Welcome to Day Two of A Taste of Thanksgiving. We’re talking about menus.

I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinner since I was 15 and over the years, my menu has evolved considerably. In the beginning, I struggled with the actual cooking process. As I became a more skilled cook, I started stressing over the dishes, wanting to top the previous year’s meal. After one particularly exhausting 3-day cooking marathon in the early 2000’s, I decided to simplify.

Now, I’ve scaled back to a point that’s comfortable, but includes all of the favorites everyone expects to see on the Holiday table. Here is my current menu:

* Turkey

* Stuffing

* Mashed Potatoes

* String Beans

* Cranberry Sauce

* Sweet potato casserole

* No-Bake Peanut Butter Caramel Cheesecake

That, my friends, is it! Instead of making a ton of sides that often go uneaten, I concentrate on the super stars. It’s still a lot of kitchen work, but not so much that I feel burdened. (The cook deserves a holiday, too!) This menu requires 1 day of shopping and prep work, plus another day for cooking.

Once I have the menu assembled, I search for the best deals and coupons to keep my cost low.

1.  Turkey

For those looking for strictly white meat, buy a Jennie-O Oven Ready Breast at Walmart. Use a $1.00 coupon and a $5.00 Checkout 51 rebate. Final total is only $4.57! If you want a whole bird, pick up a frozen one at Shaw’s for $0.49/Lb.

2.  String Beans & potatoes

The cheapest price in my area is at a local produce store. I can find the beans for $0.99/Lb and a 10-lb bag of potatoes is $2.99.

3.  Cranberries & sweet potatoes

Hannaford has the best prices on these items: $0.49/Lb for sweet potatoes and cranberries for only $0.49 a bag with a $1.00 Ocean Spray coupon!

4.  Stuffing

I still have some packages from an earlier sale but this item is easy to find cheaply at every store this week and next. Aim for $1.00 or less.

5.  Peanut Butter Cheesecake

I will use the $0.89 Skippy I bought on sale. The other ingredients I have in the pantry.

Because I buy ahead and only shop the deals, I can make a big feast for around $20 (sometimes even less). When you compare that figure to a $49.99 grocery store prepared meal or a overpriced restaurant, it’s a huge savings!

 

What does your family eat on Thanksgiving?