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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 13:20:22 GMT
I'm an "okay" cook. Some things I cook really well, other things not so much. And I really suck in getting numerous dishes cooked and ready at the same time. I've done Thanksgiving dinner, it's turned out so-so, but it's so stressful, kwim? It's such a big meal, and we all look forward to it every year, I just don't want to mess it up for everyone. So I gave up years ago trying to make the big dinners myself and have turned to catering. (I hang my head in shame, lol).
We have 2 local catering companies that I rotate for Thanksgiving and then Christmas. The food is wonderful, so comforting, and the food's wonderful every single time.
Am I the only one that's whimped out?
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Post by Merge on Nov 8, 2014 13:39:30 GMT
I would seriously consider it next time we host Thanksgiving here. And I'm a better than average cook who has learned to do the holiday shuffle (getting everything ready at the same time) pretty well. But it's exhausting. And frankly, accommodating everyone's food preferences (we have some VERY picky eaters in our family) sucks all the fun out of it. If I didn't make the stuffing from scratch, then I don't have to feel hurt when SIL picks all the celery and onion out of it and three out of four teenage kids refuse to eat it at all. KWIM?
So if you're happy with the catered food and it makes your life easier, I say go for it. Open a bottle of wine and enjoy your relaxing holiday.
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 8, 2014 13:40:53 GMT
I cook, but I don't cook alone. I have family (a good bit of them) close by and we all participate so one person isn't responsible for it all. Not only that, but people can do what they do really well, and don't have to stress about worrying that it won't turn out. There are years though, we get tired (the cooks and the cleaners) of doing it and we go out. The only thing my piggy family doesn't like about going out though? No left overs.  So I say if catering floats your boat, go for it. Too much stress doesn't make a fun day and there is too much pressure to make it perfect. Perfect is unobtainable, and rather than perfect-it should be fun.  |
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Post by maryland on Nov 8, 2014 13:48:23 GMT
Sounds good to me! How can you enjoy the holiday if you are stressed out about cooking. I am the same way, too stressful to get so much ready at the same time.
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Kerri W
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Post by Kerri W on Nov 8, 2014 13:53:07 GMT
I do the whole meal usually and it is exhausting. This year I'm getting a smoked turkey so it'll take a little bit off my to-do list. I enjoy making the dinner but not every single aspect of it.
I say enjoy the heck out of your day! I'll only be a teeny bit jealous. Lol
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Post by kellybelly77 on Nov 8, 2014 14:16:55 GMT
We usually pick up the turkey and gravy from a caterer! Thanksgiving for my whole family, about 30, is always at my house. We have built in wall ovens and they are not deep enough to hold my grandmas turkey cooker!
I don't eat turkey but everyone tells me it's good!
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styxgirl
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Post by styxgirl on Nov 8, 2014 14:25:06 GMT
I think if we catered or went out to eat, we would probably save money. LOL I drop at least a couple hundred dollars on the Thanksgiving meal.
I do LOVE to cook though, so I don't thing either will happen for me for a long time! :-)
I would entertain hiring someone to clean up after though! LOL! (Except I'd just have to tell them where all the dishes go ... I've got relative for that! hehehehehe!!!
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Post by epeanymous on Nov 8, 2014 14:30:37 GMT
My inlaws started catering, but it didn't seem to reduce their meal stress.  |
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Nov 8, 2014 14:40:09 GMT
I really enjoy cooking for holidays but if I didn't I'd have no qualms about having it catered. You are supposed to enjoy the day and if that means no cooking then no cooking it is. If your relatives don't like it they can host and cook next year.
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Post by moosedogtoo on Nov 8, 2014 15:04:11 GMT
My MIL is a awesome cook, but she orders Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners from La Madeline usually. She likes to be able to spend more time with family instead of being stuck in the kitchen. |
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Post by CarolinaGirl71 on Nov 8, 2014 15:10:47 GMT
I'm a pretty good cook, but it is exhausting to do everything. DD usually brings dessert, but that still leaves the meal to me. And they are with the in-laws every other year so, this year, it's only 4 people. I am getting a precooked turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and green beans. I'll do Ina Garten's cranberry relish, and maybe something else, but I plan to enjoy the Macy's parade and football like everyone else in the family!
