• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Home
  • About Me
    • Contact
    • Media Kit
  • Parenting
    • Teen Sons
    • Raising Girls
    • Inspiration
    • Single Mom Chronicles
  • Wellness
    • Fitness
    • Self-Care
    • Easy Meal Ideas
  • Family
    • Travel
    • Philadelphia Area Fun
    • STEM Activities
  • Finances
    • One Income Household Tips
    • Saving & Investing
    • Deals & Coupons
JenOni

turkey

Thanksgiving Holiday – Meal Preparation

Nov 22, 2016

The Thanksgiving countdown is on.   I have put together my checklist for preparing my dinner for Thursday’s dinner.   Some of my dishes and desserts from last year’s meal.

Happy Thanksgiving!

ThankssgivingTurkey2015

Weekend Before Thanksgiving

  1. Determine which side dishes, additional meat and desserts.
  2. Make a shopping list (include all food and baking items).
  3. If you are buying paper products to serve dinner, I found the Chinet brand has a platter size plate for a sturdy paper product.   Definitely, choose a brand that is sturdy, leakproof and large enough to hold a full dinner.
  4. I purchase my dinner rolls and store in freezer (this keeps them fresh until Thursday).
  5. Check shelves for spices, seasonings, extracts (also check the expiration dates and toss out if expired), add to shopping list.
  6. Determine what size turkey based on the  number of guests ( I usually buy a frozen turkey.   Just keep in mind you have to allow enough days for a frozen turkey to thaw in the refrigerator.
  7.  I store my frozen turkey in the coldest section of the refrigerator to thaw.  ThanksgivingCornbreadDressing2015
  8. ThanksgivingSweetPotatoMac&Cheese

2 days before Thanksgiving

  1. Add  any missed items to  shopping list(i.e. butter, more eggs, aluminum foil, plastic wrap, etc).
  2. I purchased my vegetables.

Day before Thanksgiving

  1. Bake my desserts ( sweet potato pie is a MUST, my baking hack is to purchase Marie Callender’s deep dish pie crust)  I have rolled my own crust but to save time a good quality frozen pie crusts works well too.
  2. Bake my cornbread for dressing.  Saute onion, celery and pepper.
  3. Prepare my side dishes (including my dressing), refrigerate and bake on Thanksgiving.
  4. Prepare vegetables, store in containers and refrigerate.
  5. Thoroughly rinse,  discard waste, prep, season and slather turkey with oil.   Roast in the oven for the designated number of hours based on pounds.  I like to insert veggies in the cavity of the turkey. (usually a few stalks of celery and a medium onion).    Baste a few times during cooking time.  I try to keep the door shut for most of the baking time so the oven temperature stays consistent.   *I still keep my turkey in the oven for another 30-45 minutes after the thermometer pops out.   I also turn over my turkey to brown on the bottom.   Store in the refrigerator until next day.
  6. *If making fresh cranberry sauce, I prepare the day before so it can chill and the added citrus flavor blends well in the sauce.    Now if you are using canned, a trick I learned from my mom is to mix a can of whole cranberry sauce and a can of jellied cranberry sauce.   Chill in a container and serve at dinner.

Thanksgiving, 1-2 hours before dinner

  1. Preheat oven at 325-350
  2. Bake side dishes (45mins- 1hr)
  3. Warm vegetables on low.
  4. Heat gravy (low simmer)-another hack purchase my favorite brand.  No fuss with worrying about making perfect gravy.
  5. Thaw dinner rolls and warm in oven for about 5-8 minutes before dinner
  6. Warm the turkey in the oven for about 30 minutes! Baste with the stock.  Slice off legs and wings and assemble on the side of my platter.  Carve the white meat for the center of the platter.   Transfer to a platter and carve and serve on a platter.
  7. Don’t forget the cranberry sauce!
  8. Assembly all the plates, utensils, napkins, side dishes, meats, on a table for buffet style.

ThanksgivingSweetPotato

 

 

Big Chill,   retro and professional kitchen appliance manufacturer  provided a cool infographic for Thanksgiving.   “10 Tips & Tricks for a Harmonious Thanksgiving”  for you to print!

ThanksgivingInfographics

Filed Under: Foodie Tagged With: dessert, dinner, thanksgiving, turkey

Rewind: Thanksgiving 2012

Nov 18, 2014

My collage of food for Thanksgiving dinner, whole berry sauce(don’t like the canned stuff) it makes a lot so best served for a big dinner party.  The recipe is on the bag of Ocean Spray fresh cranberries.  Additional side dishes- Sweet Potato Souffle with Crushed Pineapples, Cornbread Stuffing(homemade), Mac and Cheese,  Turkey  and sweet potato pie.  I forgot  to take pictures of the veggies, greens and string beans with smoked turkey parts.

Unfortunately I there are no recipes for any of my usual side dishes because it is made with heart & soul and  a little of this and a little of that…..If you’re lucky enough you’ll get an invite but until then enjoy the visual……

photo credit:  cocoamommy

Filed Under: Cooking and Baking By Me Tagged With: cornbread stuffing, mac&cheese, sweet potato pie, sweet potato souffle w crushed pineapples, turkey, whole cranberry sauce

Primary Sidebar

Get To Know AJ

Interests include fitness, nutrition, yummy food and dessert recipes, wellness, and innovative technology. Read More…

Connect with CocoaMommy

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • YouTube






Don’t Miss CocoaMommy Updates

Blogging Networks

The Network Niche
SoFab Badge
influnenster-Alanda Find the lowest prices Everywhere
Alanda Josey
Let's collaborate
Dealspotr.com
July 2022
S M T W T F S
 12
3456789
10111213141516
17181920212223
24252627282930
31  
« Jan    
Copyright © 2009-2016 | All Rights Reserved | Design by JenOni