By Polly Keary, Editor
Cooking a traditional Thanksgiving feast can be a lot of fun, but it can also be a day-long ordeal, ending with a mountain of dishes at the end of the night.
If the thought of staring down a crusted roasting pan while still in a turkey-induced stupor is less than appealing, or if you just don't have it in you to try the year's latest turkey cooking innovation (Brine it? Deep-fry it? Cover it with bacon? Roast it upside-down?), this might be the year to get your dinner catered.
For a price not that much higher than what it would cost to run out and get all the ingredients yourself, there are two local caterers new to Monroe this year who will assemble your meal for you.
One delivers; the other preps it for pickup. One pre-cooks your turkey while the other one dresses it up so you can just slip it in the oven and forget about it for about three hours.
Here's what's on the menu, how it looks when you get it, what it costs, and when you should order.
First Down Catering
www.firstdowncatering.net
firstdowncatering@gmail.com
(425) 319-5585
Aaron Brown started out cooking for tailgate parties in Texas, and gradually turned his love of culinary arts into a career. He recently moved to Monroe, and in the last couple months, he's become established as a food service provider at NW Surplus on Main Street.
For a Thanksgiving dinner with a bit of a Texas twist, get a turkey or ham smoked in First Down Catering's mobile smoker.
Or have Brown deep fry your turkey in true Texas fashion, but without you getting peanut oil all over your patio. Deep fried turkeys come in a variety of flavors, including Cajun, traditional and jalape+¦o.
Set your meal apart from all others you've had over the years with a few creative side dishes, too. First Down specializes in macaroni and cheese, and offers about 10 varieties.
Try a couple; take your pick of chipotle, dill, chorizo, crab, pulled pork, smoked ham, or jalape+¦o and cheddar.
The company also makes a full suite of the traditional sides, including green bean casserole, mashed potatoes and corn.
First Down prepares your meal and plans to have it ready the day before you need it. They bring it to a pick-up location, of which they have several in the north King and south Snohomish County areas.
The turkey, whether smoked and roasted or deep fried, comes fully cooked, with re-heating instructions.
What it will cost:-á
Smoked Turkey: $5.50 per pound
Deep Fried Turkey: $4 per pound
Smoked Ham: $4.65 per pound
Side dishes (serve 15-20)
Mac-n-Cheese: $30
Green Bean Casserole: $22
Mashed Potatoes and Gravy: $22
Stuffing: $25
When to order:
By Nov. 22.
Meals by Mom
For more information call or text (360) 348-7877
For a prix fixe Thanksgiving option, check out Meals by Mom, which will have dinner waiting for you to pick up, or
for an extra fee delivered right to your door, the day before you plan to serve.
The small catering company which has been open since June, focuses on very local foods, with produce grown in-state and ham and turkey from local farms.
Meals by Mom doesn't cook the turkey for you, but instead preps it up so you can pop it in the oven and serve it piping hot.
"There's nothing like the way a turkey makes the house smell,GÇ¥ said Michelle Baden, owner.
But the side dishes are fully cooked and easily reheated.
And the pumpkin pie is made from scratch.
"We do it from the sugar pumpkin, bake that, scoop it out, and mix the rest of the ingredients,GÇ¥ said Baden.
The whole meal arrives arranged in an attractive box wrapped in fall colors, and tied with a ribbon for an extra festive touch.
What it will cost:-á
Turkey Dinner ~ $85.00
Serves 8-10
8-10 lb. Uncooked Seasoned Turkey
Home-cooked Mashed Potatoes
Old-fashioned Turkey Stuffing
Green Bean Casserole with Crunchy Fried Onions
Dinner Rolls
Homemade "Sugar Pumpkin" Pie
Ham Dinner ~ $85.00
Serves 8-10
8-10 lb Honey Glazed Ham
Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes
Italian & Parmesan Cheese Green Beans
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Dinner Rolls
Don't think this is enough for your crowd or just want some yummy extras? Additional sides, which serve 8-10, are available for:
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Brown Turkey Gravy
$12
Home-cooked Mashed Potatoes
Old-fashioned Stuffing
Green Been Casserole
Homemade Cranberry Sauce
Cheesy Au Gratin Potatoes
Italian & Parmesan Green Beans
$10
Pumpkin Pie
Cooking instructions will be provided with "tips and tricks" from the experts.
Delivery is $10 in Monroe and Snohomish only.
You're also welcome to pick up the meal in Monroe. If you mention The Monitor you'll get $5 off either a Christmas holiday meal or your next meal with Meals by Mom.
When to order:
Get your order in by Nov. 23. A $50 deposit is due at time of order; PayPal or cash only.
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment