Today I thought I would share my Thanksgiving menu and shopping list along with my agenda, in hopes that it will help you. I found that when I organize my Thanksgiving day tasks, that Thanksgiving can be a fun … ah..almost relaxing holiday for the one who does the planning, shopping and cooking:) Here is how I organize my Thanksgiving:)
- I make a menu of the items that I am planning to serve
- Then I type out my Thanksgiving menu and label it in a computer file as Thanksgiving 2012 (or whatever year:)
- Then I make a shopping list of all the things that I need to make these recipes. I include anything that I may already have but well, I just better pick it up just in case, such as butter, one cannot have enough butter during the holidays:)
- Then I sit my fellow down and tell him that after Friday.. this Friday, that it is hands off in the kitchen. The only thing he is allowed to go into the kitchen for is milk, Cherrios, and coffee. EVERYTHING else is off limits!!! ( I do this so that I have time to arrange the refrigerator, without it getting rearranged.. and so that I know for sure what I have and need.. a few years I did not do this and well….. this is the best solution.. he knows I mean business during the holidays!!)
- Then I sit down and make an order of operations. This allows me to tell at a glance what I need to do and what needs to be done each day.
- Then I attach all the recipes that I use for my Thanksgiving meal. I never used to do this; but, I have found that it is so much easier to do Thanksgiving with all the recipes attached to the menu and shopping list. It also makes it a breeze the following year. All I have to do is change a few things and that is it… It is already planned:) This also makes it easy if you have someone offer to help you. You can send them the recipe or read it off to them:)
- Then I print off all the documents and put them in sheet protectors and place them in a blinder:) This is wonderful for future use… and the next year all you have to do is switch around and add recipes that you are or aren’t making. It is really nice. I used to use this cookbook and that cookbook and this internet recipe and just finding the recipes was a challenge:) Not anymore. ( I just scan them if they are in a cookbook or save and print if online.)
- Then I call my friend, and go to Happy Hour; because I know it will be the last free moment until the crazy shopping and cooking frenzy begins…. 🙂
I would love to hear your tips for planning Thanksgiving dinner:)
Please note: I did not include the recipes… since this already is a really long post 🙂 but I will be posting some of the recipes later:) But my file has the recipes attached to this same document:)
Thanksgiving 2012 Margie’s House Menu
- Old Bay Turkey
- Civil War Corn pudding
- Bourbon Sweet potatoes
- Mashed potatoes
- Gravy
- Creamed spinach
- Buttertop dinner rolls
- Stuffing with apples/cranberries
- Cranberry bourbon sauce
- Macaroni &cheese
- 14 Carat Carrot cake
- Chocolate Chip Cookies
- Pumpkin pie
Shopping list
Meat
- 12-15 lb turkey
- Turkey legs for stock
Diary
- Heavy cream (2 liters)
- Cream cheese (2 packages)
- Sour cream
- Unsalted butter
- Half-n-half
- Eggs
- Milk
- Cheddar cheese
Frozen
- Corn (if fresh does not look good or is too expensive)
- Spinach (2 ½ lbs)
Fruits
- Cranberries (1 lb)
- Granny smith apples
Vegetables
- Corn
- Onions (at least 2 bags)
- Celery
- Carrots (one large bag)
- Turnips
- Parsnips
- Potatoes
- Sweet potatoes
Fresh Herbs
- Sage
- Chives
- thyme
Pantry
- rye flour
- all purpose flour
- Chocolate chips
- vanilla extract
- light brown sugar
- cane sugar
- sugar in the raw
- Elbow macaroni
- Bread Flour
- Yeast
Alcohol
- bourbon
Please note… my fellow is going to the grocery for me… so I revised the list to make it more fellow friendly (and I realized I needed a few more things & I had a few things .. While he is at the Grocery I am starting the baking & cooking. I am already ahead of the game, as I have already made my 14 Carat Carrot Cake & the 1940’s Chocolate Chip cookies… let the Thanksgiving Kitchen Officially Commence!:)
Shopping list
Meat
- 12-15 lb turkey
- Turkey legs for stock (2 legs)
Diary
- Heavy cream (2 quart)
- Cream cheese (2 packages)
- Sour cream
