Thanksgiving Planning - Stress-Free Thanksgiving

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It's that time of year again - It is time to begin your Thanksgiving Dinner planning in the United States.

Thanksgiving is the time to gather with your friends and family, turn on some football, and enjoy your Thanksgiving meal. The Thanksgiving meal is the one meal of the year that you usually know what to expect and what you will be eating. Different areas of the United States have different thanksgiving traditions, plus family have their traditional dishes that must be prepared. Honor your family traditions and make the traditional foods expected. Then add a new dish that you would like to introduce.

The Thanksgiving dinner is a simple meal to prepare. All it takes to pull it off is some advance planning. The best advice is to write down everything you'll do and then prioritize according to you.

Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving:

Plan & Prepare in Advance.

  • Write out the menu and a shopping list (read over each recipe and make your grocery list from the recipe cards). Check out my Thanksgiving Dinner Menu (includes recipes) for some great ideas.

  • Write out a cooking schedule and timetable. Indicate the dishes you can make ahead, those that can be frozen, and those that must be cooked at the last minute.

  • Decide whether you want to ask people to help you, either by bringing parts of the meal (wine, dessert, appetizers, side dishes) or by coming early to help in the kitchen. Make sure everyone knows what they are bringing and if they should bring along serving dishes and utensils.

  • Make sure your have all the kitchen equipment you will need, especially a large roasting pan if you are roasting the turkey. If you don't have a meat thermometer, purchases one. Check out Using a Cooking or Meat Thermometer.

  • If you are making cheesecakes, make them now and freeze them for later use. This will save you lots of time and frustration. Check out How to Freeze Cheesecakes. Check out my favorite Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe (It tastes like you are eating pumpkin pie).

  • If you’re baking pies for dessert, make the dough for the crust, roll it out, lay it into pie plates, wrap in plastic wrap, and freeze. NOTE: The recommended storage time for unbaked pastry is two months. Pie Recipes (All your favorite pie recipes plus lots more!)

  • Decide how you are going to cook your turkey. If you choose to barbecue, deep fry, or smoke your turkey, you will not be able to stuff it. Stuffing or dressing will have to be made as a side dish.


How would you like to prepare and cook your Thanksgiving Turkey this year?
 

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Oven-Roasted Turkey
 


Cajun Fried Turkey


Barbecued Turkey


Turducken
 


Smoked Turkey
 


Tofurky/Tofurkey Recipe with Vegan Gravy - For your vegetarian family and friends.


One Week Before Thanksgiving:

  • Clean out the refrigerator to make room for the Thanksgiving groceries and prepared dishes. I know you probably don't want to do this, but you will thank me later.

  • Do your shopping now and purchase all non-perishables. NOTE: Wait until the day before Thanksgiving to buy salad greens, fresh bread, or seafood.

  • Buy all the ingredients listed for your recipes and put the frozen turkey in the coldest part of your freezer.

  • Purchase your turkey. Learn about the different typies of turkey that can be purchased: Turkey Terminology - Types of Turkeys.

    To figure out how big of a turkey you need, estimate that each guest will eat about 1.3 pounds, and then round up:

    8 guests: 8 x 1.3 = 10.4. Your turkey should weigh at least 11 pounds.

    13 guests: 13 x 1.3 = 16.9. So the bird should weigh at least 17 pounds.

At this point, you should also make sure that you have all the necessary cooking equipment. Besides the usual assortment of pots and pans, you should get your hands on a cheese grater, a strainer, an electric mixer, and various sized mixing bowls and baking dishes.
 

4 Days Before Thanksgiving:

If you're bought a frozen turkey, you'll need to start thawing it. Every 5 pounds of turkey will require 24 hours of thaw time in the refrigerator (i.e., a 15-pound bird will take 3 full days). Start defrosting the frozen turkey in the coldest part of the refrigerator, in the back. - NEVER DEFROST TURKEY AT ROOM TEMPERATURE, since bacteria multiplies and breeds at room temperature.

Following information on thawing turkeys from the National Turkey Federation:

Refrigerator Turkey Thawing Time (40 degrees F)

Turkey Weight

Days to Allow for Thawing Turkey

8 to 12 pounds

2 to 2.5 days

12 to 16 pounds

2.5 to 4 days

16 to 20 pounds

4 to 5 days

20 to 24 pounds

5 to 6 days


If you need to thaw the turkey more quickly, you may thaw the bird in COLD water, in the original wrapping. The cold water must be changed every 30 minutes. Allow approximately 30 minutes per pound using this method.

