Pie crust is a perfect example I just do not have patience for. I am sure it is simple to make and I am sure there will be people on here saying "Id never buy a pie crust!" but when I have a huge dinner to make for a lot of people, that is defiantly one of the shortcuts I take.

Shortcuts are the way to go and for me this year, it will be the appetizers. Breadsticks/grissini and various olives from my local Italian grocer. If I was preparing the entire meal this year myself, I would hesitate to use store bought pie crust or even a side dish or two but since I'm delegating most of the sides, I'll just stick to premade apps.

I've made pie crust from scratch since one fateful night before Thanksgiving that my mother called me to apologize that she forgot to ask the person bringing pie to bring a pumpkin pie (which is my favorite thing of the Thanksgiving meal), so I ran out to the grocery store so I could make my own to bring. By Wednesday evening the store bought pie crust selection was devastated- I prefer the frozen ones because they have less additives, but the only ones left were shattered in their packages.

So I made my own. It wasn't the best pie crust ever- but it was pretty good. And not hard at all, if you roll it between parchment paper.

I've certainly used store-bought pie crust for past thanksgivings, carefully transferring it into my own pie pans.

But I'm now on a path to really learn to make pie crust and pies - using Rose Levy Beranbaum's Pie and Pastry Bible. Look at cookbooker for the challenge and join us - there is a chance to even win one of her cookbooks! Anyone can join - check it out here.

I've never hosted Thanksgiving (that's my mom's domain) but I have hosted other large holiday gatherings. I used to be of the opinion that every little thing should be made from scratch, and it annoyed me when my mom would want to buy some food premade. Now that I have a toddler and work and see how hard it is to get a party together...well, my feelings have relaxed on the matter. If I had the time I would probably always make everything from scratch because I enjoy the challenge, but with my life as it is, I don't want to have to stay up till midnight for a week making everything. I try to get people to bring dishes to reduce the load, and I never buy main dishes or even side dishes, but I have no problem buying appetizers, rolls, or even the occasional dessert. When I do buy, I only buy quality products I like. If that saves me from stressing so much I can't enjoy the holiday, it's a good thing in my book.

I forget where, but I remember a year or so ago someone sending me a site of nothing but "hacks" for premade foods to basically trick people into thinking you made it yourself. (Taking a premade crust out the tin and using your own pan was a biggie, so was store bought cookies tossed in the oven with a few fresh choc chips or whatever on top and how to get frozen sizes and make them look fresher) It was pretty interesting.

In our house, it was always premade crusts. I can make crust just fine, but when it comes to holidays, we expect that store bought crust for my mom's pie. Without it, it wouldn't be the same. Rolls (though I like to make from scratch) tend to be crescent rolls or the parbaked ones ever year too. Stuff like that.

"Rules"? That sounds stringent.

Y'know, I love cooking everything from scratch, but if time or ability or just plain cheerful laziness tempted me to serve store-bought pie crust or pie, or grocery-store mashed potatoes, or a custom-roasted turkey from the fancy take-out place around the corner, I would do it without hesitation. Thanksgiving is a time to gather together and share, and there's no point raising anxieties for myself or someone else by making "rules" about what must be on the table.

Rolls. I love homemade biscuits or rolls, but oven time is at a premium, there are literally too many cooks in the kitchen, and a good bakery can turn out some wonderful rolls for you.

I never use shortcuts for special occasions, but I've never had to do a whole meal myself. The ladies in our family split the duties so no one feels too overwhelmed by it all.

This year I'm buying pie crust and i always buy stuffing. for some reason i LOVE (doctored) stovetop stuffing. The only time i ever made stuffing from scratch was while living in paris, since instant stuffing is not available there.

I'm hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year. Of course I would like to think that I could make everything, from scratch, but I'm going to be realistic. So I'm taking up anyone's offer to bring a side and I'll buy other things where I think it will help me be less stressed and have more time to actually spend with my family. Isn't that what the holidays are really about?

Nope. I refuse. But that's less out of stubbornness than lack of resources--we live in a very rural area and have no access to premade items that are not loaded with artificial ingredients (which we never eat). So, I really don't have much choice.

That said, I've been known to spend three days prior to major events working 8-12 hour days cleaning, prepping and preparing food, and getting organized. It can be overwhelming.

Convenience and premade foods have a place but not, ever, with something so glorious as pie.

Cranberry sauce in a can, I just love it, and we always buy gravy packets and box stuffing just in case something goes horribly wrong! If we don't use it on Thanksgiving we make it with pork chops or something at a later date.

Mashed potatoes, actually. My mom always made instant mashed potatoes with a little less water than the package called for, and then she'd dump in loads of butter, cheese, and sour cream.

I hadn't thought too much about it, but my family wants canned jellied cranberry sauce, and "Mrs. Baird's Home-Bake Dinner Rolls" (a Texas tradition for 100 years).

No. BUT...I'm used to cooking from scratch anyway, and I've never hosted more than 4 people for Thanksgiving. If I had to cook for a big crowd, I'd probably cut a few corners.

StoveTop Stuffing. Great time-saver.

I like the pie crust that comes in a roll, and you simply unroll and put in your own pie plate. It looks more like homemade, and it is tasty.

I could never buy something and try to pass it off as my own, but I definitely take some short cuts and buy mixes/etc.

-Jiffy corn bread mix with additions of sugar and canned cream of corn
-natural veggie stock cubes for any stock needs outside of roast turkey drippings.
-roasted/ready to eat chestnuts for my stuffing
-cold appetizers featuring some pickled veggies I made earlier in the year.