3 Days Before
Thanksgiving:
A few days before Thanksgiving, iron table
linens, designate serving platters, and make sure your glassware and silver
sparkles.
Make cranberry sauce and
refrigerate.
Prepare
other sauces, jellies, and dressings; store in the refrigerator.
2 Days Before Thanksgiving:
Clean your house. The most important areas
are the kitchen and bathrooms the guests will be using. Resist the temptation to redecorate or rearrange.

The
secret to juicy chicken breast is simple - brine them before grilling or
baking! This is the secret that chefs never tell you about. It's very easy
and economical, and requires no special cookware. Brining is like a marinade
as it keeps food moist and tender. Brining or salting is a way of increasing
the moisture holding capacity of meat resulting in a moister product when it
is cooked. If you choose to brine your turkey, check out
Guidelines for
Brining Poultry.
Remove frozen cheesecakes or frozen pie crust from freezer and let thaw
in the refrigerator.
If you are making a
gelatin dish, make it now and store in the refrigerator.
1 Day Before
Thanksgiving:
Finish
preparing any pies that you are making.
Shopping Day - Purchase perishable items such as salad greens, fresh bread, or
seafood.
Mis en Place: This is a French term for preparing all
the ingredients for a dish in advance, such as washing, trimming and
chopping vegetables; setting out your spices and herbs, etc. Clean and dry
salad greens, and store in a resealable plastic bag.

I also make the
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes at this time. See recipe here:
Make Ahead Mashed
Potatoes.

Set your table now - set the table as far in advance as you can.
Use
your best dishes that you save for special occasions. Having your family
together for Thanksgiving is a very special occasion. You will have plenty of
things to do on Thanksgiving Day without worrying about setting the table.
Thanksgiving Day:
9:30 a.m.
- Remove the turkey from the refrigerator, allowing it to sit for ninety
minutes to two hours at room temperature. Depending on the size of
your turkey, you’re going to need to start working on it five to seven hours
before dinner is served. Make sure that you take the giblets and neck out of
the inside of the turkey. Rinse the the turkey in cool water, pat dry,
season, and dress it according to your taste and traditions.

Check out
Linda's Favorite Turkey Stuffing.
Prepare
stuffing and stuff the turkey. Check out
Advice on Stuffing a Turkey Safely. It takes about 45 minutes to clean and
stuff a turkey.
NOTE: Never stuff the turkey
with stuffing and then refrigerate it overnight or hours in advance; this is
not safe and very dangerous; food poisoning will result.

Prepare the turkey according to your
recipe.
Roast the turkey; baste every 30 minutes with pan juices.
Check out my
Guidelines For Roasting a
Whole Turkey.
Check the
temperature using an instant read thermometer.
Always use a meat thermometer. Check out
Using a
Cooking or Meat Thermometer. Cooking time will vary by
different ovens and whether or not the turkey is stuffed. Remember to leave
time for the turkey to stand before carving.

Remove the turkey from oven and make the gravy according to recipe.
Check out
Making Perfect Turkey Gravy
and
Gravy Making Tips.
Check out these great web
sites on carving a turkey:
How To Carve
Your Turkey by Norbest
Carving A Turkey Video by Kraft Foods
Complete the vegetable dishes. Reheat before the meal.
Make the mashed potatoes or reheat Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes in the oven or
microwave.
Warm breads or rolls.
Garnish desserts.

Before Dinner
Serve a small appetizer (I like to serve fresh cut-up
vegetables with a dip. Also maybe some cold cuts). You do not want your guests to fill up on the
appetizer, just whet their appetite.

For something delicious, different, and fitting for Thanksgiving dinner, try
Cranberry Salsa with Cream Cheese
Check out
Advice on Handling Leftovers
Safely.
Day
After Thanksgiving:
My favorite
thing to do the morning after Thanksgiving is to make homemade turkey stock
from the turkey carcass. It is so easy to do and so delicious! The turkey
stock can be used for a delicious turkey soup or frozen for future use. I love a
good homemade turkey soup and after the heavy Thanksgiving meal, it is just
what my family needs.
Be sure and refrigerate your turkey carcass until your
are ready to make the stock. Check out
Let's Make Turkey Stock.
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