Our family will have an intimate Thansksgiving this year with just our immediate family members. While we'll miss the huge gatherings we're accustom too, we'll focus on the chance to enjoy our immediate family's company.
What will you serve this Thankgiving. For our family, some of which are vegetarians, we'll have the following foods:
Breakfast
Light fare for breakfast including eggs, toast, avacado, cheeses
Thankgiving Dinner
- turkey 4-5 hrs for 24 lb turkey - take out at 165 degrees, put back in at 500 to crisp skin
- placed in at 3:30 - will be done between 4 and 6 hours
- Wrap in foil when done
- squash - make and place in crock pot
- mashed potatoes - prepare ahead, cook about one hour before dinner (11)
- gravy
- sweet potatoes - prepare ahead cook about one hour before dinner in oven
- stuffing - prepare ahead, place in oven after turkey comes out for 30 minutes (11:30)
- Green bean caserole - prepare ahead, place in oven at 11:30
- brussel sprouts - cook on stove top w/oil, salt, top off with splash of balsamic vinagrette (11:30)
- cranberry sauce (bought)
- apple crisp - put in oven at 12 - prepare ahead
- chocolates
Apres-Dinner
- nice quality sandwich bread
- lettuce
- tomatoes
- broth for turkey soup
- veggies for soup - carrots, celery, potatoes
Preparation
Week before
- Organize the kitchen
- Buy the staples
- Buy a frozen turkey
- Buy needed equipment including new meat thermometer, brining bag, cooking brush
- Decorate with lights in the window, Thanksgiving decorations
- Order bread from bakery
Six days before
- Buy perishables - fruits/veggies
- Place turkey in refrigerator
One day before
- Pick up breads at bakery
- Brine Turkey
Thanksgiving Day
- Prep/cook turkey
- Prep/cook all veggies, stuffing, gravy, apple crisp, cheese, cracker, grapes, nut platter
- Set table
Agenda
- Begin meal prep early
- 12 p.m. dinner
- Afternoon of games, movies, sports games, hanging out, napping