
If you are still looking for more, here are extra topics, links and recommendations. Just for you because I really like you!
- Links to recipes I use
- Bonus prep for Sunday and Friday
- Q&A
First up, Bonus prep. That just sounds like extra work but I have a surprise for you. It is actually two things you can do to make your week less busy, with less work for you.
On Sunday, I recommend finding two crockpot meals to see you through until Thursday. The perk of using your slow cooker is that it can be placed in an out-of-the-way-ish spot on the table and you won’t need it until Thursday for the turkey, anyway. That frees up your kitchen for prep! If you haven’t made or used a freezer meal before, check out this link from the six sisters. They have years of cooking under their belts and any of these meals could work. Make one on Sunday with leftovers for Monday, and another on Tuesday with leftovers Wednesday. If you run out of leftovers, use the recommendation for a pizza night on Wednesday.

Then the other great part – Friday! I don’t want to cook at all on Friday so I take care of that in advance. The first part is that I buy these foam trays and we all make an extra plate right after lunch. I use press and seal to cover them and we write our names on them with a sharpie. This expedites lunch on Friday because I don’t have to store large leftover dishes in the fridge and the fam can heat up their meal whenever they want it on Friday without emptying the whole fridge out. The second part of my Friday fun is our dinner. My rule is no cooking so I make nachos. I pick up BBQ when I get my sweet tea on Tuesday and I use that to layer on the BBQ nachos for Friday. We eat nachos and watch a Christmas movie and sometimes finish off the pie. If you have extra time earlier in the week, you can quickly make white dipped pretzels or haystacks in about 10-15 minutes. Then just store until Friday.
Next up links to recipes! If you don’t have a favorite recipe, one of these might become a favorite.
Green bean casserole – I use the recipe on the back of the Hanover green bean can. It is slightly different from Campbell’s classic recipe. I never add in mushrooms though; my family would freak out.
Mashed Potatoes – Pioneer Woman Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Macaroni and Cheese – Southyourmouth Mac and Cheese
Pumpkin Pie – Libby’s Famous Pumpkin Pie
Cranberry Sauce – This recipe from Allrecipes is the same as my Mom’s
Slow Cooker Turkey – This recipe from Allrecipes; if you want a fancier recipe, use this one.
Coffee Cake – this recipe is the best I have found!
I honestly don’t normally make my cornbread dressing so I don’t have a tried and true recipe for that.
If you aren’t comfortable making nachos by throwing it together, here is a BBQ nacho recipe for reference (if you are making the Friday nachos).
And lastly, haystacks – in case you want it all! I use this recipe but substitute mini marshmallows for the nuts. I use butterscotch chips, chow mein noodles and marshmallows instead. Yum!
And finally, some Q&A.
How do you have room to set all this up on Thanksgiving?
I don’t! I borrowed a narrow table from my Mom and put that in front of the sofa. As the meal was heated it went on this buffet table and then we ate. After our “bonus plates” were made for the next day, I put any remaining food away and we took the table back out to the car. During the meal, I would refill plates and microwave as needed because everyone getting up just would not have worked. I also keep sturdy shopping bags on hand and relocate items to the trunk of my car for a day or so whenever the need arises or the clutter overwhelms me. You could also borrow a folding plastic craft table which might work to keep at all times in storage under the RV.

How many people do you normally serve for dinner?
Almost every year we fluctuate between 4-5 (adults/teenagers) but this year we will have six adults and we don’t even have a table! I removed the table so I could put my desk and office space in that spot. I do have a slightly larger kitchen though and it will still work.

What kind of RV were you in that was so small and what RV are you in now?
We started our RV journey off in a 2015 Sandpiper 365SAQB, and have been in our 2020 Cedar Creek Silverback Edition 37MBH since March 2019.
Where have you traveled?
We have been as far west as Texas and Utah and as far north as the Canadian border in Idaho and Montana. We are currently based in South Carolina.
[…] If you want even more links + tips, here is the final post. […]