how much food should I make?

[fivearrows]

For Thanksgiving dinner we are having 7 adults (if I count teenage dd as an adult), and 5 children. Is there any guidelines for how much food to prepare. I figured out the turkey, but not sure about the other things. We are probably eating in the evening so I won't need leftovers for the same day, but I do want leftovers for the next day. Here is what else we're having if anyone can help with the amounts.

stuffing

gravy

mashed potatoes

sweet potato casserole

green beans (probably with almonds)

rolls

cranberry jello salad - recipe calls for 1 lg box of jello and 1 can of cranberry sauce, should I make single recipe or double?

spinach or tossed green salad

pecan pie
pumpkin pie
maybe another dessert

Thanks for any advice or words of wisdom

Tonya

[greysangel]

I'll take a stab at this :D

I think it really depends how much you want leftover and if you want leftovers of everything. Personally..I wouldn't want leftovers of mashed potatoes and green beans, but I would want turkey, stuffing and dessert :D

In my house there are ALWAYS leftover mashed potatoes. With all the other fixings, no one cares as much about white potatoes. I would do at the most 6-8 servings although if the servings are more than 1/2 cup each, I would even cut back.

Stuffing I would do the 10-12 servings.

Turkey you've got covered.

Gravy - I would make enough for 3-4 cups. You can always freeze it and then pull it out to go over chicken at another meal etc.


Rolls - 1 dozen (not everyone will have one and some people will have more than one...you'll have plenty)

Sweet Potato Casserole - I would say 8-10. Depending on how sweet you go, the leftovers are great.

the jello salad - 1 recipe

Green salad - make a big one, because it's just as much time to do a small one and you can always have more salad the next day!

Dessert - I would just make the whole pie. :D

what do you think?