The Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan is a detailed timeline to help you prepare for the grand feasting day.  Our tables should be filled with our favorite people and dishes and maybe some new ones.  It also can cause anxiety.  With this Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan you will keep your sanity.  There are many decisions, tasks and cooking that can be made ahead of time. It is broken down into phases with tasks in a timeline.  So, allow yourself at least 1 week, more if possible. 

Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan Phase One

The Planning Stage

1. Make a guest list.
2. Decide on you main dish. Fresh turkeys have to be ordered ahead of time.  A 12 to 16 pound turkey is ideal.  You will need 1 pound per guest.  If you want leftovers plan on 1 1/2 pounds per person.  A 12 pound turkey will feed 8 with leftovers.
3. Do you have everything you need to cook you main dish?
4. Plan your menu. Take into account the size of your oven, stove top, microwave, toaster oven, slow cookers, thermoses and any other heating appliances you have.
5. Start your next 2 lists.  The first list will be non-perishable items and equipment. The second will be perishable.  Lists are essential to the Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan!

The Equipment

1. Check your table linens. Do they need washing or ironing? Do you have to purchase them?  Measure the size of the table and be sure to have enough napkins.  Add them to your list.
2. Are you using candles or floral arrangements to decorate your table.  Order any floral. heck your candle supply and candle sticks. Add what ever you need to the list.
3. Will you serve buffet style or family style?  Formal or casual?  Sit down dinner or sit anywhere?  It is a family holiday and my choice would be to sit down together at the table.
4. Plan meals that reduce the amount of food in your refrigerator and freezer.
5. Take out the serving platters, dishes and utensils you plan on using for your side dishes.  Put the corresponding utensil with the corresponding serving piece.  Label its contents on a sticky note and place on the piece.  Add any missing items to your list.
6. Check your kitchen equipment. For instance, pie and baking dishes, and anything else you might need.

Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan Phase Two – Starting to Prep

1. If you wish to delegate dishes to your guests, do not delegate anything that has to be cooked or reheated.
2. Gather your recipes, both food and drink.  Make photo copies or print so they are all in one place so you don’t overlook an ingredient.  Look through your freezer, fridge, pantry and spices to see what you have on hand and check for freshness. Place a check next to the ingredients you have on hand and decide which can be made ahead or frozen.  For example, pie crusts, turkey stock and gravy and pureed squashes freeze beautifully.  Be sure to check your supply of freezer bags and left over containers. As a result of your fabulous feast, your guest may want to share your leftovers.
3. Make 2 lists so that you have one for ingredients that you are going to buy now. Another one for those you will buy the week of Thanksgiving.

The Prep

1. Shop your first list and be sure to include the liquor store.
2. Make your pie crusts and freeze in round disks.  Additionally, make extra for turkey pot pies.
3. Start your turkey stock from backs, wings, legs, whatever is available to you.  Pour into a resealable freezer bag and freeze.
4. Roast squash.  You can serve it either as a soup or a puree.  Pour into a freezer bag and freeze.
5. Prep any other dishes that freeze nicely.

The Week Before

1. Frozen turkeys defrost at about 4 pounds a day in your fridge. A 16 pound turkey will take 4 days.  You will want it defrosted by Tuesday so that you have time to brine, dry rub,etc.  Other large pieces of meat should follow the same time line
2. Check your glasses, dishes and cutlery you plan on using.  Do they need to go through the dishwasher?
3. Clean your house.  You will be busy the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Therefore, the more you have done, the less insane you will be.

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This is the final phase of the Thanksgiving Day Sanity Game Plan.  If you haven’t had the time to do anything, you can use the weekend to catch up.  If you are still pressed for time, you can still pull off a fabulous Thanksgiving dinner. Just click here. Staying Sane

The Weekend Before Thanksgiving

1. Shop for the list of perishable items.
2. Cranberry sauce can stay fresh in the refrigerator for a week or more. 
3. Cube any bread you are using for the stuffing. Put it on a baking tray on the counter to stale.
4. Prep and cook any vegetables you are using in your stuffing and refrigerate.
5. Prep and cook any vegetables that are components of one of your recipes and store separately in your fridge.
6. If you didn’t order your table flowers, pick them up.

Monday, Tuesday

1. Start defrosting your prepared dishes.
2. Prepare any casseroles that can be reheated.
3. Make your stuffing.
4. If you have the room, set up your drink station with everything your guests will need.  A drink station allows guests to serve them selves. 
5. To make room in your refrigerator, take a clean cooler, and add some ice. Store your drinks like soda, bottled water, mixers, wines and beer in it.  Check it daily for ice.  Since you stored some items in your freeze, you can also add them to the cooler. Check that there are no tears in the bags, especially the corners.

