Roughly three more weeks is all that is left between now and one of the biggest holiday meals a person will share with their family, whether by birth or chosen.
The question is, how much work do you want to do in the kitchen? Are you the chef who makes everything, or are you wanting to take it easy and let someone else do all the work? Are you more of a cook than a baker and just looking for some pies or other desserts?
The following provides a small variety of options in Columbia you could use for your Thanksgiving meal.
Thanksgiving turkeys and groceries
If you are the family chef or are shopping for the family chef in your life, the obvious answer for where you will get the necessities for the Thanksgiving meal is a local grocery store of your choice.
Most grocery stores have shoppers available. So, you can put in an order and pick it up on the date of your choice.
Walmart, for example, in its recipe hub features a "Convenient Holiday Meal" that, based on the number of guests you plan to host, provides a prepopulated grocery order list.
A similar section on holiday foods available for purchase can be found on the Aldi website.
A holiday meal could be pulled together at Schnuck's by using its holiday meals recipe section to build the menu and then plan out what produce and other products for which you'll need to shop. For other ideas, such as for grazing ahead of the main meal if one's family eats in the evening, Schnuck's has a variety of party platters that can be ordered ahead of time.
If you're aiming to have a fresh turkey this year, The Root Cellar is one option. People can place holiday orders through Nov. 11 for a large (19-22 pound) or small (15-18 pound) whole turkey or a boneless turkey breast (5-7 pounds). A Root Cellar trimmings box of 10 to 12 favorites also is available. Those who order from The Root Cellar can pick up orders from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Nov. 21. The Root Cellar asks that a person call 573-443-5055 15 minutes prior to pickup.
Natural Grocers is again offering a variety of Mary's Free Range Turkey for order. A limited supply of extra turkeys will be available for those who do not place a preorder. The time already has passed to receive an order discount for use between Nov. 16-22.
The vendor map now is available for those seeking to shop at the pre-Thanksgiving Columbia Farmers Market from 3-6 p.m. Nov. 21. Vendors may change in the leadup to the market day but should solidify within the next week. Customers should contact available vendors directly to pre-order any special items.
Thanksgiving pre-made meals, sides
For those wanting to take it easy for Thanksgiving and just want to be able to heat and eat, there are a variety of catering options from grocery stores, national chain restaurants and local restaurants and markets.
Hy-Vee is offering a variety of holiday meals ranging in price from $40 (a ham or turkey meal for two) to nearly $290 (a ham and turkey dinner for 12). Brunch options also are available, or a person could order items a la carte with prices starting at $3.99 per item.
Gerbe's also is offering a variety of heat-and-eat Home Chef holiday meal bundles. A turkey bundle, for example, comes with a Butterball bone-in prebaked 10-12 pound turkey, a Home Chef sweet potato soufflé, one Home Chef green bean casserole, one Home Chef old fashioned bread stuffing, two Home Chef mashed potatoes and one Home Chef turkey gravy.
National restaurant chains Bob Evans and Cracker Barrel could also fill your holiday tables.
Bob Evans Premium Farmhouse feast serves 10 and comes with both turkey and ham. The regular Farmhouse Feast comes with turkey or ham and can feed eight or four people. There also is a pot roast Farmhouse Feast that serves 10.
Cracker Barrel has two Thanksgiving meal options for either eight to 10 people or four to six people. For those already looking ahead to Christmas, Cracker Barrel has three meal options.
Seeking something local? Here are a couple of ideas.
Ozark Mountain Biscuit Co. has three different food packages available. The All the Fixins' Package, starting at $149.99 for four, comes with roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, gravy, roasted pecan-cranberry brussels sprouts, garlic green beans, cornbread stuffing, bourbon pecan sweet potatoes, orange brandied cranberries and buttermilk biscuits.
There also are a Traditional Sides package starting at $89.99 or just the roasted half turkey for $62.99. Orders must be placed by 5 p.m. Nov. 20 for pickup from 4-5 p.m. Nov. 21.
Belly Market and Rotisserie is taking Thanksgiving food orders through Nov. 15. All items are sold a la carte. Meat choices include 20-pound or 10-12 pound turkeys (there is an additional carving charge), whole boneless smoked ham, or sliced ham at a per-pound charge.
Sides of mashed potatoes, green beans, mac and cheese, brown sugar Brussels sprouts or sweet potato hash are $15 each and can serve up to four people. There is an option to request more than one of the items. Other sides like a green bean casserole or a sausage stuffing can serve up to 14 people. Cranberry sauce for up to 10 and turkey gravy for up to eight are available.
Orders can be picked up from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 22. Pies also are available.
Will you be on your own for Thanksgiving, or don't even want to deal with dishes? Glenn's Cafe at 29 S. Eighth St. is offering Thanksgiving dinner for both dine-in or carry-out from noon to 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving. A menu is coming soon, and guests can call 573-447-7100 for more information or to pre-order a carry-out meal.
Thanksgiving pies
For people who aren't bakers, there are local options for pies.
Peggy Jean's Pies has a limited menu available for Thanksgiving. Pre-orders are due by Nov. 12. Customers can choose from blue goose (blueberry and gooseberry), butterscotch bourbon pecan, brown butter chess, cherry crisp, chocolate bourbon pecan, Dutch apple, peach praline, pumpkin, pumpkin praline, Southern pecan or turtle.
Beetbox is offering four pie varieties at $40 each. Orders are being taken via eatabeetbox@gmail.com through Nov. 19. Choices are a brown butter sweet potato pie with a ginger sumac crust, chocolate halva chess pie, baklava pecan pie and cardamom apple pie.
Belly Market and Rotisserie again is taking pre-orders through Nov. 15. Pie options at $30 each are country apple, pumpkin, chocolate pecan and bourbon cherry.
Back in season at Bob Evans are its pumpkin, pecan and triple berry pies. Other available pies are apple, turtle cheesecake, and Reese's peanut butter pie.
The pumpkin pie at Cracker Barrel is available only through Nov. 26. Other seasonal pies are available through Christmas Eve. These include cinnamon roll pie, apple streusel, chocolate pecan and regular pecan.
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.