- Unsalted butter(1 lb)
- Half-n-half (1 quart)
- Eggs (4 dozen)
- Milk (1 gallon)
- EXTRA SHARP Cheddar cheese
Frozen
- Spinach (2 ½ lbs)
Fruits
- FRESH Cranberries (2 lb)
- Granny smith apples (4 or 5 lb bag)
- Navel oranges (2)
Vegetables
- Corn on the cob 6 cobs (unshucked if possible)
- Onions (at least 2 bags)
- Celery
- Carrots (one large bag)
- Turnips (2)
- Parsnips (2)
- Potatoes (5 lb bag Red Bliss or Yukon Gold)
- Sweet potatoes (4)
Fresh Herbs
- Sage
- Chives
- Parsley , flat or curly it doesn’t matter
- Thyme (VERY IMPORTANT)
Pantry
- Bread Flour
- Yeast (Red Star Yeast in a JAR- only get the yeast in a jar;)
- rye flour
- unbleached all purpose flour
- REAL vanilla extract
- light brown sugar (1 lb)
- Confectioner’s sugar (1 lb)
- sugar in the raw
- Elbow macaroni
- Evaporated milk (4 cans)
- Pumpkin puree (2 cans)
Alcohol
- bourbon (Jack Daniels is fine)
Order of Operations
- Old Bay Turkey
Make day of service. Put in oven first thing. Will take about 7 hours to cook.
- Civil War Corn pudding
Make day of service. Put in oven as soon as turkey is done.
- Bourbon Sweet potatoes
Make on Sunday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Mashed potatoes
Make day of service while corn pudding is cooking.
- Gravy
Make on Sunday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Buttertop Dinner Rolls
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Creamed spinach
Make on Sunday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Stuffing with apples/cranberries
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Macaroni & Cheese
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- Cranberry bourbon sauce
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service.
- 14 Carat Carrot cake
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service- Last minute
- 1940’s Chocolate chip cookies
Make on Saturday. Freeze and take out day of service
- Pumpkin pie
Make Crust Saturday, freeze and take out for pie on Thursday. Make pie on Thursday.
Great ideas! And Teflon is adorable!
Thank you very much, Fussy Foodie:) Teflon was the little furry that made people love dogs even if you hated them.. he was a special little furry:)
Thanks for the tips. I have been following a very similar routine for years, and it always seems to work – except when I am trying to cook in someone else’s kitchen. That’s when the Brussels sprouts wind up on the roof (no kidding!).
I totally get you there:) This Thanksgiving I am cooking for family and for my client… I think I will post that list too it is a little more involved since I have to have everything just right:) Hummm funny things happen in other peoples’s kitchens… that is too true:) Everytime I go to my fellow’s Stepmother’s house I set off the smoke alarm.. really I am not trying to burn down the house:)
wow sounds delicious and perfectly organized. my husband is american and you have possibly inspired me to cook a little american thanksgiving for him this weekend. who wouldn’t want a second thanksgiving! also, thanks for being my first follower!
No problem:) I don’t know anyone who would turn down a second Thanksgiving meal:) Congrats on the commencement of your blog followers!!
You are so organized, I am so impressed! That is a TON of food to make, but it sounds like you have everything completely under control. I see that 14 carat cake in there–what a lucky bunch whoever will be enjoying your spread is!
Also, I love steps 4 + 8…lol maybe it’s a good thing to keep the hubby on a diet of Cheerios until the big day so everything will taste extra amazing! And 8 sounds like the perfect way to keep your sanity 🙂
Thank you, Erika:) # 4 gets huffs and puffs and eye rolls… but #8 is fun:)
Lol! Well @#4…it’s always good to keep the lines of communications open! Hahaha
LOL:)
You are so organized. I haven’t even started thinking about the menu yet because it could get overwhelmed. Maybe I should just drop by your house for such a wonderful Thanksgiving feast. Am I invited? hahaha
Anytime, Irene:) Just bring a bottle of wine & hands ready to do the dishes:) LOL 🙂 oh… and a hungry appetite:)
My boyfriend and I are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year. Thanks for the great tips to keep us on-track and organized!
