Turkey Day Game Plan!!!!!!

Thanksgiving is awesome! But it is very stressful getting everything done and on the table.  Here's a game plan to get you through.

First, getting the meal prepared should be part of the festivities and everyone should be involved, including the kids and the men.  The kitchen should be full of people and telling stories and tasting and craziness.  Mistakes will happen and will become the talk of next year's event.  One year, I mistakenly put salt instead of sugar in the pumpkin pie filling - it was disgusting!

Second, I firmly believe in asking people to bring a dish.  A good guest will offer and will ask what they can bring.  Tell them exactly what they can bring.  Don't ask what they want to bring.  Say, "Thank you.  Would you bring the dinner rolls?"  But then you have to be OK with them bringing something store-bought or different than how you make it.  If you really, truly don't need anything for the big meal, then ask people to bring appetizers or wine or a centerpiece.  Everyone loves to feel like they are contributing.

When someone arrives and asks "What can I do to help."  Tell them what they can do to help - chop, mash, stir.  There is plenty to do and people want to help - they really do.

Third, plan on simple dinners during the week before the big day.  Take-out is your friend.  Pizza, Chinese.  Or have "snack" dinners - crackers, cheese and apples/grapes.

Here's the game plan:

Saturday, clean out the fridge.  Then go shopping and fill it back up again.  You'll probably forget something at the store so be prepared to have to go back during the week.  But under no circumstances go to the store on Thanksgiving.  If you don't have something, muddle through.  Employees deserve to be home with their friends and family; boycotting stores on Thanksgiving makes a good statement.

Sunday make the cranberry sauce.  Either process in mason jars and store in the pantry or pour into molds and put in the fridge.  Older kids can help stir the berries and pour into molds. 

Monday do nothing.  Really, don't cook or bake anything!  Order take-out.

Tuesday make the candied yams.  Candied yams should really sit for a couple of days in the fridge to let all the flavors mingle.  My dad makes this dish based on my great grandma's recipe.  Put the frozen turkey in the brine.  (Remove the giblets and put in the fridge.)  Use a very large bucket, with a lid.  Brine in cold water mixed with 1/3 cup salt and 8 cups buttermilk.  Keep cold until Thursday - in the fridge if you have space or in a large cooler with ice around the bucket (add more as needed). 

Wednesday we start getting serious.  We make the jello salad, stuffing, green beans and pie crust dough.  At our house, my daughter, who is 11 yrs old, makes the jello salad, my mom makes the stuffing and I make the green beans and pumpkin pie.  The jello salad is my great aunt's recipe and a staple at our table.

Thursday play by play:
8:00am have a big, healthy breakfast and shower.
9:00am make the potato roll dough and let rise for the first time.
9:30am remove the turkey from the brine.  Pat it down with a paper towel.  Rub butter all over.  Stuff the cavities and place in oven se ta 350 F (this is for a 16 lb turkey and to eat around 3pm - turkey cooking chart)  Put the rest of the stuffing in a casserole dish and set aside.

10:30am have your husband, dad, partner or child peal the potatoes while you sit, read the news paper and have coffee, a mimosa or Bloody Mary.  Seriously, chill for 30 minutes.

11am have your husband, dad, partner or child boil the potatoes, mash and place in a buttered crockpot on "keep warm."  You punch down the roll dough and let rise again.
12:00 put out a tray of store-bought, pre-cut veggies, apple slices, humus dip and crackers.  Get the green beans and candied yams out of the fridge and set near stove, along with the stuffing, to bring to room temperature.
12:30  Boil the giblets with 1/2 diced onion and 2 ribs diced celery.  When done, strain and set meat, veggies aside.  Ask someone else set the table.  Have your husband, dad, partner or child grease the muffin tins in preparation for the rolls.

Take a break!!  Eat some snacks.  Have a glass of wine or beer.  Watch football or take a walk or play a game with the kids. Seriously, enjoy some time with your family and friends.

1:30pm Back to work.  Form the rolls in the muffin tins and set out to rise the 3rd time.  Make the pumpkin pie filling, roll out the crust and pour in the filling (set in fridge).

2:30pm check the turkey temperature - it needs to be 165 F.  Take the turkey out of the oven and set under a foil tent to rest.  Up the oven temp to 400 F and put the rolls in.  Also put in the green beans, stuffing and candied yams (if there is room).  Alternatively, use the microwave to warm up the side dishes (make your husband, dad, partner or child do this while you make the gravy). 

Make the gravy.  Pour the turkey drippings into a large deep frying pan.  Put the boiled giblets and veggies into a blender (remove the neck meat from the bone, discard the bone).  Add 3 cups of water to blender and puree.  Add 1/4 cup butter to frying pan, when melted, add 1/4 cup flour.  Stir with a whisk for 2 minutes.  Pour in blended meat and simmer until desired consistency.  Remove from heat, add 1/2 tsp salt, 1/2 tsp thyme and 1/4 tsp pepper - taste and adjust seasoning.  

2:45pm take the rolls out.  Have your husband, dad, partner or child butter the top of the rolls. Then put the rolls into a basket with a towel over to keep warm. Have your husband, dad, partner to scoop the mashed potatoes from the crockpot into a serving dish, put the cranberry sauce onto a serving plate, and pour gravy into a serving dish

2:55pm take out the green beans, stuffing and candied yams.  Drop the oven temp down to 350 F and put in the pumpkin pies.  

3:00pm ask your husband, dad or partner to carve the turkey and have everyone (including guests) help place all food on the table.  We don't put the food on the table.  We put the food on the counter and people serve themselves - it's just easier.

Enjoy dinner!

4:00pm check on the pie and take it out if it's done.  Let it cool for a half hour, while you enjoy wine and chatting with your family and friends.  We take take a walk around the neighborhood while the pie cools.
4:30pm have desert and coffee or more wine.

Make everyone help clean up! Kids can clear the table.  Adults can put leftovers into tupperwear. (Tip - have guests bring their own tupperwear to take home leftovers.) Load what can go into the dishwasher and run it.  Rinse special dishes and set aside - make someone else wash these later or even tomorrow morning (it is OK to leave the kitchen a bit of a mess until the next day).