Turkey Day Here I COME!
November 22, 2008
T-5 days until the big day. I’m nervous and excited as I prepare for my very first Thanksgiving. I’m cooking for 10 and it’s time to get ready. I’m off this morning to my local wholesale club to start stocking up!
I was about to site down and make a list and then I thought… Hmmmm? I might as well share it with you guys. It always helps me when to write all my thoughts out anyway, so why not? plus you can give me all your wonderful advice and tips as I’m sure I forgot something! :~)
My goal…
a traditional Thanksgiving with a few tweaks keeping health and waistlines in mind.
My menu….
- Turkey (DUH?!?) – I’m going with a 22 pounder I think. We LOVE leftovers.
- Stuffing – Click here to see my stuffing recipe. I’m going triple it.
- Mashed Potatoes – Click here to see my mashed potato recipe. I’m making tons, I have potoatoe people in this faimily.
- Sweet Potatoes – Click here to see my idea to replace candied sweet potatoes.
- Corn – Just your run of the mill bag of frozen corn, cooked in the microwave. No butter! People can add their own.
- Roasted Asparagus – Click here to see the recipe I’ll be using. This is my replacement for green bean casserole (which I never liked anyway).
- Cranberry sauce – We’re canned jelly kind of people and I love it! :~)
- Rolls – I’m going with 1 package reduced fat crescents and one traditional dinner rolls.
Ummmm I think that’s it?!?! No? What am I missing?
I think the meal is covered. For the rest of the day I’m going with a HUGE vegetable tray. Some cheese and whole wheat crackers (triscuits I think), with turkey pepperoni and a tray of pickles, olives and things. I’m also thinking of making some soup, not sure if I will but if I do it’ll definitely be my homemade lentil, click here to check it out.
As for the desserts… well I’m leaving that up to the family. Mom’s making a pumpkin roll and I’m sure my Uncles will bring fresh Italian cookies from New York. Ohhh how I love/hate them! LOL
That’s it. I’m not that worried about the cooking. I’m more worried about my eating! LOL I’ve been feeling a bit out of control lately. I haven’t food journaled in a while and I’ve been…. ummmm… how do I say it….. unmotivated? Yes ladies and gentleman it happens to ME TOO! ;~) I think it’s a combination of the cold weather and the stress of the holidays. I’m trying REAL hard to ward off the whole "Ohhh !#$&@ it, I’ll just be good after the holiday season" feeling. I know it’s stupid but boy, it’s a hard feeling to fight!
But… I’m TOTALLY fighting it! I can either let one day be one day, or I can turn it into 6 weeks. Hummmmm I wonder how much weight I can gain in 1 day versus the 6 weeks?? Yeah, I think I’ll do my best to make the best choices I can through this whole holiday season. She says as she repeats to hereslf… It’s not about perfection… It’s not about perfection. :~)
We can do it? Right? RIGHT?
Of course we can. I’ve done it before. It’s not that hard. You just have to remember what your goals are and what’s important to you.
OK, so…. what am I missing for the big turkey day? Do you have any ideas to share?
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On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:12 pm Kris said:
What about olives? They are a “good” fat! And it only takes a few to satisfy…..I LOVE EM’.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:13 pm Anna said:
what about gravy for the mashed potatoes? in your mashed potato recipe picture you show gravy on them, but i can’t remember if you mention the gravy stats?? is it homemade? in a jar? from a mix? i am sounding like dr. seuss! have a fab turkey day! you sound perfectly ready!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:21 pm SeaShore said:
I understand the love/hate relationship with the cookies!
And yes, we can do it!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:35 pm Deb said:
yum sounds good!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:41 pm Carol said:
I have a big familiy and I’m the baby (even though I’m 41!), so I never do much of the cooking. I always bring Liptauer Cheese which is this wonderful concoction starting with butter and cream cheese. I’ve tried to lighten it and it just doesn’t work. So I make it just once a year, let everyone dig in and then it’s done until the next year. However, I’ve been asked to bring another appy and I was thinking of a platter of fruit kebabs. I might add a platter of triscuits with olives, pickles and turkey pepperoni. That sounded good and might keep me away from that Liptauer!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:43 pm roni said:
Kris – LOL yup, there up there in for my trays. I don’t like them but others do.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 12:44 pm roni said:
Anna – I talk about the gravy in the comments on the mash potatoes. heres the link… http://greenlitebites.com/2008/11/16/creamy-mashed-potatoes/
Cross down just a bit… Hope it helps!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm Tanya said:
What about grean beans?
On November 22nd, 2008 at 1:44 pm Sabrina said:
How about HG’s egg nog? I make mine with Unsweetened Almond Breeze to make it even lighter.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:34 pm Maggie said:
I love pumpkin roll! My grandma used to make it.
Roasted asparagus is definitely better than green bean casserole. I feel like no one ever likes it but it’s just such a tradition that no one ever says anything.
Have a great day Roni!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:36 pm Annalisa said:
Are you doing any apps? We have 15ish people and planned some “light” snacks. We’re doing shrimp (frozen in a bag)/cocktail sauce (half ketchup, half prepared horseradish), fruit platter, and artichoke dip with crackers.
I’m tempted to make The Pioneer Woman’s butternut squash puree. However, we are also doing roasted root veggies (carrots, turnips, beets, acorn, and butternut squash). It might be too much squash — but can you ever have enough?
