Bring on Thanksgiving!

This is the week, y’all – when we forget about all the family and good friends and we frantically waste the day away in the kitchen, slaving over the hot stove, panicking over oven space and how to keep each platter perfectly warm!

Well, not this year! Make your plans to do a little each day and be prepared to sit around merrily with the rest of your friends and family! Also, check out my easy t-day recipe boosters to make life a little easier in the kitchen!

Here are a few tips to get you started:

  1. Even if you have zero time this year and purchase everything, but plan to roast the turkey, they most important thing you can do is brine that turkey. (see recipe boosters)
  2. Frozen berries make a great pie. Costco carries the best frozen blueberries on the market, “Wyman’s Frozen Wild Blueberries.”
  3. Pre-make your gravy. No, you won’t be using your turkey drippings, but wouldn’t you rather spend time with your friends than de-fatting broth? With this recipe, you’ll be hard-pressed to know that it wasn’t freshly made! If you’ve got homemade broth, even better!
  4. Make-ahead mashed potatoes. You can do this several ways: make-ahead and freeze; make-ahead and hold in fridge; make-ahead and hold warm in your crock pot; or, pre-chop your potatoes and hold in your fridge in cold water.
  5. Make your famous green bean casserole ahead! Most dishes that involve a sauce can be pre-made, then you toss the vegetable and sauce together at the last minute. A squeeze of lemon juice goes a long way for refreshing a dish!
  6. If you can’t make it – fake it
  7. Most importantly – keep it simple! You’d really rather spend time with your family than the poor turkey in your roasting pan. Choose a few signature dishes and don’t overdo it! Here’s a simple menu suggestion:
  • Turkey
  • Mashed Potatoes & Gravy
  • Mashed Sweet Potatoes
  • Two to three vegetable side-dishes (suggested: peas with prosciutto or creamed spinach and glazed carrots or corn-on-the-cob)
  • Rolls
  • Desserts: one fruity, one chocolate and one pumpkin