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Thanksgiving Feast
by Jill Cooper
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It's
really hard to find ways to save on your Thanksgiving dinner because, let's
face it -- It doesn't get a whole lot cheaper than a turkey dinner! Still, I
have found some ways that you can save and today I'll pass them on to you! |
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For starters, the larger
turkeys are usually cheaper, so buy the largest one you can. I hear some of you
groaning now about what to do with all those leftovers because you really don't
need a 22 lb. turkey for 6 people. Not to worry -- just don't bake the whole
thing.
I discovered one year by accident that my butcher (at a regular national chain
grocery store) would cut it in half for me. Even if it is frozen he can still do
it. This discovery really changed my life. (That sounds dramatic, but I was
really having a problem becoming "one" with my turkeys.)
I suddenly had the revelation that I didn't have to deal with mounds of leftover
turkey that haunted my post Thanksgiving menu for years. I had just enough for a
good old turkey sandwich and some soup. I mean Thanksgiving really isn't
Thanksgiving without a few leftovers, is it?
It was so much easier to handle and prepare an 11 lb. turkey rather than to man
handle a 22 lb. one. Getting it cleaned and into the pan was a breeze and in and
out of the oven was just plain simple.
Just wrap the other half and freeze it to use for Christmas. I've often made ham
for Christmas just because by Christmas we are so sick of turkey that we don't
want to think of preparing another one -- ever! By not creating so many
leftovers, your family might not mind having turkey again. That's also
potentially one less thing to buy for Christmas dinner.
Inexpensive Thanksgiving Turkey Dinner!
If you still don't want to have turkey for Christmas, save it for some cold day
in January. If you have a large enough crock pot, cook the turkey it the crock
pot. If not, cook it on very low in the oven so that it slow cooks all day. Do
you know how delightful it is to come home to the yummy smell of slow cooked
turkey?
Save by making your own pies and instead of buying the expensive pre-made ones.
If you are daunted by the thought of making pie crust, just buy a ready made
one. They are usually on sale for very little around Thanksgiving.
It really isn't that hard to make the filling for most pies. Often they are
easier to make than a cake or cookies. If you like the traditional pumpkin pie,
most cans have the recipe on the back. I also know a real good book you can find
the recipe in called Dining on a Dime. (Haha)
If your family and friends aren't fussy about having the traditional, then you
can make banana cream, chocolate, or butterscotch pie. Just take a box of banana
pudding, mix it up and pour it into a baked pie crust. Cover with sliced bananas
and whipped topping. For the chocolate pie use chocolate pudding with chocolate
chips in it and cover it with whipped topping. For the butterscotch use
butterscotch pudding, whipped topping and sprinkle with butterscotch chips. My
mouth is watering just thinking about it!
You don't have to make so many pies that you could open a bakery. I have found
that most kids are just as happy with a platter of cookies. Don't overdo it.
You'll just wear yourself out! If you have time, make the cookies in the shapes
of pumpkins and turkeys.
Save on your relish dish. Buying ingredients for a relish dish can get
expensive, especially where we live. One year I paid more for my relish dish
items than my turkey. If you're having this problem, only use 3-4 veggies on it
instead of 10 and cut out on the more expensive veggies. For example broccoli
and cauliflower are very high priced for us so I would probably use carrots and
celery. I fill the celery with cheese or peanut butter or cut them into fancy
shapes. On this occasion, the turkey is the star and most people won't even
notice that you cut back on the relish dish.
Don't make so many side dishes-- Like I said the turkey, gravy and mashed
potatoes are above all else. By the time everyone stuffs themselves on those,
they only eat a token amount of the side dishes. Why? ---Because of course
everyone wants to save room for dessert!
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Jill Cooper raised
two teenagers alone on $500 a month income after becoming
disabled with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. To read more of Jill's
articles and for free tips and recipes visit
http://www.LivingOnADime.com/.
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