I think your menu sounds great! Good luck!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:48 pm Sandra said:
Hi Roni this is my first time doing this wanted to tell you I love your site and all your recipes.. I make turnips and they are good! My husband loves them! Keep up the good job on your site!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:52 pm roni said:
Tanya – Asparagus instead!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 2:53 pm roni said:
Sabrina – Eggnog is a good idea… but…. I don’t like it! LOL we never had it growing up.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 3:40 pm Tammy C. said:
Pumpkin pie!!! yummy!!!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 4:23 pm Nikki said:
Some sort of jell-o salad? It’s tradition at our house, whereas green bean casserole is not. I just bake the sweet potatoes (I regular potato sized ones) and then cut them up and sprinkle with cinnamon and have some brown sugar out for those who like it. DH thinks they are too sweet with the sugar. There are no marshmallows on my sweet potatoes.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 4:30 pm vickie said:
if your 20+ lb turkey is frozen – put it in the refrigerator TODAY to start thawing!
If you are planning to use a Turkey roaster – make sure your bird fits in it – a 20+ pound one does not fit in mine.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 4:45 pm Arlene said:
I must say, I LOVE green bean casserole! But asparagus is nice too. I just discovered that traditional pumpkin pie has 9 Points per slice … I’ll have to eat a smaller slice. At least I won’t have to deal with leftovers, because I’m eating at the Boyfriend’s mom’s house.
I’m with you on that whole fight to remember it’s just one day thing. Rationally, I know it’s better to be off-plan for one day than for an entire week … but that “it’s the holiday’s so what the hell” feeling is tough to fight.
I’m going to do it, though. I want to lose weight this holiday season. Last year I gained and lost the same 2 pounds for 2 months. It sucked.
On November 22nd, 2008 at 6:49 pm Susan said:
“You just have to remember what your goals are and what’s important to you.”
I love it Roni – I am going to post that on one of my computer post its as inspiration for my last 17 some pounds before ww goal. Great quotation!
S
On November 22nd, 2008 at 9:07 pm Maria said:
Menu looks great Roni – thanks for sharing and as always for your words of wisdom. I loved the thought of the weight gain in one day versus six weeks. Great eye opener!!!
On November 22nd, 2008 at 10:34 pm Krista said:
My kids both said, “What about fruit salad?” I bet The Toddler would love that, too. =)
Also just wanted to say that I am *very* thankful for YOU, Roni. You are such an inspiration to me. <3
On November 22nd, 2008 at 11:50 pm Michele said:
No salad? No meal in our family is complete without a big salad! Lots of leafy greens, grape tomatoes, cukes and whatever else you want to throw in there.
On November 23rd, 2008 at 6:03 am christy said:
We have eaten 2 potluck thanksgiving dinner already this year for our jobs…we still have one to go to after thanksgiving…I am almost thinking about NOT cooking on the actual day. My husband and I are eating too much junk at these potlucks…I don’t think I am going to make a big meal for just the two of us.
On November 23rd, 2008 at 1:09 pm Christina said:
Your sweet potato’s look great! I love regular potato’s like that so I’m sure they’ll be a hit!
If you’re ever looking for something different we always have mashed up (cooked) sweet potato’s and cooked carrots with 2 small cans of tangerines/clementines. It’s delicious and everyone loves it!
On November 23rd, 2008 at 5:31 pm pam said:
Roni,
Have you ever tried the sf cranberry jello?? MMMMM (if ya like cranberries that is). Anyway….you could make your yellatin with cranberry jello and orange yogurt. Great combo….or any that would suit your taste buds. Raspberry or cherry yogurt would be great too….and ….much less calories than the can-o-cran! Which….personally….strangely… I LOVE!!!!! Okay…. Have a great Turkey day.
On November 23rd, 2008 at 5:34 pm pam said:
Oh yeah……you totally got me loving the yellatin! I make it almost every week and stuff it in my lunch. All the teachers at my school are totally into as well since I have passed along the yellatin idea! I make all kinds of flavorful combinations! I think I am a yellatin freak! THANKS RONI!
On November 23rd, 2008 at 5:48 pm Sandra said:
Hi Roni, When I was growing up my mom always made cole slaw for Thanksgiving. Now the stores has fat free mayo years ago the stores didn’t and it goes well with turkey. Everyone have a great Thanksgiving.
On November 23rd, 2008 at 8:58 pm Denise said:
Sounds great…just a suggestion..I have done the 22 pounder turkey (my first thanksgiving–Canadian thanksgiving comes in October) It was CRAZY big….and the roasting pan I had was small. You do the math!! haah turkey grease everywhere. So make sure you have a big STURDY pan. Also, I had 18 people, and there was loads left, loads!!
On November 24th, 2008 at 1:00 pm Tawnya said:
I happen to love green bean casserole. What about pumpkin pie? You could try making the crustless pumpkin pie, only 4 pts. for the whole thing.
On November 25th, 2008 at 12:06 am Ronnie said:
I was so glad to read that you feel this unmotivation too! I am fighting it in a big way, is so much easier to cozy up with the kids, a blanket and hot chocolate, then to get up and exercise in this colder weather, not to mention it is dark at 5:00! It feels like 10. Is there a way to get through this “un” time? I think I need to join a gym maybe, I always like to have others around while excerising, it makes it fun.
On November 27th, 2008 at 9:37 am Jennscookin said:
I think I missed something… What is “yellatin”? Sounds like half yogurt and half gelatin? Was is a while back? I sort of remember something like that, but I couldn’t find a link.
Jenn
On November 27th, 2008 at 9:01 pm roni said:
Jenn.. http://greenlitebites.com/2008/03/23/yelatin/
Exactly what it is! :~)