Frugal Thanksgiving meal

[crosses]

Do you prepare you own Thanksgiving meal? What does it consist of and are there any tricks you have to cut down on the expenses without cutting down on the quality of the food? We have all our extended family come to our house which means feeding some 25 people which can get very expensive.

[Lori63]

Do you have to prepare everything or do others bring side dishes/desserts?

[crosses]

Our family get together is not a one day event. It usually last over the for days with people coming and going. Most stay at local hotels, but still come by everyday. So, yes, they do usually bring something when they first come, but since they are here for several days, that is a small fraction of the food that actually has to be prepared.

[terry1156]

With that many people, I don't know if this will work, but turkey actally gets less expensive the closer to Thanksgiving in our area. Since it isn't a big deal if we don't actually have turkey, we wait until the last minute. Then we also pick up a couple of extras for later and put them in the freezer. Prices start to go up again after Thanksgiving in our area.

[Tree0164]

Can any of them pitch in on the costs?

My MIL in law likes to have dinner at her house. She likes to buy the prepared turkey dinner from the local grocery store and all the kids split the cost. Not the cheapest way but if folks are willing to do that.

[vendigirl]

I got this in my inbox today and thought of you. Hope it helps.
Save Money on Holiday Meals
http://organizedchristmas.com/article8.html

[crosses]

Asking for money for the meals is a difficult situation. If everyone was local, I wouldn't hesitate, but most of my relatives live a good distance away and have travel and lodging expenses. I figure what I pay for food comes to about the same as what they must pay to visit. Thank you for the link

[jeffrey]

You could serve a five bottle set Green Bean Casserole Soda, Mashed Potato Soda, Turkey & Gravy Soda, Fruitcake Soda and Cranberry Soda from <A HREF="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/food/2004-11-08-weird-soda_x.htm">Jones Soda Co.</A> to each of them.

"The sodas may not be as satisfying as a real holiday meal, but they can boast being both calorie- and carb-free, not to mention vegan and kosher."

just kidding

[crosses]

YUCK!!!! But I may have to pick up a few five packs to sell on ebay.

[terry1156]

lol. Now there is a way to keep unwanted relatives from visiting in the years to come.

[rabbitfoot]

That's disgusting! Why would anyone buy (or make) something like that?

[Tree0164]

They sent them as samples to the Regis and Kelly show yesterday. Regis said that they tasted exactly what they were to taste like. Kelly only tried the mashed potatos and she said it exactly like them but it made her sick to her stomach. She looked very green after taking a taste. Not a great endorsement to the Jones product,