Gratuitous Thanksgiving-gramming Just in Time for Christmas {November, Part III}

Basically this is just a post to celebrate the fact that we survived hosting Thanksgiving for the first time in...5 years?...even with a multitude of food intolerances. And it was easy!!!
.
Well, relatively. It was only us plus two; Peter's parents who have hosted the past 4 years. They had to travel the day after Thanksgiving, so when we offered to host, they were delighted. I was excited about making all sorts of new gluten-and-dairy free dishes and desserts, too... for about two seconds, until I remembered how much I loathe baking or following recipes that aren't already in my head or I can make up as I go along.

But Peter, knowing all of this (even better than I know it myself in some ways), steered us into Type A Planning overdrive, and having it all organized for me really did make for a mostly fun time both preparing the feast and enjoying each other's company around the table.
{The moral of the story is that I just need someone to plan out my life like this every day - tell me exactly what to do and when to do it and press 'go' and it will be fabulous. Any takers?}

The Gluten, Dairy, Garlic and Onion-Free Menu: 

(mostly for me in case I need to do this again some day - eeep)

Turkey - Peter gets full credit. Don't even know which store he went to for it. My goal is to make it through life without ever having to be the one to cook the turkey. This is also probably the reason I didn't think hosting was that hard.

Mashed Potatoes - Recipe from my head. Peeled and quartered white potatoes, cooked them in boiling water for a good 45min, drained them, mashed them old-school style with a hand masher, then kept adding added EVOO, our kind of "butter" (Earth Balance soy-free spread), salt, pepper, rosemary, and almond milk (*unsweetened is key!) in small amounts until the potatoes were smooth and creamy and delicious enough for my mashed potato standards.

Stuffing - http://jeanetteshealthyliving.com/gluten-free-dairy-free-thanksgiving-stuffing/ 
I was most afraid of this dish, and it turned out so well and was so much easier than I thought it would be that I felt like a total boss. Seriously, I think I'm making it again for Christmas which is saying A LOT for me. Recipe alterations: I used Udi's white bread slightly toasted (9 cups total) omitted the onions because I can't eat them, and the mushrooms because we just don't like them in our family. Peter bought backup stuffing mix and didn't even make it because this was so good. Highly recommend!

Green Beans - steamed and tossed in EVOO, salt, and pepper.
Corn - steamed and tossed with our "butter."

Made by the inlaws:

Sweet Potato Casserole - incredibly delish.
Cranberry sauce - also delish.
Deviled eggs - My MIL's signature dish. Peter and his brother request them at every family gathering and fight over them if there are any left to fight over. I'm forever thankful that she makes them because I *still* can't hard boil and egg to save my life. {Trust me. I've tried a million times. And failed a million and one times.}

And, because you can't win it all: 

(and not everyone has to run screaming from gluten)

Cranberry Sauce - from a can
Fruit Cocktail - from a jar
Corn muffins - from a box
Gravy - from a mix

There was some sparkling juice for the kids which turned into a burping contest and, of course, some good red and white vino for the big kids.

DESSERT

Pecan Pie - I used this delectable recipe: http://www.allergyfreealaska.com/2014/11/20/gluten-free-pecan-pie-corn-syrup-free-refined-sugar-free/  with pre-made gluten/dairy free pie shells and it turned out great! (This bakery local to us stocks the pie shells in our regular grocery store, which is awesome).

Chocolate Chip Pecan Pie - same recipe as above plus 1 c. gluten/dairy-free chocolate chunks  These are definitely happening again for Christmas.

Pumpkin Pie - I used the recipe on the back of the pumpkin can with the pre-made pie shells and subbed canned coconut milk for sweetened-condensed milk. I bet you your pumpkin can has the same recipe. Can I be honest, though? After all these years I still don't love pumpkin pie. Forget tradition. Next time if I commit to the grueling work of measuring and stirring and reading directions in tiny print, I'm gonna make something I actually like enough to not share. Like pumpkin bread. Yum.

Cherry Pie - Peter's cheater NOT GF/DF dessert using pre-made shells and pie filling. But he made the turkey so he still wins.

The picture overkill:

I had motivation to let them "help" me bake pies until I
 caught this - and they were all banished from the kitchen. 

He had sticky notes on every serving dish and pan and a list down to the minute with
what time we should start every dish - how long it needed to cook, what temperature etc.

He couldn't decide on whether he wanted to be a Pilgrim
or Native American, so he chose table runner.

{That's better.}

This stuffing, you guys. I'm still so proud of myself. Amazing.

Turkey done to perfection.

Until next time...