Budget Thanksgiving dinner recipes - Thanksgiving for 10 for under $85

November 2, 10:12 PMBudget Living ExaminerCarol Hilker

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Thanksgiving for 10 for under $85.00

With the economy still an outright mess, many people are opting for a budget Thanksgiving this year. Many families already feel the burden of making cutbacks, but this Thanksgiving dinner on a budget  will leave you full and proud of your culinary achievements.  Making cut-backs and having a cheap Thanksgiving doesn't have to take anything away from it being a traditional, well-crafted, homemade Thanksgiving dinner menu. This easy menu and these great tips will help you plan the best traditional Thanksgiving dinner menu for 10 for under $85.00 , without feeling like you are missing out.

This budget Thanksgiving dinner menu covers all the favorites of the yummy holiday; homemade green bean casserole (without cream of mushroom soup), turkey in a bag, butterscotch-bourbon pecan pie, and an amazing stuffing, making this the best Thanksgiving dinner menu.

A special aside about the Butterscotch Bourbon Pie:  The Butterscotch-Bourbon Pecan pie is meant to be a delicious dessert that covers every aspect of a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, and gives it the perfect finishing touch.  If you do not have a bourbon at home, you can always get more budget minded and go for a traditional pumpkin pie instead, subsituting homemade crust for pumpkin pie crust.  

The shopping list breakout below each menu item assumes you have certain baking items, these items consist of: kosher salt, pepper, bourbon or rum (optional), cinnamon, nutmeg (also optional), sugar, olive oil, vegetable oil,  milk,  and baking powder.

For more information on Thanksgiving on a Budget - Budget Meal Planning


    Menu Detail:

    * Butternut Squash Soup
Squash $2.29 each @2
Butter @ $1.79 per pound
Chicken broth  $4.00 per 64 oz. (You can also use bouillon or even just water instead of broth)
White onions $.71 @ 2 ea.
Salt, pepper, nutmeg from cabinet.

Total=$11.79 - it seems pricey, but you will be using many of those ingredients later on.

    * Turkey in a Bag Recipe w/ homemade gravy
12-24pound turkey, $22-$30
2 pound of celery, $1.99 ( you will not use all depending on size of bird)
3 small red onions, $1.56
2 pounds of carrots $2.50 (will also be used later on.)
Rosemary and sage, $3.00
1 pound of garlic, $2.29
butter - already have
(If you make regular pan gravy using a slurry of flour and water, you do not need turkey stock.       

*replace Glad bag with brown paper bag.

Total=$36.34/save even more money by just opting for a Turkey breast instead of the whole bird.)

    * Herb Bread Stuffing
1 pound buttermilk bread, $2.19;
3 onions, $1.50
celery—used from turkey recipe
Thyme, $1.50
Parsley, $1.50
dried herbs—use fresh sage from turkey;
1 stick butter - left from soup
chicken broth - left from soup.
      
Total=$6.69/ alternately you can use Stovetop for $4.75

    * Homemade Green Bean Casserole
14 oz of sour cream, $2.49
1 bag frozen cut-green beans, $1.79
1 onion, $.50
8 oz of cheddar, $2.99
Butter thins crackers, $2.50

Total=$10.29/alternate store bought mashed potato mix with homemade gravy, about $2.75

    * Homemade Rolls x 32
Yeast, $1.89;
1 stick butter, $0;
egg, $.25     
milk - have
bread flour, $4.00 for 2 5-pound bags

Total=$6.14 /alternately you can get a 39 pack value-pack for $4.49 at Safeway

    * Butterscotch Bourbon Pecan Pie
Safeway brand brown sugar, $1.19
Imitation vanilla, $1.69
Pecans, in shell, prepackaged, 16 oz $3.99
Stick of margarine, last stick
1 more pound of butter/margarine $1.79
Flour - already have

      Total=$8.66

Cranberry sauce, $1.20

Grand Total = $81.09

* These prices are current from Safeway.com as of November 2, 2009

Authors related article:

• Thanksgiving on a Budget - Budget Meal Planning
• A Thanksgiving dinner for 10 for under $85
• Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner:  Free menu planning, recipe cards and other DIY crafts
• This aint no prison bird - the $69.99 Martha Stewart 12 lb turkey
• Easy Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe:  Turkey in a Bag Recipe
• Best Homemade Green Bean Cassserole Recipe
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• Best Pumpkin Pie from Scratch Recipe
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