Have you started planning your Thanksgiving menu yet? With less than two weeks to go its time to think about recipes. Even if you aren’t hosting but have to take a dish or two to someone else’s home you still have to decide what that will be. At least at Thanksgiving we only have to worry about food and don’t have the pressure of presents on top of everything else. A couple weeks ago I went to Williams Sonoma and purchased my holiday must haves as they sometimes sell out before Thanksgiving. Plus I hate crowds so I try to shop early to avoid standing in long lines. Last week the turkey was purchased on sale at Whole Foods. I’m making progress. After I get everyone’s input on what they can’t live without on our holiday table, the menu will be set. Last year we hosted two Thanksgiving dinners and served two large groups. This year because of my foot issues we are having one small family meal. I plan on getting everyone involved in the prep too!
Rather than start from scratch with a holiday post I decided to link to last years, My favorite Holiday Recipes Post. It took me hours to put that post together and it contains most of our favorite cold weather holiday recipes. Of course you can look at all the tried and true recipes here on Nutmeg Notebook by using the recipe navigation page. Click on the Recipes tab located at the top of this page. Then use the category tabs to narrow your search. Use the handy print feature to make a hard copy.
Once you choose the recipes for your menu it’s time to think about the tools you need to make them. Read about some of my favorite kitchen tools for holiday prep on this post My Favorite Kitchen Gadgets.
These sweet potatoes with a praline topping are what I most look forward to eating on Thanksgiving day. Yum. See our 2010 turkey day photos on this post here.
Nutmeg Notes
I’m a list maker – its so helpful when you have a lot to do. Like planning, cooking and serving a holiday dinner or entertaining anytime for that matter. You might not know this about me, but entertaining stresses me out. I know, can you believe it? I love to cook for my family but when I am cooking for anyone other than family I become a nervous wreck. I’m working on that and have gotten some better in recent years. The perfectionist in me wants it all to be exactly as I see it in my vision but that rarely happens. Because I get nervous, I usually make some kind of mistake. No one has died from my cooking and I don’t think anyone ever goes away hungry so it’s not all that bad!
Holiday Cooking Strategy
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Choose a menu. Don’t forget about beverages.
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If a guest offers to bring something – say yes!
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Gather recipes – make hard copies of each recipe to have on the kitchen counter during the cooking process. This eliminates a bunch of different cookbooks sitting out and cuts down on clutter. You can make notes right on each printed recipe too which is so handy.
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Sort recipes into two piles – one for things to be made ahead of time, one for cooking on the day of the holiday.
- Figure out how much time each recipe takes to cook, bake or roast. Highlight this information on the printed recipe copy.
- Create a time line of what order the recipes need to be prepared, time to put in the oven and so forth.
- Not everything you serve has to be made from scratch. Concentrate on a few dishes that will impress and not stress you out.
- Figure out what serving dish to use for each recipe and write on each recipe the dish it will be served in. Make sure you have enough trivets to set hot dishes on.
- Make sure you have enough dishes, silverware and glasses for all your guests. Don’t forget about plates for appetizers and dessert.
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Make a list of all ingredients needed, check off whats already in your pantry and refrigerator.
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Make a grocery list.
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Go shopping a week or two ahead of time for anything that isn’t perishable. This way you are sure to have everything you need and don’t have to worry about the store being out of the one item needed to complete a recipe.
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If frozen thaw out that turkey! Check out the USDA website for details.
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One to three days before the holiday shop for the perishables.
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Prep everything in advance that you can. Make cranberry chutney, the pumpkin pie, dice vegetables and so on.
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Wash and press table linens.
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Get all the serving dishes and utensils and assemble them in one place. If you will be having lots of kitchen helpers – use sticky notes to label what goes in each serving dish. Be sure to have extra serving spoons for any dishes being brought by guests.
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One kitchen timer is never enough if you have several recipes cooking at the same time. I have three timers but sometimes I forget what timer is for what dish! Use a sticky note on the timer that tells what dish it’s for or keep a note pad handy and jot down what time a dish went in the oven and what time it should be done. My Grandma used a little chalkboard in her kitchen for this purpose.
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Let everyone pitch in and help you. Many hands make light work. If they don’t offer – simply ask them to help.
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Grandma knew best – wear an apron so you keep your clothes clean – I love aprons. Don’t stress the small stuff, if something doesn’t turn out quite right it gives you a fun story to tell later. Trust me when I say I have lots of kitchen stories.
Hope this helps with planning your holiday meal.
