For some of us, cooking a Thanksgiving turkey and the sides is part of the fun and satisfaction of the holiday. For others it's a big pain in the bird butt. If you still want to have a traditional holiday dinner at home without the fuss and muss, fully prepared options are available for everything from just the bird to a full meal. But be sure to order early in the week.
Meals From the Markets
• Whole Foods Market has individual smoked turkeys at $5.99/lb. and roasted turkeys ($49.99 to $89.99 depending on size) plus roasted turkey breast, stuffed turkey and pork loin entrees plus complete holiday dinners (including vegan and healthy options) and all you might need from pre-dinner finger foods to desert. Order by Tuesday Nov. 20.
• Central Market prepares such turkey dinners as traditional ($139.99), herb-smoked ($149.99), gluten-free ($139.99) and breast-only ($99.99), plus white hickory-smoked ham, herb-roasted rib-eye, herb-crusted beef tenderloin plus a vegetarian holiday dinner centered around Gardein stuffed turk'y breast. Not to mention holiday tamales, a convenient package of traditional sides and all the rest. Order online by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday.
• H-E-B sells full turkeys ($65.99), turkey breasts ($55.99) and spiral sliced ham ($57.99) dinners all with green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing, cranberry relish and gravy for the turkeys, plus prepared sides like sweet potatoes with pecan topping and wild rice pilaf. Call your local store's deli counter to order.
Cooking Up Birds
• Local Southern down-home cooking fave Hoover's (2002 Manor Rd.) has 14-16 lb. whole turkeys roasted, fried or smoked for $56.95 (pre-carved for $10) plus pints, quarts and pans of sides. Order by Monday.
• Longtime campus area healthy and natural barbecue joint Ruby's BBQ (512 W. 29th St.) smokes turkeys for the holidays. They're $45 for 10-12 lbs. And $50 for 13-14 lbs. Get your order in by Sunday night.
• Want a table-ready Turducken? Buster's BBQ out in Lakeway (2125 Lohman's Crossing Road) has 'em Cajun smoked whole (average 13 lbs.) and in a roll (average 5.5 libs.) with such stuffings as dirty rice, cornbread, jambalaya, boudin and crawfish from $7.99 to $9.99 lb. They also sell pecan smoked turkey breasts and other holiday smoked entrees like prime rib, beef tenderloin, boneless stuffed leg of lamb, sugar ducks and quail. Monday is the last day to order.
• Bill Miller Barbecue (five Austin locations) prepares 10-12 lb. Turkey hens ($41.99) and 18-20 lb. Toms ($65.99) with giblet gravy and cornbread dressing (to be baked) plus honey-glazed hams. Order online by Monday and from one of their restaurants on Tuesday.
• You can get roasted turkey breast at Texas Honey Ham Co. (3736 Bee Cave Rd.) plus their obvious specialty and prepared holiday sides. Best to call and reserve by Tuesday at latest.
Keep in mind that your bird will need some time to reheat (an hour or two, depending on size) so plan accordingly. Copious doses of wine help instill patience.