Cheap & Easy Thanksgiving

Don't let the tryptophan bring you down.

Let's face it, cooking an entire turkey by yourself is intimidating.

It's easy to get stressed out about cooking your own Thanksgiving dinner if you're used to heading home and letting your family do all the heavy lifting. Start your own adult tradition by following a few simple steps to make turkey day your day.

The Observer spoke to four local food bloggers for advice on how to prepare a quick and delicious meal that won’t empty your wallet.

Plan ahead
Waiting until the last minute to plan your menu and guest list will only result in disaster.

Sara Tenenbaum, a contributing writer for D.C. Foodies advocates sketching out a menu and creating a shopping list at least a week in advance. Doing so will help you assess what you already have in your pantry and what you still need to purchase.

“Always read the recipe several times before you go to the grocery store," she said.

Having a good understanding of what will be on the menu ahead of time is crucial.

“Know exactly what and how much of an ingredient you need,” said Taresa Schmidt of Cook and Book

Andrea Stagg of iEatDC recommends canvassing different grocery stores to find the best deals. It may take time, but will result in lots of saved cash.

“Look for specials and coupons for the local supermarkets,” Stagg said. “Buying in bulk is great, and leftovers not only make a great lunch later, but can be frozen to eat much later.”

Budget accordingly
It's not worth spending so much on one meal that you won't be able to afford food for the next week. Understand that you don’t need a table sagging with dishes to make most guests happy.

Amanda McClements, a food writer and author of Metrocurean, thinks that novice cooks should focus on creating a few choice dishes.

"It's easy to bite off more than you can chew when planning a menu," she said. "Just a few really great dishes are enough to impress most people"

Stagg of iEatDC recommends guests to bring a dish to share.

“The easiest way to make a traditional Thanksgiving meal without going broke is to have a potluck Thanksgiving,” she said.

Keep it simple
Both Schmidt and Tenenbaum recommend preparing dishes that can be baked at the same time as a the turkey, leaving the host free to clean, get dressed and set the table.

“When I’m having a dinner party, I try to create main dishes that need to cook in the oven for awhile,” Schmidt said.

Doing so will cut down on your preparation time and make the day less stressful.

Turkey talk
Buying a full turkey can be time consuming, expensive and, let’s face it, downright overwhelming. McClements of Metrocurean recommends forgoing the whole bird in favor of just the right pieces.

“Buying just a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey can save money and cooking time,” she said.

Schmidt of Cook and Book advises hosts to consider another popular bird of a feather – chicken.

“Baked chicken or turkey legs are an inexpensive, easy main dish that’s particularly tasty this time of year,” she said. “Chicken legs are cheap, and with just a few additional ingredients you can create a tender, buttery main course.”

If you’ve feeling adventurous and want to go for a full turkey, make sure you understand what you’re getting into before you purchase the bird.

Tenebaum thinks that first-time turkey cooks should talk to their supermarket butcher.

“You usually have to get a little advice, so go to the meat counter and tell them how many you’re cooking for and they will recommend a turkey size," she said.

Tenenbaum also recommends the Butterball turkey hotline and visiting their Web site
for turkey type and serving recommendations.

Focus on your dishes
Save money by focusing on a few choice dishes that will make everyone happy. Narrow down potential side dishes by thinking about what really makes Thanksgiving work.

“Definitely figure out what is most important to you when you eat Thanksgiving normally and make those dishes,” Tenenbaum said.

Schmidt warns against repetition, advising hosts to put an easy spin on an effortless dish.

"Honestly, does any Thanksgiving table need three types of potatoes?" she said.

Schmidt proposes forgoing a traditional candied yam casserole that normally comes replete with elaborate marshmallow and pecan toppings in favor of purchasing a small sweet potato for each guest. After heating them in the oven or the microwave, dress them with butter, brown sugar and chopped pecans, which will be considerably less expensive and complicated.

Think outside the box
Don't be afraid to be different with your meal. Try adding a Cajun or Mexican twist to your traditional turkey meal.

“Tradition has its place, (but) who says you can’t mix things up completely if your guests are game,” McClements said. “Take things in a Latin direction, for example, with a cornbread and chorizo casserole as a main dish and pumpkin flan for dessert.”

Overall, it's important to focus on what counts: making a great meal for not a lot of money

“I also think that meals with smarter, more creative preparation are a great way to save money,” Schmidt said.