Tami
Share Your Thoughts
What food do you most look forward to on Thanksgiving?
What are some of your entertaining tips?
15 comments
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Dr. J says:
November 12, 2012 at 5:30 am (UTC -7)
I imagine your well thought out list will be very helpful to people with their TG dinner. As for me, I lucked out and will only have to show up at a friend’s home
erica @ fashionmeetsfood says:
November 12, 2012 at 6:01 am (UTC -7)
Love this post! Thanks so much for all the wonderful tips. Definitely printing this out! xx
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:43 am (UTC -7)
You are welcome.
Biz says:
November 12, 2012 at 7:27 am (UTC -7)
You are way more organized than me Tami! Love this post – my SIL invited herself over on Thanksgiving, while I think my Mom wanted to host Thanksgiving at her house since she’s in a new house – we’ll see how it all plays out!
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:44 am (UTC -7)
I know you will have awesome food wherever you gather!
janine says:
November 12, 2012 at 10:37 am (UTC -7)
Another thought–I have a notebook with tabs just for the Holidays. The recipes for each holiday, along with notes from years past regarding timeline, dishes and quantities are there too. That way I don’t have to re-create it every time from scratch.
I still don’t know how this year will play out. I usually make T-Day–but this year we have 2 other invitations–we’ll see.
I know yours will be stellar–even with a sore tootsie!
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:46 am (UTC -7)
I like the notebook idea Janine. It might be a nice change for you to let someone else host this year. Enjoy!
Jody - Fit at 54 says:
November 12, 2012 at 12:56 pm (UTC -7)
Well, if I were rich, I would have someone do all of that for me!
Lots of family not here in this area & lost no longer alive so….. I think we are going out with the youngest stepdaughter/hubby this year. I don’t cook & they work long long hours so this is easy & we don’t have to clean up either!
I do miss the family stuff though!
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:49 am (UTC -7)
No clean up sounds good to me Jody. We don’t have any extended family close either. It’s nice that you can go out to eat with the youngest step daughter and her hubby.
Cammy@TippyToeDiet says:
November 12, 2012 at 7:03 pm (UTC -7)
My small family goes out for Thanksgiving dinner, so we avoid all of that.
Christmas is our “cooking holiday”, and that leans more toward down-home style cooking than anything fancy. But, I promise, we do use napkins and utensils. 
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:50 am (UTC -7)
LOL!
Helen says:
November 13, 2012 at 6:23 am (UTC -7)
One of my most favorite things is the cornbread stuffing I grew up with. We haven’t made it for a few years so this year as we were planning the menu, I insisted that it be made! All the women on my side pitch in to create the meal so when I got a couple of requests (i.e. the Browned Butter Pumpkin Cake), I decided it was OK for me to ask for something specific too!
We usually have so many people that not only is the formal dining table set but also the kitchen table and a card table. It works though and since it’s family and maybe a very close friend or two, no one really cares that we’re all over the place!
Tami says:
November 13, 2012 at 7:56 am (UTC -7)
I have to admit I have never had cornbread stuffing but it sounds wonderful. I do enjoy cornbread. Sounds like you get to enjoy a large family gathering. We haven’t lived close to family for over 30 years and have chosen to not travel over the holidays. Too stressful to have to deal with weather and flight delays but I do miss seeing everyone.
Renee@Mykitchenadventures says:
November 13, 2012 at 1:06 pm (UTC -7)
I know this won’t surprise you one bit but I also make lists, and label the serving dishes to help keep me sane! lol
I picked up some butternut squash at Costco yesterday, thought of you the entire time I was there! lol I’m going to give the recipe you posted a few days ago a try! I usually pick up one of their pumpkin pies for Thanksgiving. It’s so good and I couldn’t even make it for the price they sell it for.
And I could not agree with you more on the stress of Christmas being greater than the stress of Thanksgiving.
I think the food I most look forward to stuffing. I only make it once a year. I make an herbed mushroom leek stuffing, that probably will never make my blog because it’s not at all healthy. But once a year, I have no problem enjoying it!
Tami says:
November 14, 2012 at 7:34 am (UTC -7)
I am not one bit surprised that we do things the same Renee! I think you are my long lost sister!
I have never had the Costco pumpkin pie but I have looked at them and marveled at the price. I’m all for buying some things premade. You can only do so much. Plus when you host there is house work and cleaning on top of shopping and cooking.
Your stuffing sounds amazing and is filled with things I love. Enjoy it with out guilt, like you said it’s only once a year.
Happy Cooking!