Have a Butterball boneless breast in the freezer.  Will probably fix cajun green beans, creamed potatoes, macaroni & cheese, and Sister Shuberts rolls.  I have to work Thanksgiving, black Friday, and Saturday so we will probably do ours Wednesday. 

We are hosting this year for family and some extended family (first time in 16 years), I'm told the headcount will be 16, including us.   But I'm not going to kill myself by preparing the entire feast, I'm only planning to cook the bird, gravy, cranberry sauce, roasted garlic mashed potatoes and possibly the dressing.  Guests will bring the remaining dishes, a ham, yam/sweet potato dish, veggies, dinner rolls, desserts, etc.  

I really enjoy reading about all the plans and food items members are making for the holidays. Like Tim/wayupnorth most of my family, my partner and friends are all gone now. During the past few years I celebrated  with a group of friends here in the Desert. They'd invite me to their home for a nice dinner. Last year at this time we were eating at a very good restaurant/bakery. At the end of the meal I offered to order a cake for Thanksgiving. I was in a lot of pain from my back and sat down to wait my turn. The woman behind the counter decided to allow someone who had just walked in to place a large order for take-out food and he proceeded to give detailed instructions on how each item was to be cooked. I was impatient (without making a scene) and told my group I wanted to leave at which time they said some pretty nasty things to me. I offered to call and place a phone order but no luck. Fortunately I drove my own car and left. Since that episode I have been excommunicated from their Thanksgiving and Christmas to-do's. 

I'll be spending both holidays with Maggie & Holly, my two Springer Spaniels and I'll be very happy. It's difficult for me to stand for more than a minute or two so cooking is not a good idea, but there are tons of alternatives. I think Swanson still makes a TV Turkey Dinner. I hope members post lots of photos of their food creations, banquets, as well as their decorations too. 

A couple of these in or around the kitchen and you'd swear there's a bird in the oven...

That's why I only get a boneless breast.  I don't like leftover turkey, dark meat turkey, turkey tetrazzini, or any other turkey concoction after the holiday is gone.  Christmas we do a ham!

This year there will only be 5 of us in town for Thanksgiving.  My wife and I decided that since we always host Thanksgiving that this year we're going out for dinner.  We're going to a local supper club that does a buffet every year.  There will be turkey, ham, kielbasa & kraut, and all of the trimmings.  Also, a large salad bar & dessert table.  They do seatings at 10:30, 11:30, 12:45, 2:00, and 3:15.  We are doing the 12:45 seating.

Here's a link to the restaurant we're going to for Turkey Day.  

I'll be alone as always.

In the background, we hear the sobs of Lord Kenmore, as he ponders his lonely Thanksgiving fate.

Right now, I'm thinking I'll probably treat it like "just another weeknight dinner."

It's very sad that after-dinner coffee seems to be a thing of the past.

Harriet Craig (Joan Crawford) to housekeeper Mrs. Harold..."Don't you ever intend to serve the coffee? My guests are still waiting!" She was dismissed shortly afterwards.

I didn't know this...but then the difference between Big Foot and my social life is that Big Foot might actually exist... (And so much for the justification I might use for buying a coffee pot: "I can use it for after dinner coffee if I ever have a candlelight supper!" LOL)

I have fond memories of evening coffee on a special occasions. My mother mostly made drip coffee as a during day thing, but on, say, Christmas, we might have a pot of French press coffee in the evening. (It was after dinner in the sense it was after dinner, although not immediately after.)

The comment about football games reminded me of another annoyance which hit the last time I had a Thanksgiving dinner to go to. (And given how unlovable I am, it could, indeed, be the last time ever I have a Thanksgiving dinner to go to...)

In the background, we hear the sobs of Lord Kenmore, as he ponders how unlovable he is.

This annoyance was how the dinner was rushed. It had to be over, fast! Because people had to get going and be at some big box retailer when they opened Thanksgiving evening so they could perhaps be one of the lucky 5 people to get the door opener special!

I meant to imply that serving after-dinner coffee was a nice thing. The aroma of fresh-brewed coffee is comforting and satisfying after any meal.

Maybe when I was growing up it was an accepted sequence of the dinner.  But, as my parents aged, they didn't have caffeine after a certain point during the day.  And even decaf coffee has too much caffeine for me to deal with in the evening.  So I've never bothered to have coffee with dessert at my house.  MAYBE herbal tea, but that's pushing it. 

In fact, I've not had coffee in the house for a couple of years. 

I decided to invite a couple of friends over. I haven't had guests for a very long time. Standing is very difficult and they've promised to help me. I ordered a feast for 8 from Whole Foods so I assume it will be good but not the same as cooking yourself. I'm looking forward to the leftovers. It's the best I can do. My dishwasher has new stuff in it that's been there for over a year. I'll have to run it and we can eat off the new boa snake-skin pattern dishes...so appropriate for Thanksgiving. There's no room is the cupboards for them. At least we can look at the china and crystal in the cabinet while we're eating. It's just a hassle anyway. Another treat will be our dining companion, a vintage Haunted House pinball machine that was delivered from Dallas and never made it past the dining room. My eclectic home, once a showplace now suitable for that "Hoarders" TV show.

I've never shopped at Whole Paycheck, er, Whole Foods so I can't comment about their dinners. But I'd have to assume, based on reputation, that the dinner will be more than fine.

I've had at least two Thanksgiving dinners featuring a grocery store Thanksgiving dinner in a box. I can't really remember much about either, and if either had been horrible, I'd probably remember that.

Then, I've honestly never really noticed much variation between Thanksgiving dinners. Once a basic level of competence is achieved, it seems to be pretty much the same. But perhaps I'm cynical.

And I enjoy it! Not so much the food, but being in their company for the holiday gives me joy.

And that is what really matters--or should matter: the people...

As I mentioned earlier in this thread, short of a miracle, I'll be alone, which is typical. (Over the last 10 years, I've been alone 7 years.) It's interesting that I get "suggestions" of what I should do from people who know me and my situation. The two I've heard repeatedly (from different people) over the years is either find some community dinner (apparently churches or civic organizations do such things), or go out to dinner. The people making these suggestions mean well. But I really don't care about having a traditional dinner (which I find mostly boring). I have no budget for a restaurant. I have no interest in a community dinner. Most important factor: no matter what, I'll be alone--either totally alone where I live, or else eating by myself in that hypothetical restaurant or community dinner. So why even bother? I might as well stay in, and have a regular weeknight dinner.