It is time to start planning your Thanksgiving dinner!
Thanksgiving is about more than just the turkey of course, it is about friends and family and football and feeling blessed by all of the wonderful things in your life.
Okay, now lets get real, it is a little bit about the turkey, and the stuffing, and the mashed potatoes and all of the other food favorites that you get to cook and indulge in once a year. Every family has at least one story revolving around food at Thanksgiving, whether it is a turkey that is so moist it practically dances off of the bone or the time when Uncle Lou accidentally sat in the mashed potatoes.
Good food is just a part of this holiday, so make sure that you are prepared early with a solid plan. Make all of those family favorites, but don’t be afraid to introduce a new dish. It may just become a family tradition.
While I like to plan my Thanksgiving menu as early as possible, here are some general guidelines with timelines that you can follow.
Two weeks before, write out your menu. Once that is settled, prepare a shopping list. Go over each recipe carefully to make sure that you have all of the ingredients on your list. Make a note of any new cookware or equipment you will need. Buy the non-food items now.
Next, go through your menu again. Indicate any dishes that can be made ahead of time and those that must be prepared on Thanksgiving day itself. If any dishes or ingredients can be prepped and frozen ahead of time, note that too. For example, you can make , roll out and freeze pie crusts now.
Will anyone else be bringing food or coming early to help? Make sure you know who is bringing or doing what.
Finally, figure out a plan for the star of the show, the turkey. Will you be roasting it, frying it, barbecuing it? Sometimes the way you prepare the turkey can affect other dishes.
Related Articles:
The Store that Ruined Christmas Dinner