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    Home » Thanksgiving

    Four-Day Plan for Thanksgiving Dinner, aka How to Keep the Crazy to a Minimum

    Nov 22, 2013 · Modified: Nov 28, 2020 by Andrea · This post may contain affiliate links · This blog generates income via ads · Leave a Comment

    Thanksgiving is about week away, and you have 20 people coming on the big day. Well, even if you aren’t having 20 people over for dinner, having a plan for the day makes everything go much more smoothly, barring unforeseen disasters like dropping the turkey or burning the pie.

    Not that I’ve ever done anything like that.

    Some things are just outside my locus of control, and my Type A personality is learning to accept that. But the rest I plan for, especially Thanksgiving: menu, shopping list, what day I will make each dish, and in what order. Many parts of the meal can be made ahead, which takes some of the pressure off on the big day and gives me a little freedom to relax and enjoy precious time with family and friends.

    As our boys have gotten older, they have taken on some of the cooking duties and help make meals, and there are a number of ways that the family can cook together at Thanksgiving. Our boys help make the cranberry sauce, chop vegetables, shape rolls, and other things as needed. If your children have never cooked before, the cranberry sauce is an easy way to start learning.

    Maple Orange Cranberry Sauce - Andrea Meyers

    So here is how I run Thanksgiving preparations and dinner, which assumes two ovens or one oven and a countertop roaster oven or some other turkey-cooking device. If you have one oven and no other options for cooking the turkey, you may need to double up baking some things or break out your slow cooker. Most of the make-ahead items can be refrigerated until Thursday.

    Monday

    Start thawing the turkey in the refrigerator.

    Make the cranberry sauce. [Note: Don’t forget to serve the cranberry sauce. Not that I would ever do that.]

    Make the pie dough.

    Pie Crust - Andrea Meyers Whole Wheat Pie Dough - Andrea Meyers Maple Orange Cranberry Sauce (The Kids Cook Monday) - Andrea Meyers Cranberries with Oranze Zest and Port Wine - Andrea Meyers

    Tuesday

    Make the cornbread, if cornbread stuffing is your thing. It’s ok for it to sit a day or two before using in the stuffing.

    Southern Buttermilk Cornbread - Andrea Meyers Gluten-Free Cornbread and Sausage Stuffing with Herbs - Andrea Meyers

    Wednesday

    Bake the pies.

    Chop any vegetables that can be chopped ahead of time.

    Make salad dressings, they often have more flavor after resting for a day.

    Make Thanksgiving breakfast (scones, muffins, baked French toast). Or just skip this part and buy doughnuts.

    Butternut Squash Pie - Andrea Meyers Minced Fruit Pie - Andrea Meyers Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie with Whole Wheat Crust - Andrea Meyers Pumpkin Pie - Andrea Meyers Sweet Potato Pie - Andrea Meyers

    Thanksgiving Day

    Breakfast!

    Start the dough for the rolls.

    Set the turkey out on the counter and allow it to come to room temperature.

    Start prepping the side dishes.

    Shape the rolls and allow them to rise.

    Cook the turkey.

    Bake any side dishes.

    Bake the rolls after the turkey comes out of the oven and rests before carving.

    Time to eat! And don't forget the cranberry sauce!

    How to Roast a Turkey in a Roaster Oven - Andrea Meyers Sage-Roasted Turkey Breast - Andrea Meyers Roast Turkey with Root Vegetables and Gravy - Andrea Meyers Slow Cooker Turkey Breast and Gravy - Andrea Meyers

    And here are a few more of our Thanksgiving favorites.

    Breakfast

    Cranberry Apple Baked French Toast - Andrea Meyers Pumpkin Pancakes - Andrea Meyers Pumpkin Apple Muffins - Andrea Meyers  Spiced Pumpkin Bread - Andrea Meyers Mushroom Chard Frittata (The Kids Cook Monday) - Andrea Meyers

    Beverages

    Poinsettia Cocktail - Andrea Meyers Cider Car Cocktail - Andrea MeyersSparkling Apple Cocktail - Andrea Meyers Eggnog, Light and Easy - Andrea Meyers Hot Cranberry Apple Cider - Andrea Meyers

    Appetizers

    Creamy Cheese Torta with Prosciutto, Kalamata Olives, and Fig Jam - Andrea Meyers Pimento Cheese Dip - Andrea Meyers

    Sides

    Roasted Butternut Squash Polenta with Smoked Gouda and Sauteed Mushrooms - Andrea Meyers Waldorf Brussels Sprout Salad - Andrea Meyers Roasted Butternut Squash Puree with Ginger - Andrea Meyers French Green Beans with Prosciutto and Pine Nuts - Andrea Meyers Hot Rolls, One Dozen Ways - Andrea Meyers Brown Butter Green Beans with Almonds - Andrea Meyers  Rye Onion Walnut Rolls - Andrea Meyers Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon and Parmesan Cheese - Andrea Meyers Butternut Squash Au Gratn with Mushrooms and Bacon - Andrea Meyers Butternut Squash and Parmesan Bread Pudding (The Kids Cook Monday) - Andrea Meyers

    Desserts

    Bourbon Pumpkin Marble Cheesecake - Andrea Meyers Cranberry Apple Raisin Crisp - Andrea Meyers Pumpkin Custard with Mascarpone Cream - Andrea Meyers Spiced Persimmon Cake with Dates and Lemon Glaze - Andrea Meyers Pumpkin Flan - Andrea Meyers

    « Waldorf Brussels Sprout Salad
    Roasted Acorn Squash with Cranberry, Apple, and Quinoa Stuffing »

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    Hi, I'm Andrea Meyers: educator, photographer, tea drinker, avid cook, and gardener. I love helping people learn how to do great things.

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