I work hard and I want off for Thanksgiving, or at least part-time. I even looked into hiring a chef to come to our house. I want to be in my pj’s and I would not feel comfy with a non-family member in my home. I decided tp order online the most time consuming foods. Now is the time to start ordering, delivery dates are taken up quickly, plus outrageous shipping prices go up the later you order. It is also my son’s birthday the day before. He asked to combine Thanksgiving and his birthday, and I could use the help.

I am determined to make this the best Thanksgiving/Birthday EVER!! I took requests for everyone’s favorite foods. I am tired of making a traditional Thanksgiving food. No-one in my family really likes it. I will not make green beans this year. I will not make stuffing. We might not even do turkey. I love turkey but not the work or the huge amount of leftovers. I will pick up rotisserie chickens from Publix. Everyone in my house eats chicken. This year is about what we really enjoy to eat.

Requests for Favorite Food this Thanksgiving:

My son requested a Honey Baked Ham, and baked mac and cheese. I ordered the ham from The Honey Baked Ham Co. I didn’t have it delivered because it is the next town over for pick up. Plus, it saves me a lot in shipping. You can get it early and freeze it. It take 24-48 to defrost in fridge. He is not big on dessert but suggested Key Lime Pie. Our grocery store Publixs makes an amazing Key Lime Pie so again I will just pick it up. And when it comes to comfort food, I go to the Queen. Paul Dean has been a staple in our house for really naughty meals. I do not use her recipes for everyday things because it is so unhealthy and we try to be dairy free. However, I will use her recipe for “The Lady’s Cheesy Mac”. She has a bread pudding my husband loves, I usually make during Christmas, and luscious banana pudding recipe for birthdays. I completely recommend. She is great for comfy cooking, and nothing about her is butter free.

My husband requested pecan pie. He is from New Orleans. I certainly can’t compete with that. I use a company called Goldbelly(my referral link has $50 off first two orders, I wouldn’t recommend a company I didn’t use myself) They have all sorts of online holiday foods to buy. I used their editor’s pick, Three Birds Bakery for our chocolate pecan pie. I also use Three Birds Bakery throughout the years to send amazing desserts to family and friends throughout the US, during the holidays. Easy, I can’t wait!!!

My toddler is surprise, surprise is very difficult. She can’t communicate, has a dairy allergy, and is so picky. However, she loves homemade fried rice. She also likes mashed potatoes which is an easy side dish. I’ll make dairy free mashed potatoes and gravy, and no one will notice the difference.

For me? Hmm I am so caught here. Sweet? Or Savory? No one likes what I like, so what I make has to be a small amount. I was thinking Coconut Cream Pie, but maybe as a cupcake? I can make one or two dairy free cupcakes for myself and Penelope. A simple batch of vanilla cupcakes, and freeze what I do not frost for later. Unfrosted cupcakes freeze well. You can’t tell the difference. I will probably use boxed vanilla cupcake mix, vanilla frosting, and dairy free remade vanilla pudding for a creamy center. I just need to add a little coconut extract and toasted coconut flakes and we got a winner. However, I can still buy a Marie Calendar’s Coconut Cream Pie.

A Thanksgiving simple enough that I only need to make 3 side dishes.