert like brownies or a cake would be great.

Another option would be a catered BBQ spread - ribs, brisket, cole slaw, beans, mac & cheese, corn on the cob, cornbread.

Lasagna after eating a full Thanksgiving meal and desserts that day? Good grief.

They have 10 college kids coming. OP- go with lasagna, salad, bread, and some soup. Then people can do soup bread salad or lasagna bread salad depending on how hungry they are. All of this can be prepped ahead.

For dessert, I would offer cookies and bars (brownies, or other "bar" desserts).