COLD Water Turkey Thawing Time

Turkey Weight

Hours to Allow for Thawing Turkey

8 to 12 pounds

4 to 6 hours

12 to 16 pounds

6 to 8 hours

16 to 20 pounds

8 to 10 hours

20 to 24 pounds

10 to 12 hours
 

3 Days Before Thanksgiving:

  • A few days before Thanksgiving, iron table linens, designate serving platters, and make sure your glassware and silver sparkles.

  • Make cranberry sauce and refrigerate.

  • Prepare other sauces, jellies, and dressings; store in the refrigerator.

2 Days Before Thanksgiving:

  • Clean your house. The most important areas are the kitchen and bathrooms the guests will be using. Resist the temptation to redecorate or rearrange.

  • The secret to juicy poultry is simple - brine them before grilling or baking! This is the secret that chefs never tell you about. It's very easy and economical, and requires no special cookware. Brining is like a marinade as it keeps food moist and tender. If you choose to brine your turkey, check out Guidelines for Brining Poultry.

  • Remove frozen cheesecakes or frozen pie crust from freezer and let thaw in the refrigerator.

  • If you are making a gelatin dish, make it now and store in the refrigerator.

1 Day Before Thanksgiving:

  • Finish preparing any pies that you are making.

  • Shopping Day - Purchase perishable items such as salad greens, fresh bread, or seafood.

  • Mis en Place: This is a French term for preparing all the ingredients for a dish in advance, such as washing, trimming; and chopping vegetables; setting out your spices and herbs, etc. Clean and dry salad greens, and store in a resealable plastic bag.

  • I also make the Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes at this time. See recipe here: Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes.

  • Set your table now - set the table as far in advance as you can. Use your best dishes for special occasions. Having your family together for Thanksgiving is a very special occasion. You will have plenty of things to do on Thanksgiving Day without worrying about setting the table.

Thanksgiving Day:

  • 9:30 a.m. - Remove the turkey from the refrigerator, allowing it to sit for ninety minutes to two hours at room temperature. Depending on the size of your turkey, you’re going to need to start working on it five to seven hours before dinner is served. Make sure that you take the giblets and neck out of the inside of the turkey. Rinse the turkey in cool water, pat dry, season, and dress it according to your taste and traditions.

  • Check out Linda's Favorite Turkey Stuffing.  Prepare stuffing and stuff the turkey. Check out Advice on Stuffing a Turkey Safely.  It takes about 45 minutes to clean and stuff a turkey.  NOTE: Never stuff the turkey with stuffing and then refrigerate it overnight or hours in advance; this is not safe and very dangerous; food poisoning will result.

  • Prepare the turkey according to your recipe. Roast the turkey; baste every 30 minutes with pan juices. Check out my Guidelines For Roasting a Whole Turkey.

  • Check the temperature using an instant read cooking thermometer. Always use a cooking thermometer. Check out Using a Cooking or Meat Thermometer. Cooking time will vary with different ovens and whether or not the turkey is stuffed. Remember to leave time for the turkey to stand before carving.

  • Remove the turkey from oven and make the gravy according to recipe. Check out Making Perfect Turkey Gravy and Gravy Making Tips.

  • Complete the vegetable dishes. Reheat before the meal.

  • Make the mashed potatoes or reheat Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes in the oven or microwave.

  • Warm breads or rolls.

  • Garnish desserts.


Before Dinner

Serve a small appetizer (I like to serve fresh cut-up vegetables with a dip. Also maybe some cold cuts). You do not want your guests to fill up on the appetizer, just whet their appetite. Check out my Thanksgiving Dinner Menu (includes recipes) for some great ideas.

 

Check out Advice on Handling Leftovers Safely.

Day After Thanksgiving: 

My favorite thing to do the morning after Thanksgiving is to make homemade turkey stock from the turkey carcass. It is so easy to do and so delicious! The turkey stock can be used for a delicious turkey soup or frozen for future use. I love a good homemade turkey soup and after the heavy Thanksgiving meal, it is just what my family needs.

Be sure and refrigerate your turkey carcass until your are ready to make the stock. Check out Let's Make Turkey Stock.

 



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