The Great Thanksgiving List
because proper preparation and planning prevents poor performance!
at least 1 week before1. order brine
2. purchase turkey
3. if you are cooking a turkey for the first time, or trying a new method, do a practice turkey
4. press leaves for table decorations
5. polish silver
6. make & freeze pie crusts
7. finalize & delegate menu
8. clean oven
9. confirm table coverings
10. collect table decorations
11. confirm that your turkey fits in your pan
12. confirm that you have a working food thermometer
weekend before
1. clean house
2. make duty cards: door host, coffee sergeant, appetizer server, table waiters, before dinner kitchen tidier, sous chef, table clearer, after dinner kitchen tidier, garbage taker-outer, dessert server, after dessert kitchen tidier. Folks draw one card on arrival and that is their duty for the day (I assign some of them as I see fit).
3. timeline food prep
4. wash living room & dining room windows
5. figure out turkey thawing schedule
6. empty front hall closet and confirm available hangers
Tuesday
1. make mashed potatoes
2. roast pumpkins
3. make pumpkin soup
4. clean off all ancillary surfaces and tables
Wednesday
1. brine big turkey
2. set up tables
3. set tables
4. set out and label serving platters & utensils
5. set out extra platters and serving bowls for guest use
6. mix up turkey rub
7. make dressing
8. make pumpkin black bean casserole
9. mix up pecan pie filling
10. stage apple dumplings
11. lay in fire
12. clean house again
13. move living room furniture to accommodate extra chairs
14. filter and chill water for table
Thursday
1. remove potatoes from fridge
2. rub down turkey if you didn't brine
3. run & empty dishwasher
4. confirm garbage can is empty
5. sweep front porch and walk
6. stage tea station
7. sniff check animal litter boxes just in case
12:00
1. make a thermos of coffee & prep coffee maker for next round
2. make sure you have eaten something sustaining
1:45
1. confirm small lamps and candles are on/lit
2. recruit valet for parking
3. confirm dishwasher is empty
4. turn on coffee pot
5. close and latch bunny room door against visiting dogs and small children.
11.23.2009
Thanksgiving Prep
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5 comments:
I love the handing out of cards to guests idea. It's fantastic! We are not hosting this year, but I'll remember that one.
My list is a LOT shorter this year than yours, but I baked a pumpkin today to prepare for making my pie from scratch Thursday morning. Feeling very Thanksgiving-y now. =)
Suzanne - how do yu find the time to do all this blogging?
DAD
"All this blogging?" I think it is my first post all month!
(and it was a recycled post from last year!)
But hey Dad, thanks for reading and commenting. :)
If I followed all of these tips Thanksgiving would be worry free.Living in Canada the holiday has come and gone but there is always Christmas.
Hey, we are doing our part this year by not inviting ourselves and overwhelming you! But we have very happy memories of last year. We will have a small quieter Thanksgiving this year. Love you!
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