How to save on Thanksgiving dinner

Key Concepts

• Thanksgiving Dinner Savings: Strategies to reduce the cost of holiday meals.
• Frozen vs. Fresh Turkey: Price differences and purchasing recommendations.
• Side Dish Affordability: Focus on cost-effective side dishes like potatoes.
• "No Peel" Mashed Potatoes: A simplified recipe for mashed potatoes.
• Cheesecloth Basting: A technique for moistening and flavoring turkey.
• Crock Pot Turkey: An easy and affordable method for cooking turkey.
• Cooking Mistakes: Learning from common errors in the kitchen, particularly with grilling.
• Time and Money Efficiency in Cooking: Making home-cooked meals more accessible.

Thanksgiving Dinner Savings Hacks

Laura Mclofflin Peterson, a lifestyle expert and cookbook author, offers several practical tips to make Thanksgiving dinner more affordable amidst rising food prices.

1. Turkey Selection:

• Frozen Turkey: Peterson strongly advises opting for a frozen turkey, as their prices are currently lower than fresh turkeys. She recommends purchasing one immediately and storing it in the refrigerator to be ready for Thanksgiving Day.
• Fresh Turkey: Conversely, fresh turkey prices are noted as being higher this year.

2. Side Dish Strategy:

• Affordable Sides: The good news is that side dishes are generally more affordable this year.
• Potatoes: Potatoes are highlighted as a particularly cost-effective option and a "biggie" for savings. Peterson suggests "going big" on sides like mac and cheese, potatoes, and vegetables to maximize savings.
• Protein Alternatives: For those who enjoy ham, it's suggested as a more budget-friendly option compared to beef, which is currently expensive.

"No Peel" Mashed Potato Recipe

Peterson shares her viral Instagram recipe for "no peel" mashed potatoes, emphasizing its simplicity and success.

• Potato Choice: Yukon Gold potatoes are preferred for their texture and flavor, though Russet potatoes can also be used.
• Preparation Method:
  1. Boil the potatoes with the skin on until they are fork-tender.
  2. Drain the potatoes and cut them in half.
  3. Place the cut potatoes on a baking sheet, cut-side down.
  4. Gently squish the potatoes. This process effectively dices them.
  5. Mash the potatoes with butter and half-and-half.
• Benefits: This method is described as "easy peasy" and a "home run." It prevents the potatoes from absorbing too much water, which can alter their consistency and texture when peeled and cut before cooking. The result is a no-fail, delicious mashed potato dish.

Meaningful Recipes and Cooking Philosophy

Peterson discusses the recipes that hold personal significance for her and her broader cooking philosophy.

• Mashed Potato Hack: The "no peel" mashed potato hack is her favorite recipe from her new cookbook. She explains that it embodies her passion for finding faster, cheaper, and better ways to cook.
• Bridging the Gap: This hack is significant because it addresses the desire for "home feeling" and "home-cooked goodness" for individuals who may lack cooking experience or inherited family recipes ("home X"). It aims to achieve that "grandma feeling" with less time and money.
• Encouraging Home Cooking: Peterson advocates for bringing people back into the kitchen, even if it's just for one meal a week, to foster a more "homey" atmosphere, especially for families. She suggests reducing drive-thru visits to make time for cooking.
• Turkey Hack (Cheesecloth Basting): Another successful technique involves basting the turkey with cheesecloth soaked in melted butter. This method is presented as a "winner" for ensuring a moist and flavorful bird without the need for traditional basting.
• Crock Pot Turkey: For those intimidated by cooking, Peterson offers a "world's easiest recipe" for a crock pot turkey that serves six people for approximately $35. This recipe is designed for even novice cooks and can be found on laurifi.com.

Learning from Cooking Mistakes

Peterson shares a personal cooking mistake and the lessons learned from it.

• Grilling Errors: Her most significant learning curve has been at the grill, stemming from not growing up with extensive barbecuing experience.
• Overcooking Meat: The primary mistake is overcooking meat, which is not only a culinary error but also a financial hit, especially with expensive proteins like chicken, fish, and beef.
• Time and Energy Investment: Mastering grilling requires significant time and energy. Peterson has dedicated considerable research and learned from her husband, who is skilled at barbecuing. She acknowledges that smoking a bird is a future goal.

Conclusion

Laura Mclofflin Peterson provides actionable and budget-friendly strategies for preparing a delicious Thanksgiving dinner. Her advice focuses on smart ingredient choices, simplified cooking techniques like the "no peel" mashed potatoes and cheesecloth-basted turkey, and accessible methods such as the crock pot recipe. She also emphasizes the importance of learning from cooking mistakes, particularly with grilling, and encourages home cooking as a way to create meaningful experiences without excessive time or expense.