I encourage you to do the same!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 15:56:06 GMT
Thanks--I don't feel quite like a slacker, lol. While I don't have a big family, it really is just me doing everything, and it's just too overwhelming for me, even for a small crowd. I'm happy with my decision, and I'm glad the family will have a "good" meal. I will say catering isn't much cheaper than making it myself. It's actually quite pricey. But, it's one of those things I'm willing to fork over the money for. I will still do a veggie, maybe some homemade rolls; that I can handle.  And I'm sure we're gonna have DH's family for Christmas (the weekend before Christmas) and I'm already planning out what to order for that meal. That gathering will have more people than our Thanksgiving, so not catering isn't even an option. |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 16:11:39 GMT
My MIL will have holiday meals catered if we are there. Unfortunately she always seems to underestimate how many people will be there and how much food will be needed. Everyone ends up with tiny little portions and we always end up eating another meal later, usually from a fast food place. This has happened four times in recent years. I have offered to fix sides or bread to help bulk up the meal, but she declines my help. We live out of town, so I'd have to use her kitchen to prepare something. Maybe she doesn't want anyone in her kitchen?
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Post by gonewalkabout on Nov 8, 2014 16:15:53 GMT
We've never done it but we've never had the need to. There's only ever been the 4 of us. Though I could see myself ordering in if we had a larger family and were hosting.
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Post by hosschick on Nov 8, 2014 16:27:39 GMT
I have done it several times and it's always been a delight! I have also cheated on some years and used precooked turkey, a turkey breast, Stove-Top, frozen veggies, bought the pie, whatever. This year, we're not doing anything as a family, so I'm sinking even lower and getting a turkey dinner carryout from a local homestyle restaurant. It's $20 for turkey, gravy, stuffing, rolls, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, and I think one other side that I can pick? It's enough for dd and me to eat plus leftovers, so we're good. |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 16:28:08 GMT
We make the whole meal here, but thanks to health issues, I don't enjoy it. This year, DH will be smoking the turkey and help with side dishes, so I hope that will help take some of the burden off.
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quiltz
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Nov 8, 2014 16:28:40 GMT
Wegmans has a wonderful catering department. Everything is in the box for the dinner. yum
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Post by underwatermama on Nov 8, 2014 16:51:01 GMT
We did it once via the grocery store's deli/catering when we were visiting BIL who was single at the time and had nothing to use to make any of the food items. (Seriously...I had him check if his oven worked and it didn't so he had to get the landlord to to that before we arrived a week later).
It was pretty good, I guess. The problem was that we had so many people there that I felt like there wasn't enough food. But I think everyone else was fine with it, I was the last one through the line.
Would I do it again? I would love to, if I could find a place that made spectacularly good food (and I had the budget for it).
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amom23
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Post by amom23 on Nov 8, 2014 16:56:11 GMT
I don't exactly enjoy doing all the cooking, but since I live in such a rural area catering just isn't an option. More power to those who have that option!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 17:02:22 GMT
Do they deliver it to you or do you pick it up? It would really suck if they were closed when you went to get your meal.  |
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Post by lucyg on Nov 8, 2014 17:10:16 GMT
I agree with every word akathy said, except that I never get to host Thanksgiving myself. So I usually cook a second traditional Thanksgiving dinner over the weekend and then no one wants to eat it because they're tired of Thanksgiving by then. Anyway, I wouldn't waste one minute feeling guilty, if catering in the dinner or part of it works for you. Just Do It! |
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 17:18:21 GMT
I love cooking Thanksgiving. I used to get stressed out about it, but because it wasn't just Thanksgiving dinner, it was an additional 9-10 house guests for that weekend. I wish I'd thought of catering back then.
If I didn't love it, I'd cater it in a hot second.