What a great experience, Leah:) My advice… start early and don’t worry it will be wonderful.. Thanksgiving is all about family..:) One time my brother put the turkey in the oven and went about his day… one little thing, the oven was not on! He called me in a frantic panic.. I told him not to worry- in times like this… smile and do the high heat roast:) -which by the way is awesome:) He did and it was one of the best Thanksgivings ever:) Look at it this way… if nothing else you will have a good story:)
I keep trying to get my menu coordinated with my friend who’s co-hosting. She keeps delaying, so I’m tempted to just do it by myself so I’ll stop stressing!
Not that I am a control freak…LOL but I find that volunteering to do a task such as the menu actually will make your life easier and her life easier:) too many cooks in the kitchen is not so good:) Usually, when people delay it means that they are perfectionist or just hate doing the task.. or really don’t have the time.. so in two out of three you would be doing her a favor by doing the menu:)
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I have nominated you for a Leiber Award! Please check out the link above!
Thanks for all the support you have been to me!
Thank you Tonette:) I am thrilled that you nominated me:) Thank you for your support:)
Love the happy hour part! Your dinner list is superb!!
Thank you, Petit 4 Chocolate:) hummm… your name just made me think of a chocolate martini …That sound like the perfect drink to kick off this 🙂
My planning consists of figuring out how I can get an invite to someone’s home. Can I come to your place?
LOL:) Are you willing to bring a bottle of wine and do dishes:) LOL 🙂 Actually, we figured out a great system that works well for us. On Thanksgiving morning, we go to the Shelter and paint faces and do glitter paints then we come home and go to William’s 85 year old Stepmother’s – she has the table set and the wine chilling:) All I have to do is bring the food:) This year we are going to the shelter then I am going to finish off Thanksgiving Dinner for my Client. Then the day after Thanksgiving we are going to take Thanksgiving dinner to William’s Stepmother & the family:) It works out really well since most items freeze for Thanksgiving. I love doing it this way, then I don’t have to do all the dishes and guest house cleaning.. just the fun stuff cooking and baking:)
Sounds wonderful!!! The best kind of Thanksgiving. We Canadians celebrate our Thanksgiving in October so it is nice to know that there is another one coming in November…
🙂 I live in Hollywood Beach FL so lots of Canadians here.. they call it “Little Canada” there is a fantastic little roadside place called Diary Belle that has the Best poutine this side of the border.. or so they say.. not the healthiest but really nice squeaky curds!!
Poutine is on my list of healthiest foods. 🙂
:)LOL
I see that I am not the only one hoping that you post your civil war corn pudding — l am intrigued by the name. This sounds like an incredible meal that you have well in hand with your plan of attack and shopping list. Now that is what I call being organized!
Thank you Profiteroles &Ponytails:) Civil War Corn Pudding is one of my favorites:) I promise I will try to have it posted for Thanksgiving.. it makes a lovely Easter side too:)
Wow! This is awesome! I wish you could plan my meals for me every week!
Thank you, Live half Full:) It seems like a lot of work in the beginning but once you get into the habit of it is really easy.. in fact, I feel really lost without my lists:) Another great thing… sometimes you can recycle the menus… and that is fantastic.. just pull it up on your computer and go to the grocery & cook:)
I’m really hoping one of the recipes you post will be the Civil War Corn Pudding. (It sounds amazing, and so original.) You must throw one heck of a Thanksgiving celebration!
Thank you, Noted Inn Ashville:) I plan on it:) I made this for the Civil War Luncheon that I did about five months ago and the fellows loved it! I will post it… hopefully, before this Thanksgiving… LOL:)
Wow! I’ve only been to Thanksgiving once in Houston, Tx. Really enjoyed it, especially as I wasn’t cooking. Hope all goes well.
Thank you:) this is for one of my Thanksgiving dinners (the one with the family the day after Thanksgiving since I will be at my client’s house on Thanksgiving Day and a few days before:) I bet you had a heck of a Thanksgiving in Houston.. Some of the sweetest most hospitable people live in Texas!