My husband wanted to have Thanksgiving for his side since both his parents are passed and they just don't get together anymore.
I am all for it.....and then he mentioned last night....It could easily be 40 people. I have asked every family to bring a dish .
I am planning on making 'crockpot chicken and dressing. Its an awesome cornbread dressing. Probably bake a country ham, green beans from our garden, squash cassorole ( from garden), and I may end up with a free turkey I will bake/roast.
Please please send any helpful hints/suggestions and or words of advice.
I am in my later 40's and know how important family is. The fact that I have no room in my house for that many people does not worry me. People always find a place to sit or stand to eat so I'm not worried about that....right now anyway!
We are country people and it will not be a big formal dinner like I have on my side of family.
Thanks for any advice!!!!
PJ

Good Luck PJ, I am 40 and having been doing Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners at my house since I was 17.
We also have a house full on the holidays, my 5 boys and their families and my fiance and his family along with my mother, So a HUGE housefull to say the least.

Here is what I cook each year......
Turkey
Ham
Mash Potatoes
Deviled Eggs
Gravy
Corn
Country style Green Beans
Home made Mac & Cheese
Bean Salad
Dumplings
Stuffing
Potato Salad
Rolls
Black Olives *the kids put them on their fingers and eat them...LOL*
Pecan Pies
Pumpkin Pies
Chocolate dream Pies
We dont do anything formal, we too are country and its pretty much a free for all when the food is done and the kids plates are made.

My suggestions are:
Pre Chop everything the day before and put in the fridge.
Make as much as you can the day before....
Clean and prep turkey the night before
Peel and cut up Potatoes and store in a bowl of water in the fridge the night before
Make Pies the night before
Make Maccaroni the day before and add your cheese the day before then thanksgiving day all you have to do is bake
Put Olives and Cranberry sauce in the fridge the day before
Make Deviled Eggs the day before

My point is get as much ready the day before as you can so you are not running crazy when you have guests.

Good luck and have fun with it!!!

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WOW! thanks for all of the advice. It will be a little crowd this year because I am not in the mood to drive for the holiday. I wish my family would drive this way

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-Kristi

Laura,
Thanks for the advice. I will be working Saturday doing what I can! Your amazing doing all that yourself!
God Bless!
PJ

I have been doing it for so long now that it is not so bad (I actually enjoy it).

Oh forgot to say, I baste my ham with Pepsi and Mustard (About 8 oz Pepsi and 3 tbs Mustard mixed together and poured over the ham, them baste in the juices about every 30 minutes)

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Someone stole my kitchen table......Oh wait..... there it is, impersonating a pile of coupons.