| 1st Week of November | 6 Hours Before Thanksgiving | ||
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Create guest list and send out invitations. |
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Remove the turkey from the refrigerator allowing it to sit for 90 minutes to 2 hours at room temperature. |
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Order Fresh Turkey. |
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Chop and prep all vegetables and herbs needed for recipes. Have them easily accesible. |
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Order flowers for centerpiece. | ||
| 4 Hours Before Thanksgiving | |||
| 2nd Week of November |
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Preheat the oven and prepare the turkey for roasting. | |
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Confirm guest list. | ||
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Create Menu using Simplefoodie. | 3 1/2 Hours Before Thanksgiving | |
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Take inventory of serving platters and utensils needed for menu items. |
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Place the turkey in the pre-heated oven. |
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Take inventory of equipment needed to make menu items. |
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Assemble the stuffing. Leave out the eggs and liquid until the last minute. |
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Place order for rental items - tables, chairs, linnens, dishes, glasses, flatware, chaffing dishes, etc. | ||
| 3 Hours Before Thanksgiving | |||
| 3rd Week of November |
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Prepare the biscuits or cornbread muffins. | |
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Generate Grocery List using Simplefoodie. | ||
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Clean out refrigerator. | 2 Hours Before Thanksgiving | |
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Polish silverware. |
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Make the mashed potatoes. |
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Sharpen knives. | ||
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Pull out serving platters and utensils. | 1 1/2 Hours Before Thanksgiving | |
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Pull out all cooking equipment needed. |
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Arrange the appetizers. |
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Buy all non-perishables and frozen turkey if not using fresh. | ||
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Defrost turkey in refrigerator - every 5 pounds of turkey will require 24 hours of thawing time. | 1 Hour Before Thanksgiving | |
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Prepare dough for pie. Roll out, place in pie pans, cover and freeze. |
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Prepare the vegetable side dishes. |
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Make casseroles that can be frozen and thawed out the night before Thanksgiving. | 45 Minutes Before Thanksgiving | |
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Prepare the salad without the salad dressing. | ||
| 2 Days Before Thanksgiving | |||
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Pick up fresh turkey pre-ordered at the beginning of the month. | 30 Minutes to Thanksgiving | |
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Go grocery shopping for all perishable items. |
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Remove the turkey from the oven and tent with aluminum foil. |
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Prepare sauces and dressings. Refrigerate. |
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Use the dripping from the roasting pan to make the gravy. |
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If making stuffing with stale bread - cube and remove the crust from the bread. Place on baking sheets and cover. |
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Heat the casseroles and bake stuffing in the oven. |
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Make the cranberry sauce and place in the refrigerator. | 5 Minutes to Thanksgiving | |
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Iron table cloth and napkins. |
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Toss the salad with the dressing. |
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Place turkey in brine bath and refrigerate. |
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Start the coffee. |
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| 1 Day Before Thanksgiving | Serve and enjoy Thanksgiving | ||
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Remove the turkey from the brine bath and place on a rack over a pan in the refrigerator to allow excess water to drain overnight. | ||
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Place the frozen casseroles in the refrigerator to thaw out. | ||
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Defrost pie dough. Assemble and bake pies. | ||
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Prepare giblet stock for gravy and refrigerate. | ||
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Set the table. |
