Tuesday, November 8, 2011

delicious do-ahead thanksgiving menu

   
         Since we'll be hosting Thanksgiving this year and it's two weeks away,
                                             it's time to get organized!
                               I just retrieved my old Bon Appetit magazines,
        our family's favorite Thanksgiving recipes are a collection from 10 year old issues.
                             They are tried and true and not only delicious,
                               but include my must for a stress free day....
                                               ~  do-ahead  ~


                       ~  Thanksgiving Menu ~ 
                          Roast Turkey with Herb Butter
                                   Old Fashioned Bread Stuffing
                                         Cornbread Dressing
                                        My Mom's Best Gravy
                                          Mashed Potatoes
                  Sweet Potato & Orange Puree w/Almond Struesel
                          Baked Sweet Potatoes w/Marshmallows
                            Green Beans with Toasted Hazelnuts 
                                         Fresh Bakery Rolls
                              Cranberry and Dried Cherry Sauce
                                 Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie
                                Pumpkin Pie w/Whipped Cream




                 
                                                   Cranberry & Dried Cherry Sauce


                                                  Cinnamon Crumble Apple Pie


               This is my secret weapon to get 'mr. simple' and 'detail boy' to help ~ a toy!
                                         Do you have an apple peeler/corer?
               I've had it for years, I got it at Ace Hardware, and I have to admit it is fun
                                             and makes it easy as pie ~ ha!!
                           




                         How you can organize the week to make Thanksgiving Day simple.

 Week Before - Make 2 homemade pie crusts, roll out, place in pie dishes
 and freeze.                                      .

 Monday - Make cranberry sauce (the recipe says you can make 1 week ahead)

 Tuesday - Thaw  pie crusts in fridge
                  Prepare Struesel for Sweet Potatoes and refrigerate
                  Prepare Topping for Apple Pie and refrigerate
                  Make Herb Butter for turkey and refrigerate
                  Set the Table & Organize all Serving pieces

  Wednesday - Prep all vegetables for stuffing (I use Pepperridge Farm bread cubes)
                        Prepare turkey (all except stuffing) cover and refrigerate
                        Prepare pumpkin pie
                        Prepare Sweet Potato & Orange Puree

 Thanksgiving morning - Finish putting stuffing together, stuff turkey and roast
                                     Make mashed potatoes and put in crock pot on low to keep
                                     Cook green beans, can be prepared 2 hours ahead
                                     Prepare apple pie
                                     Whip cream for dessert

                                                 ~ This is my favorite tip ~

The apple pie takes 1 hr. and 25 min. to cook and needs to cool an additional hour,
I like to put it in the oven right before we sit down for dinner and by the time we're
finished and have the kitchen cleaned up we're ready for round two ~ warm apple pie!

                                      Recipes from Bon Appetit Magazine - click on recipe title

                                    Relax and enjoy your family and friends!

                                                 
                                                              

6 comments:

Dana Frieling said...

Oh wow! These sound delicious. I love how you broke it down and make it seem achievable. You are quite the planner. Once again, I wish we lived closer!

Holly Gruszka said...

I love Thanksgiving. And that apple pie is making my mouth water.

Lori said...

Thanks for sharing your recipes and schedule! Those photos make me hungry! Happy Thanksgiving!

Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles said...

My mouth is watering. I love your checklist. I'm never that organized but would like to start planning far ahead. It would make the day so much more enjoyable!

Calypso In The Country said...

Pam,
It sounds like you are very organized and you have a wonderful menu planned! We always host Thanksgiving at our house and I feel like I do the same thing each year. You have motivated me to try a few new recipes. Although the men in our family probably won't be happy since most of them like things exactly the same every year! Boring! Have a great day!
-Shelley

Mary Ann Pickett said...

I totally want the apple corer~

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