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tiffanytwisted
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Post by tiffanytwisted on Nov 8, 2014 17:24:10 GMT
My kitchen will be in upheaval, so this year we're going to a restaurant. I never thought about having it catered! We couldn't do it this year anyway (all kitchen contents will be in the dining room), but if we find the whole not cooking thing pleasurable, then we will definitely look into having it catered next time. Thanx for the tip and enjoy your stress free day!  |
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Post by psoccer on Nov 8, 2014 17:28:36 GMT
I am catering this year. Due to my parents' health we have to have the holidays at their house. Last year I went down early at Thanksgiving and made everything, except their oven doesn't work right and nothing was ready on time. I thought I had overestimated the bird so we tried Christmas, but with ham. Nope, same problem. Since they aren't getting a new oven, then I am bringing cooked food in.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 18:10:20 GMT
My friend orders a full dinner from Wegmans.
Ann
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2014 19:02:25 GMT
As someone who really enjoys cooking , it does make me sad to hear if somebody feeling not confident in their cooking skills. I really believe everybody can be a most excellent dude in the kitchen.
That said. For Easter. Oh heck yes.
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Post by hennybutton on Nov 8, 2014 19:52:54 GMT
We usually pick up the turkey and gravy from a caterer! Thanksgiving for my whole family, about 30, is always at my house. We have built in wall ovens and they are not deep enough to hold my grandmas turkey cooker! I don't eat turkey but everyone tells me it's good! Do you mind if I ask how much that costs? I have Thanksgiving once every two years for 45-55 people. I have to provide turkey, ham, and gravy as well as drinks an paper plates, etc. Everything else is potluck. I have 30" double ovens, so cooking the two large turkeys isn't a problem, but it takes so long to carve them. My back ends up in so much pain, it's ridiculous. If catering it isn't too expensive, I might do it. As it is, I cook and carve the turkeys the day before and just reheat the meat. |
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Post by littlemama on Nov 8, 2014 20:30:55 GMT
I have bought sliced turkey from honey baked the last couple years. This year, I am making a boneless breast roast. We had one a couple weeks ago as a test run and it was perfect. We have also eaten out a few times. I wouldn't consider it wimping out to have it catered- do what works for you and your family and enjoy Thanksgiving!
I have a few dishes, like stuffing, that I immensely prefer my own to any other, so I still make those and my mom makes the best pie crust, so she always brings the pumpkin pies.
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AllieC
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Post by AllieC on Nov 8, 2014 21:33:04 GMT
I think good for you for doing what works for your family. We don't have Thanksgiving here but I'm comparing it to Christmas for us and it does make me sad when I hear of friends that work themselves to the bone getting the meal ready for their family. One person in my opinion should not be responsible for all the work and cost of feeding so many.
This is why I am super happy that Christmas is in Summer here. My family (as so many, many other Aussies) have a buffet "cold" main meal and it is perfect for the weather. My family (there are 20 of us in immediate family) all bring one main meat that has been cooked and sliced and is on plates ready to serve (cold). We bring prawns, Mum always does a boned turkey breast, others do ham etc. Everyone also brings a salad of some sort. We have a few champagnes when we all arrive and when we are ready to eat, all take out our contributions from our coolers etc, put them on the buffet table, then eat. It is so relaxed, nobody has to do a lot of work and the cost is spread out for all of us. We generally have it at my older sister's place - she is happy to have it there and they have a wonderful covered outdoor patio area (where we eat) and a swimming pool so everyone is happy. We all clean up together and it gets done very quickly. It is a very relaxing day
I know this might seem strange for all you guys who couldn't imagine having hot weather at Christmas time but it works for us . Of course, my MIL tells me she feels sorry for my dh as he "hasn't had Christmas" for so many years  - they are originally from the UK and think that anything apart from the hot roast and all the hot trimmings is wrong. I can't think of anything worse than a day of 90+ degree temperatures and having to slave over a hot stove! |
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PaperAngel
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Post by PaperAngel on Nov 8, 2014 22:34:47 GMT
It should make you feel better to know that our family tradition is to meet at a particular resort, enjoy a Thanksgiving buffet that appeals to all ages & palettes, & tour the gingerbread houses/decorations/etc. to kick off the Christmas season. No stress, leftover turkey, etc. We look forward to it every year!
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- they are originally from the UK and think that anything apart from the hot roast and all the hot trimmings is wrong. I can't think of anything worse than a day of 90+ degree temperatures and having to slave over a hot stove!