My First Thanksgiving: Budget-Friendly

Posted by Caroline Wright

When I first started cooking on Thanksgiving, I was an idealist. It was all about the tradition and the nostalgia of the holiday. Now, with a few Thanksgivings under my belt, I thought I would give you the benefit of my mistakes and let you in on a few budget-friendly tips to consider before you hit the grocery store.

How do I get started? Do I need all of this? 
Now that you've made your battle plan from yesterday's post, you need to figure out what to buy. In order to be most effective with your time and budget, just keep it all straight. Make a grocery list. I know it sounds obvious, but making a list and sticking to it will serve your wallet (and sanity) well. Also, if you can consider buying only what you need -- and question the things you might not.

For example, do you really need three types of vinegars or two oils? The truth is, probably not. (We develop our recipes with ideal pairings in mind, supplied by a very well-stocked test kitchen; for example, when we call for sherry vinegar and you only have red-wine vinegar, save your money and experiment with the red-wine vinegar as a substitute. It will work.)

How much do I buy?
Well, the rule of thumb is 1 pound of turkey per person to account for leftovers. As far as side dishes go, our recipes from our Thanksgiving stories serve 8 to 10. The trick is to have enough variety (and wine) and everyone will be happy. Here is a drink calculator by Evite that you might find useful when calculating the amount of wine to have on hand.

I have my list and it looks like it will cost a fortune. What can I swap to save on my grocery bill?
If your grocery list is filled with expensive items like nuts, butter, and maple syrup or more specialty items like cooking wines or wild rice and you still have your turkey to purchase, you still have time to rethink your menu a little if you're getting freaked out. Swap a complex dish with a long ingredient list for simple mashed potatoes or a recipe that dresses up a cheaper, versatile ingredient like our Glazed Carrots. Here are a couple of other simple sides you might want to consider if that grocery list is getting too long: Glazed Squash, Rice Pilaf with Vermacelli, Glazed Pearl Onions, Creamy Mushrooms, Celery Gratin, and Roasted Brussels Sprouts.

Now you're ready to go forth and shop. Meet me here tomorrow -- let's talk turkey.

Comments

[Betty Theis]

Wondering if it makes a difference to purchase a hen or tom turkey? What is the difference? Size?

[ande]

My apartment-sized stove is so small that a turkey hardly fits into it. Are large electric style roasters a good alternative?

[maris]

Love the ideas - especially about having enough wine for everyone ;o)

[ande]

Can you grill a turkey successfully?

[AlexisT]

Yo! The image of the sweet potato pie that you posted looks totally yummy! Thanks for your t-giving posts...I'm not cooking a dinner this year but I'm going to contribute to the dessert table!

AT