Wednesday

1. Thanksgiving is tomorrow. All the work you do today will allow you the time to enjoy the day with your family and friends.
2. Your turkey should be defrosted so it is time to prep the bird. If you are going to stuff it wait until tomorrow. 
3. It’s time to bake the pies and any other dessert item you plan on serving.
4. Clean up the kitchen.
5. Set a beautiful table.
6. Order take-out

Thanksgiving Day Sanity Game Plan

1. Clean up after breakfast.
2. Finish prepping your turkey if necessary, and bring to room temperature.  The bird will cook more evenly if it is not taken from fridge to oven. Take the turkey out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before roasting. You can now stuff the turkey if that is your tradition or put it in a baking dish.  Time when to put your turkey in the oven to be ready for dinner.  For a 12 pound unstuffed bird it will take 3 hours at 375°. A 15 pound one will take 3 1/2 hours.  Stuffed, a 12 pound turkey will take 4 hours at 325°. A 15 pound bird will take 4 3/4 hours.  Don’t forget to include at least a 30 minute rest period.  Dinner should begin about 30-45 minutes after your guests arrive.
3. Cook your potatoes and mash or rice them.  The finished mashed potatoes can be kept warm in a slow cooker.  Put a piece of foil over the top of the cooker and set the lid down on it.  It will prevent evaporation so your potatoes stay creamy.
4. Prepare any last minute dishes or appetizers.

3 Hours to Guests Arrival

1. At least 3 hours before dinner, run your dishwasher if it is not empty.
2. 2 hours before dinner take refrigerated preparations out of the fridge, in order for them to come to room temperature.
3. Get your prepared gravy or turkey stock in a pan on the stove so it is ready to be reheated.
4. Check the turkey’s temperature and see how it is doing. It needs to be around 155°.  The turkey’s temperature will rise as it rests the breast needs to be at 165° and the thighs at 170°.  Subsequently, allowing the bird to fully cook in the oven leads to a dry turkey.
5. One hour before your guests arrive, plate your appetizers, especially any cheeses.  Cheeses should be served at room temperature.
6. Open wines and fill your drink station.
7. Check the temperature of the turkey.
8. As soon as the turkey comes out of the oven, adjust the heat of your oven to the required temperature to heat/cook your sides.  Add any turkey pan juices to your stock. Finish making your gravy.  You can leave it on the back burner on the lowest setting

The Moment Your Guests Arrive

1. Everything is under control so take the time to greet your guests. Take their things and offer them a drink. Let them know they are free to refill their glasses.  Spend a moment with them chatting.
2. 20 minutes before serving check on the gravy.
3. 10 minutes before dinner, take your sides out of the oven and re-plate if that’s your plan.
4. Get the mashed potatoes out of the slow cooker and put into its designated container.
5. Carve the turkey.
6. Just before you sit down to dinner, place your cooked pies in the warm oven. They will be the perfect temperature for serving.
7. Dinner is served.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving Sanity!

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Are you short on time or experience?  Thanksgiving is a family and friends holiday centered around food and family.  The dinner is the epicenter of Thanksgiving and with the Thanksgiving Shortcuts Plan it will be great!  Outsourcing what ever you can is the key to Thanksgiving Shortcuts Plan.  There are some great products available so don’t think that you have to produce the entire meal by yourself.

The Saturday Before Thanksgiving Shortcuts Plan

1. Get a count of how many people will be at dinner.
2. Make a menu of what you would like to have to serve your guests. 
3. Out of the items on your menu, choose the ones you want to make from scratch. What do you want to buy prepared. 
4. Some markets will sell you a prepared turkey dinner or just a turkey if you order it early enough. Some require only 2 days advance order and others up to a week or more.  They also offer ready made sides.
5. Order pies, desserts and rolls from your favorite bakery or pick up something at the market.
6. Delegate dishes but avoid assigning anything that has to be cooked or reheated. 
7. Print or photocopy any recipes you wish to make. Go through your fridge, freezer, pantry and spices to see what you have. so you can check off the items on the recipes that you have.
8. Plan to prepare meals from items in your fridge and freezer in the next few days.
9. Make a list of any ingredients you need for both food, drink and of what you are going to buy prepared.
10. Check your table linens.  Do they need to be pressed?  Is paper acceptable?
11. If you are planning on decorating your table check your candles, etc.  Order floral arrangements or pick up something at the market.
12. Take out all of your serving platters, dishes and utensils that you need to serve your feast.  Put a sticky note with the dish that goes in and the corresponding utensil on the server.
13. Do you have all the tools you need in order to prepare your dinner for the table?
14. Go shopping.
15. If you purchased a frozen turkey start defrosting it now in the fridge.  Better still buy a fresh one if you can.  If you need room in your fridge, use a clean cooler with ice. Store bottled water, wine, beer, soda and other low risk items.  Check the cooler for ice daily.

