Thanksgiving does not need to be overwhelming if you follow a plan. Here is a straightforward plan for a dinner that will help you focus on your guests and not feel crazy on Thanksgiving Day.
If you have guests who are interested in helping with the dinner, go ahead and assign them a dish to bring unless you have really good reasons not to. A little help from our friends can be a great help in making this complex dinner happen when you want it to.
Friday or Saturday Prior to Thanksgiving
Start your menu planning by deciding how many guests you will have. Do any of them have diets or allergies that you would like to accommodate? Will you be serving the traditional turkey and, if so, would you like leftovers? Do any of your guests have strong opinions about side dishes or pies?
Once you know the answers to these questions, make a shopping list and do your shopping. If you purchase a frozen turkey, remember that it will likely take 2-3 days to thaw under refrigeration.
Between Sunday and Tuesday
You can prepare many of the side dishes, such as mashed potatoes and gravy, sweet potatoes, stuffing cubes and vegetables, and cranberry sauce, beforehand. This takes so much pressure off of Thanksgiving itself and makes the whole experience much more enjoyable.
Tuesday
Salting the turkey is a great way to infuse it with great flavor and moisture. This should be done between 24-48 hours prior to cooking in order to maximize the benefits of salting. You can also peel and cut up vegetables that will be used as side dishes, such as roasted carrots or squash. Make sure to store them in a tightly sealed container with a bit of water to prevent them from drying out. This is also a great time to get your table settings and centerpieces worked out.
Wednesday
This is a great day for identifying and tying up loose ends, but possibly the most important thing is to clean your kitchen so that it is ready for the assembly and cooking that make up Thanksgiving. Get rid of the clutter and your whole experience will be better. This is also an excellent time to make sure that your knives are sharpened.
Thanksgiving Day
Assuming that you have managed a lot of the planning beforehand, Thanksgiving day should not feel overwhelming. Make a schedule based on how long everything takes to cook. It is possible to make Thanksgiving dinner with only one oven if you plan ahead a bit.
