Thanksgiving menu

I would love it if we could share ideas and recipes for our Thanksgiving menus this year- from a side of cranberry sauce to a delightful dessert to finish the day with.

Will you be responsible for all or part of (bring a dish or two) a Thanksgiving meal?

I usually host Thanksgiving at my house but since I was invited to my parents for the meal this year, I will gladly bypass the big cooking.  I will still be cooking at least a 1/3 of the meal in my mother's kitchen or ahead at my house to take so I definitely could still benefit from your suggestions and I know others can, too.  : )

I usually make an involved scratch chocolate cake, pumpkin and pecan pies.  This year I think I want to kick those to the curb to try to make the cream cheese icing pumpkin roll to take.  My dad loves these.  If anyone has a good recipe for that and tips on how to make it (is it hard to roll that baby up?)  I would appreciate it. 

I LOVE my stuffing (it's a non-sweet cornbread base) and it is my sole reason for looking forward to a Thanksgiving's menu.  I love the turkey, I love the deserts, I love the green beans!  But nothing is as good as my stuffing. I can eat a small pan all. by. my. self!  Yum!  It isn't for everyone, not everyone likes a southern style cornbread base like me.  I guess it's what you are raised on that tweaks your taste buds.   : D

I do have a turkey tip that I use every year that makes a DELISH turkey as long as you don't mind not having a presenting bird.  If you want a turkey to take to table whole and browned this isn't for you.  If you want low calories, this isn't for you either.  :)  If you want good, juicy breast, keep reading.  : )

First step is having a roasting pan with a lid - a cooking bag may work too?  I put the turkey in upside down, as in breast down to cook in the juices.  This keeps the breast from drying out.  For the juices I use a box or two of chicken broth and throw in a couple of sticks of butter (told you not good for the diet)  I also add various seasonings.  When you turn the turkey over to carve, it won't be pretty, the skin will probably be soggy and sliding off, but again, the meat comes out juicy for me every time. 

I've heard of people using apple juice instead of the broth.  I've never tried that (if you have chime in on the taste) but it sounds interesting to me.

You have to take a look at these ideas for 12 Mouthwatering Ways to Cook a Turkey  They look so tasty and will definitely disprove the thought there's only one way to cook a bird.