I LOVE
, LOVE
, LOVE
having Thanksgiving at our house! I have both sides of the family here and it ends up being about 20 people, more or less. I like to visit with my guests and want to have as little to do on the big day as possible. Here's what works best for me:
I have tried a sit down dinner before, but by the time everything is on the table, the first thing set out is cold! I use a buffet and put everything in the steamer trays, crock pots or a warming tray.
I have an extra oven, but use portable ovens often. Here's a what I mean:
http://www.amazon.com/Hamilton-Beach-32190-18-Quart-Roaster/dp/B0000TVHTO
These ovens are well worth the money!! My mother cooks her turkey right in the oven and brings the oven with the turkey in it over! The pan lifts out for easy cleaning.
I use a warming tray also for some dishes.
Day before Thanksgiving, I cook 4 turkey legs and thighs in the oven. Use the drippings to make gravy. I always hated the waiting around for the gravy to be done! I can always add more pan drippings when the real turkey comes out of the oven. My husband can only eat organic turkey (terrible migraines otherwise), so I save some money by buying these pieces organic and using them for him to eat.
I found a recipe for make ahead mashed potatos that are out of this world! I make them in a steamer tray to be popped in the oven and warmed on Thanksgiving (takes about an hour).
makes 6 servings
6 med baking potatos (2 lbs)
1/3 c green onions, sliced
1 or 2 minced garlic cloves
2 T butter
8 oz sour cream
4-5 T milk
snipped parsley
grease casserole (or steamer tray as i use)
cut potatos and cook in salted water 20-25 min. until soft and drain. Put back in pot.
In small skillet, cook onion and garlic in butter until tender.
Mash.
Add everything, except parsley, and beat in enough milk to make fluffy.
Sprinkle with parsley, cover and refrigerate.
Bake, covered at 350 for 30 minutes, then uncovered for 45 min.
I try to make some desserts ahead of time. Brownies freeze wonderfully! Trifle is always better the next day. Pumpkin pie is easy also.
Cranberry Sauce can be prepared ahead of time.
If serving pickles and olives, these can be placed in serving dish ahead, covered and popped in the fridge.
Prepare vegetables the day before. Wash and cut. If using frozen, do NOT defrost!! It will make the veggies soggy!!
Cook or microwave frozen.
I even saved enough time one year, I made fresh, homemade biscuits...Paula Dean's Cream Buscuits...rich....soft and heavenly! I served them straight from the oven!
Make lists and have everything ready the day before. Then, you can relax and enjoy the day!
This year, my goal is to have some of our Christmas decorations up, have so much done ahead of time that we can go to the Macy's Thanksgiving parade, and come home for a 4pm Thanksgiving Dinner!!!!
I'm already saying prayers for help!!
Good Luck!!
Never really thought about it until now, just started when my girls now 10 & 17 were babies so that I could stay home and not have to pack our entire life up for the holidays. Usually there are between 10-20 people. I used to do sit down for all holidays but as the family grew and everyone has to visit someone it was eaiser to do buffet. I just let everyone know what time dinner will be ready and if they can be here then that's great if not it is here when they arrive. Takes alot of pressure off everyone. Anyway besides the turkey for Thanksgiving I usually make stuffing, mashed taters, sweet taters, corn pudding, carrots, green beans, broccoli casserole. Mom brings cranberry relish, homemade. Sis brings wine, brother desserts. Anyone else that is coming and offers I usually tell them to bring a dish they like, anything is fine. Sometimes it is a side, sometimes a dessert. This is always interesting as we get to try new things.
so I am going to volunteer to have Thanksgiving here this year. It will only be 7 of us so not a huge group. I appreciate the tips given; cooking the sweet potatoes the night before, making the gravy ahead...
