2. WRITE DOWN YOUR MENU
AND LOOK AT IT OFTEN. Write it on
your arm and post a copy
in the kitchen. EVEN Seasoned cooks will forget the salad or cranberry
sauce in the refrigerator or Burn the rolls in the oven.
3. BUY A FRESH TURKEY
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD! Do not buy a turkey injected with chemicals. It is
once a year! Order it at your market TODAY
so it really is there when you want to pick it up 1-2 days before the
‘Event’ and NOT FROZEN. TAKE OUT THE
INSIDE PACKAGE!!!
4. WORK BACKWARDS
from the dinner hour to what happens every hour calculating how long the Turkey
takes to cook so your GOAL
will be met. See Tip #1.
5. BUY A GOOD MEAT
THERMOMETER if you don’t own one. It will beep and tell you when the turkey
is done. They are on sale now at Bed Bath and Beyond for about $20.00. Follow
cooking directions from on line or a cookbook.
6. DO NOT BE SEDUCED
by the Food Network or other cooking/home shows!
7. ALL SIDE DISHES
ARE MADE ON TOP OF STOVE. The oven is for the turkey. (Be sure to remove
the cereal or pantry items you now store in your oven.) If you have a second oven or warming drawer, WHY are you reading this? Rolls can be warmed up (not baked) in the
oven after the turkey is out and resting. See
Tip #2.
8. DELEGATE HELPERS who
will do WHAT you say WHEN you say it WITHOUT BACKTALK!
9. DESIGNATE items
for guest to bring ONLY if
they WILL bring them and NOT PREPARE them at your house. APPETIZERS,
PIES, ROLLS even a VEGGIE DISH that can just be heated on
top of the range or microwaved. See tip
#7!
10. HAVE A BACK-UP
PLAN. Lots of appetizers, just in case things are running late. Buy
2 Frozen Pizzas only if it gives you confidence just in case the dogs eat your
turkey like in ‘A Christmas Story’.
Do you have a good Thanksgiving Story? A fabulous success
you want to share? Do you have a fabulous failure you can laugh about now?
17 comments:
Here is my Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe:
Have your Brother Make it
Always an excellent option!Thanks!!
What fabulous tips! I think I will post them on my fridge. :)
These are all great tips. I have had turkeys cook far more quickly than expected - very stressful. After years and years of hosting, we are going elsewhere this year and I am really happy about it!
This post will be very helpful. Thanks!
Helene, Thanks. On the fridge, on the arm it is all good!
Sharon a nice break is welcomed.
Sometimes things cook much faster or slower!
Once got a phone call from where we were to go for the dinner at 9 AM asking me conversationally what I was doing. I was making a cake for dessert, and was then told the turkey was done. Dinner was set for 3!
Lavender, I hope it helps or at least makes some one laugh!
Too good not to share! Thanks, Haralee, and have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving :)
Thanks Susie! Happy Thanksgiving to you too.
Great idea about the backup plan! We usually go out for Thanksgiving. No one trusts me in the kitchen. I'm "thankful" for that.
Carpool Goddess, Thanks for your insights and the lesson of what we are truly thankful for!!
As a kid we used to go out for dinner to the same place for years and it was fun. We were a party of 17 and we had our own room. As an adult I really appreciate the cleverness of this ritual.
I wish I had the advice years ago about making side dishes on the stove. Several of our family must-haves must be made in the oven, which makes timing it all quite a challenge, every year. Great tips here.
(PS: I appreciate the comment on my "cool grandma" post yesterday) :-D
Lisa, Side dishes can be a challenge with that turkey hogging up the oven that's for sure. That's why I insist on tip #7!
We have to not only prep Our dish at home but bring it hot & ready to eat!!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Rachel, that is a tough one keeping something warm until dinner time. Those insulated carriers help.
I have used a reflective blanket from a race with hand warmers inside!
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