What should I take to Thanksgiving dinner at someone's house?

[femmocrat]

They said, "Don't bring anything"--- but I can't just show up empty-handed.

Fruit? Flowers? They have their own wine, so I don't want to take that. I tried to find sparkling cider, but haven't found it yet.

Any suggestions will be appreciated!

[Lucian]

1. You can never go wrong with bringing a bottle of wine.

:)

[femmocrat]

7. Well..... please see inside....

(I don't drink, and don't know how to pick a good wine. Going to :hide: now.... )

That is why I was looking for sparkling cider, which must only exist on soap operas.

[Xipe Totec]

13. Martinellis Sparkling Apple Cider

We just bought a shrink wrapped pack of four bottles at Costco. (Champagne bottle sized).



http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11066610&whse=BD_767&Ne=4000000&eCat=BD_767|7445|8203&N=4033529&Mo=64&No=56&Nr=P_CatalogName:BD_767&cat=8203&Ns=P_Price|1||P_SignDesc1〈=en-US&Sp=C&topnav=bd

[Lucian]

18. You can buy sparkling cider almost anywhere...

Walmart sells it, as well as Target.

[Pacifist Patriot]

42. My local grocery stores sell sparkling cider right next to the champagne.

Don't worry. Lots of people who do drink don't know how to pick out a good wine either. Mistake number one? Assuming that if it is pricier it's better. Nope!

[Gidney N Cloyd]

2. Wine is OK. The hosts can take it as a gift and there's no obligation to serve it.

[femmocrat]

4. Thanks, good idea!

Now to pick something they would like.... they are kind of "uppity" about their wine. LOL

[Pacifist Patriot]

44. Yes, wine that is taken as a hostess gift is not intended to be consumed at the meal/party.

If you have a wine shop or gourmet food shop nearby they probably have someone on staff who can help you make a selection. You do not have to spend a fortune for "uppity" wine. Trust me! The best values are between $12-25.

Shoot, these days something betwee $5-10 isn't necessarily swill, but I'd probably spend a little more for a gift.

[MiddleFingerMom]

3. Following my motorcycle accident decades ago -- I had all the time in the world...

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...and very little money and I accidentally discovered what CAN be one
of the coolest gifts around.
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I'd take a needle and strong thread and string popcorn and cranberries
into holiday garlands.
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Cost of a dollar or two and lots and lots of mindless, repetitive work
(good TV-watching activity) and most folks love it.
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'Course... I chose carefully the recipients who almost certainly would.
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[femmocrat]

5. I made those with my kids years ago.

I just don't have the time now, unfortunately. They are very cool. I would love it if someone gave me those! :)

[amerikat]

6. Give a gift that is made locally.

A local cheese or some other delicacy perhaps.

[femmocrat]

8. Hmm--- that is a good idea. There is a winery nearby.

Even if the wine isn't very high-brow, at least it is limited edition! :)

[amerikat]

9. Peppermint pig is big here. It's a goodwill blessing

for the new year. I don't care for peppermint myself,
but If you give one or get one it's a good thing. I would never give one, nor would I refuse one. Supposition I guess. In which part of the nation do you live? I ask this because a gift in one place can be almost an insult in other places.

[femmocrat]

10. Pennsylvania.

Sorry, I never heard of the peppermint pig. I think it would probably be harder to find than the sparkling cider! Thanks for the suggestion, though. :)

[amerikat]

14. How about a six pack of oringina

Found in most grocery stores.
Carbonated orange juice. It's good.

[femmocrat]

15. That does sound good. Thanks for the suggestion.

:hi:

[tigereye]

25. is there a McGInnis sisters near you? They have all kinds of good food gifts.

:hi:

[rucky]

11. Check the health food section of the store for sparkling cider.

For some reason they stock it there at my Kroger's.

And if there's a Trader Joes near you, go there & you'll find something for sure

[femmocrat]

12. Thank you!

No Trader Joes here, unfortunately. Our selection of supermarkets is pretty paltry.

[femmocrat]

16. Thanks for the great ideas, everyone.

I appreciate your taking time to respond. :hug:

Unfortunately, I have to sign off now. :hi: 'Night!

[Kali]

17. sparkling cider is often in the Jewish/ethnic section

also you can always call

I liked your idea of local cheese and a local wine might be nice - if not, it's the effort to go local that matters - if it IS good - yay!

[WorseBeforeBetter]

19. Make something...

like a cranberry/pear chutney and present it in an attractive container (doesn't have to be expensive). Or bake a pie. Chocolate Bourbon Pecan is always a winner; or maybe Cranberry Walnut. Something like that. Or wine, as suggested above. Maybe a nice Gewürztraminer to go with turkey (providing they are serving turkey). Maybe your local winery has some offerings that would make a nice host/hostess gift.

[applegrove]

20. Buy them some really expensive cheeze like Cambozola and some crackers.

They can then have a yummy snack at their leisure.

