[DeBora4BobbyL]

As many of you know, I am a full-time student in a large university in a large town 3 1/2 hours west of where my husband (and home base) is located. I have had incredibly bad luck (understatement) for the first 5 weeks of school so I am trying to play catch-up in my school work and write several essays and research papers.


I get a week off from school for Thanksgiving break but will need most of that time to study and write papers. I usually LOVE to play hostess and bake everything from scratch. (I LOVE to cook!) This year my DD, SIL, DGD, DGS, and maybe even my DS will be coming to Carlsbad for Thanksgiving dinner. DD and her family live 2 1/2 hours east of DH. Some my kitchen equipment is here and some is there with DH. (I do have silverware and fine China. I'm just milited on cook ware.) So, cooking and baking myself is out of the question. This leads me to my question.


With my given situation, does anyone have any creative ideas on ways that I can spend Thanksgiving--in particular--the meal--with my family? DH lives in Carlsbad, which is limited on Restaurants. I live in a larger city with many restaurants as does my DD. Are there places where I can order take-out Thanksgiving meals ahead of time and bring them home? What about frozen pre-cooked turkey and dressing and stuff like that? I could be able to do a greenbean casserole from scratch. I can also do the brown and serve type rolls as well as the queso dip that my DD loves. Bottom line: not much time, too much distance, and very little cooking equipment. I do, however, have space in Carlsbad. I would really appreciate ideas and opinions so that I can spend quality time with familyand most importantly--play with grandkids!