The Sunday Before Thanksgiving Shortcuts Plan

1. Clean only the rooms in your house where your guests will be in order to save time.
2. Time to start prepping some food.  For example, if you decided to make your own stuffing, cube the bread, place it on a baking sheet on the counter, so that it will get stale.  Precook any vegetables that go in the stuffing and refrigerate.  If pie is your thing, make the crusts and an extra for turkey pot pie.  Squash dishes will hold in the refrigerate until Thanksgiving as long as they are properly contained.  Prepare as much as possible today.
3. If you have the room, set up your drink station with everything needed.  A drink station allows guests to serve them selves.

Monday & Tuesday

1. Review you list so that you can be sure you didn’t miss or forget anything.
2. Make stuffing.
3. Check your dinnerware and cutlery.  Do they need attention?
4. Set your beautiful table.

Wednesday

1. Make casseroles that can be reheated.
2. Prep your turkey if you are cooking one.  Do not put stuffing in it until just before you are ready to cook the bird.
3. Make any pies or desserts.

Thanksgiving Day Shortcuts Plan

1. Make your mashed potatoes and then store you finished mashed potatoes in a slow cooker.  If you don’t have a slow cooker use a disposable baking pan covered in foil. Then you can warm them in your oven or toaster oven.
2. Run the dishwasher at least 3 hours in advance of guests arriving if necessary. 
3. Finish making any last minute side dishes.
4. When done with prepping, clean up the kitchen and empty the kitchen sink.
5. Finish prepping your turkey if necessary, and bring to room temperature.  The bird will cook more evenly if it is not taken from fridge to oven. Take the turkey out of the refrigerator 1-2 hours before roasting. You can now stuff the turkey.  Time when to put your turkey in the oven to be ready for dinner.  For a 12 pound unstuffed bird it will take 3 hours at 375°. A 15 pound one will take 3 1/2 hours.  Stuffed a 12 pound turkey will take 4 hours at 325°. A 15 pound bird will take 4 3/4 hours .  Don’t forget to include at least a 30 minute rest period.  Dinner should begin about 30-45 minutes after your guests arrive.
6. 2 hours before dinner take refrigerated preparations out of the fridge, in order to come to room temperature.
7. Get your prepared gravy or turkey stock in a pan on the stove so it is ready to be reheated.
8. Check the turkey’s temperature and see how it is doing. It needs to be around 155°.  The turkey’s temperature will rise as it rests the breast needs to be at 165° and the thighs at 170°.  Subsequently, allowing the bird to fully cook in the oven leads to a dry turkey.
9. One hour before your guests arrive, plate your appetizers, especially any cheeses.
10. Open wines and fill your drink station.
11. Check the temperature of the turkey.
12. As soon as the turkey comes out of the oven, tent with foil. Adjust the heat of your oven to the required temperature to heat/cook your sides.  Add any turkey pan juices to your gravy.  You can leave it on the back burner on the lowest setting.

The Moment Your Guests Arrive

1. Everything is under control so take the time to greet your guests. Bring them to the drink station and offer them a drink. Let them know they are free to refill their glasses. 
2. 20 minutes before serving check on the gravy.
3. 10 minutes before dinner, take your sides out of the oven and re-plate if that’s your plan.
4. Get the mashed potatoes out of the slow cooker and put into its designated container.
5. Carve the turkey.
6. Just before you sit down to dinner, place your cooked pies in the warm oven. They will be the perfect temperature for serving.
7. Dinner is served.  Enjoy your Thanksgiving!

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Thanksgiving represents the Four F’s

Family – Those we love, tolerate, rely on and build traditions with

Friends – Those we choose to have in our lives

Feast – A table spread with the guests favorite traditional foods and desserts

Football – There still is that

It is a shame that the friends and family feast will see less friends and family guests around the holiday table, less to couch cheer and coach and less opinions but we have to look for what we can be thankful for and still have.  We can’t have Thanksgiving and the Four F’s but we can still have 3 out of the 4 F’s…household family, a fabulous smaller feast and household members can retreat to the TV to watch their chosen team or movie.

It is my humble opinion that while the guest population is reduced, nothing else should be.  If it is your tradition to set the table with your finest linens and china then do so.  If your custom is to use paper plates and paper napkins then that is what you should do.  Serve your traditional menu but maybe a turkey breast instead of a whole turkey.  The point is to make your celebration of Thanksgiving feel like Thanksgiving and not just another meal.

If circumstances in your family have changed then maybe beginning some new Thanksgiving traditions is in your future.  If you are dealing with a loss then changing traditions is the way to ease the pain of the loss.  Keeping things the same after a loss will accentuate the absence.  That loss is not gone from your memory and you are not dishonoring by changing it up.

Leave a comment on how you are going to be celebrating this year, I would love to know.

Stay Safe so we can get the numbers down and celebrate the next upcoming holiday season.

Happy Eating

Linda

PS – If you help with a game plan see an earlier blog for a Thanksgiving Sanity Game Plan

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