[pacalo]

21. How about a nice tablecloth -- a lasting remembrance?

If your choice is fruit, buy a large clear vase to use as a container, wrap in cellophane, & tie with a holiday ribbon.

[blockhead]

22. some of this

[Francois_Dillinger]

23. Tofurkey

Just in case some Vegans invade your celebration.

[grasswire]

24. How about a lavender plant for the kitchen?

Or if you have access to fresh herbs and evergreens, a little bouquet made from fresh herbs and tied with a ribbon to hang in the kitchen is nice.

My Kroger's has lovely soy candles that are holiday scented -- peppermint/fir, cinnamon, etc.

A really nice box of scented guest hand soap in pretty wrap is nice, too. Stores such as Tuesday Morning have lovely imported fine soaps for under $10. Also MANY MANY housewares gifts.

[HopeHoops]

26. Earplugs?

[MiddleFingerMom]

27. I am SO glad that you said...

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...ear.
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[HopeHoops]

31. The REALLY sad thing is...

...I knew what you meant as the alternative. :evilgrin:

[DebJ]

28. Pumpkin bread or corn bread, from the Lyndon Diner if

there is one near you. There is one in Lancaster and one in York. They bake all of their stuff themselves, and that pumpkin bread is just addictive, moist, cinnamon-y and a great texture, and the cornbread is great, too. The pumpkin bread is about $3.49 a loaf. I'm bringing some and bringing extra for people to take home for the holidays. They have other fantastic looking deserts but I'm afraid I'll like them so I don't try them! (They serve the pumpkin and cornbread at your table with meals).

[MilesColtrane]

29. Pickled Eel

Pickled Eel

Serves 16

3 pounds eel -- cleaned, halved
3 slices lemon
2 bay leaves
salt and pepper
4 whole allspice
1/8 teaspoon celery salt
4 sprigs fresh dill
1 envelope gelatin powder, unsweetened
sliced lemon, fresh dill or parsley
Cut eel in small pieces and boil slowly in water to cover, flavored with all engredients except gelatin.

Cook until soft, remove from water and let cool. Cook broth down a few minutes, remove from heat and add gelatin. Stir and let gelatin dissolve. Strain over eel. Chill until set.

Turn out on chilled platter. Garnish.

[joneschick]

32. only in the Lounge.....

:hi:

[mikeytherat]

30. Attitude, and plenty of it.

mikey_the_rat

[Rabrrrrrr]

33. A full bag of Chinese takeout and a pissy, confrontational mood

[Monique1]

34. Personally

I always enjoy receiving flowers or a plant. I don't want food especially something that needs to be put in the fridge - space is limited in there but there is always space to place a bouquet of flowers or a plant.

[Demoiselle]

35. If you take flowers...arrange them in a vase before you go..

I'd love it if somebody brought me fruit...or a basket of Clementines...And the sparkling cider idea is very nice.

[flvegan]

36. A trebuchet

for post meal punkin' chunkin'.

[Xipe Totec]

37. Tht's what I call pie in the sky thinking. nt

[Skittles]

38. an appetite

[rainbow4321]

39. Do you bake?

Warm batch of cookies or muffins for dessert?

If baking it yourself is not an option, what about finding a corner bakery that makes really good desserts


I don't know if you have a Farmer's Market near you, but I've gotten some really tasty, fresh fruit there. Maybe you could go get a variety of fruit and cheese, cut them up into finger foods, get some tasty dip sauce, and put it all on a decorative platter.

[pscot]

40. A ham

A person with a ham is welcome everywhere.

[JohnnyBoots]

41. You could bring some nice top quality coffee for after the meal. You'd

make one pot, but the hosts would be able to enjoy the coffee for mornings after Turkey day. Each time they use it they would think of you too..

[Pacifist Patriot]

43. Here are some ideas.

We love to entertain so I completely understand telling a guest "don't bring anything" and really meaning it. BUT, I also understand not wanting to show up empty-handed. I can't do that either.

Here are some things guests have brought that we thought were lovely/cute touches.

1. Wine glass "jewelry" (those things you put around the stems to tell whose got which glass)
2. Printed cocktail napkins with funny cartoons/sayings on them.
3. A floral arrangement (so you don't have to go searching for a vase, cutting stems, etc.)
4. A Christmas tree ornament (holiday tree for us as Unitarians, but you get the idea -- we actually love getting those because every year when we decorate the tree each ornament reminds us of who and when)
5. Something produced locally like honey, jams, or in our area there is this family that makes a totally killer garlic sauce.
6. CD of "dinner music"

Honestly, we never expect anything and truly do not want our guests to feel like they have to bring something. But some of the things guests have brought have been so meaningful because they were quirky, unique and totally unexpected.

[Old Troop]

45. Cut flowers require the hosts to find a vase, etc. A potted plant for the

home might be appropriate however.

[styersc]

46. bong

and all the "trimmings"