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πŸ’΅ Thanksgiving dinner for eight, about $40 with ice cream

Published about 12 hours agoΒ β€’Β 1 min read

Hey there,

A whole Thanksgiving dinner for eight can cost about $40, and that includes a full tub of vanilla ice cream. On the menu: Turkey Meatloaf, Turkey Gravy without Drippings, Crispy Skillet Potatoes, Garlic Butter Green Beans and warm Easy Apple Crisp. It works for a big table, a Friendsgiving or a year you'd like to skip roasting a whole bird.

The main dish is my Turkey Meatloaf. It's not much to look at (the first time I sent a photo of it to my best friend Mary, her whole reply was "No."), but I've made it dozens of times, and the leftovers make a great sandwich the next day.

Most of the menu can be made before Thursday, so the day itself is mostly the meatloaf in the oven and two sides on the stove.

The main​
​Turkey Meatloaf​
One loaf feeds eight, and mushrooms and oats keep it tender.

Days ahead​
​Turkey Gravy without Drippings​
Toasted flour and brown butter give it the flavor of drippings. It keeps 3 to 4 days in the fridge.

On the stove​
​Crispy Skillet Potatoes​
Simmer, drain, then shake the covered pot until the edges look fuzzy. That's what makes them crisp.

Ready in 17 minutes​
​Garlic Butter Green Beans​
Steamed until tender-crisp, then topped with garlic butter.

The day before​
​Easy Apple Crisp​
Assemble it a day ahead, bake it on Thursday and serve it warm with vanilla ice cream.

πŸ“ Shopping list: Print it here. It's already scaled for eight.

πŸ¦ƒ Coming Sunday: five holiday mains for every size of table, from a dry-brined turkey for twelve to salmon for four.

All my best,

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Pinch and Swirl

The best food happens at home.

The best meals don’t come from restaurant kitchens. They come from home cooks like you who take simple ingredients and turn them into something worth sharing. My specialty is making global cooking approachable, from beloved American classics to exciting international flavors. I create recipes that make it simple to cook memorable, restaurant-quality dishes, so you can feel confident and inspired in your own kitchen.

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