Thanksgiving Meal Planning (and To Do List)

Our Thanksgiving meal is so traditional it's almost embarrassing! I have ordered our 20# fresh turkey from the local butcher shop. I can't tell you what a difference a fresh turkey makes, despite it's higher cost ($2.99 lb. this year). For several years prior to our first fresh turkey, I got sick every Thanksgiving afternoon and I believe it's due to the high sodium and chemical content of frozen turkeys, especially those offered for a highly discounted price at the major grocery chains. If it's possible, do yourself and your family a favor and call around today to see if you can get a fresh turkey.

THANKSGIVING MENU

Oven-roasted turkey with sage/onion/celery stuffing

Mashed potatoes

Butternut squash (a new addition)

Homemade gravy

Cranberry sauce

Pearl onions in cream sauce

Brussel Sprouts cooked with onions, bacon and apples

Green Bean casserole (my daughter's contribution this year)

Canned corn (so my grandson will eat)

Homemade rolls, butter

Apple pie, mince pie

Coffee and tea

MY TO DO LIST FOR THE WEEK
Monday
Grocery Shopping
Run good dishes through dishwasher
Launder Thanksgiving tablecloth and napkins (iron!)

Tuesday
Write menu list and post on fridge (otherwise, I'll forget something!)
Get out all serving dishes and utensils to match list
Vac, dust and Windex dining room
Clean guest bathroom

Wednesday
Make apple pie (Mince pie is store-bought)
Make pearl onions/cream sauce
Make stuffing (don't put in turkey until tomorrow)
Set table
Clean up kitchen
Empty kitchen trash, clean sink
Run and empty dishwasher at end of day
Set out clean dishcloths and kitchen towels

Thursday Morning
Stuff turkey and put in oven
Make rolls (dough in bread machine then to oven)
Put cranberry sauce in serving dish and put in fridge
Take butter out to soften
1 hr. before turkey is done, peel and cook potatoes, squash
Take turkey out to rest, make gravy from pan drippings
Heat up canned corn (sigh)
Fill sink with hot, soapy water to put pans into immediately after food goes into serving bowl.

Dinner
Light candles
Serve all food to table or sideboard
Hold hands around the table and tell what we're thankful for.
Eat!

After Dinner
Line up all serving bowls on kitchen table. Using aluminum pie tins (10 to 12), serve up complete dinner in each one, cover with foil, freeze. These are our Turkey TV dinners we will eat for the next 1 - 2 months!

It is my husband's job to clean up the dishes and pots and pans, and put the first round in the dishwasher. We generally have to run the dishwasher at least twice.

Tablecloth and napkins to laundry room. Put normal centerpiece back on table, clean up room.

Serve pie and beverages about three hours after dinner.

Done, done and done!

Post your menus and recipe ideas here: