I don’t know if you know this about me, but I am a bit of an organization nerd.
I feel like if you can stay organized, then when there’s a hiccup in the road, it’s much, much easier to deal with because you’ve got everything else all figured out.
Am I right or am I right? Seriously. Always be prepared. That’s my motto.
So here’s my Thanksgiving game plan. Or rather my to-do list for the next few days.
#2 Print out a list of the food I will be serving on Thanksgiving and stick it on the fridge. {My mother in law is in charge of appetizers and beverages} so I can check it off as I make the items.
- Jenni-O Turkey Breast {will be cooked in the Crock Pot}
- Gravy
- Cranberry sauce
- Mashed potatoes
- Amberlina’s sweet potato casserole
- Green beans
- Brown bread and butter
- Trader Joe’s pumpkin cheesecake
- Thomas Keller’s apple pie
#3 Find Hamish and Ruth {they’re in the barn somewhere}
#4 Pre Dinner Prep
- Make sure I have enough placemats and cloth napkins
- Hunt down glassware
- Find to-go containers {I think they’re in the barn}
- Find the conversation game I picked up a few weeks ago
- Set out the after meal activity {ie: Christmas decorations!!}
- Music – What kind of music do people play at Thanksgiving?
- Set table
- Remove to-do list from the fridge
- Relax
So that’s my Thanksgiving game plan. Have you figured out yours? Will you be trying any new recipes this week? Do tell. I’m always up for a new recipe.
Keep Calm and Carry On,
~Mavis
Mrs. C. says
Turkey
Gravy
Cranberry sauce
Biscuits
Enormous salad with homemade croutons and other goodies
Ina Garten’s mashed sweet potatoes
Mashed potatoes
Emeril’s artichoke bread pudding
Ina’s spinach gratin
Roasted Brussels sprouts with balsamic vinegar and blue cheese (Thanks, Mavis! This recipe is a hit!)
Friend is bringing dessert
Mavis Butterfield says
I’m going to look up Emeril’s artichoke bread pudding. Thanks for the idea.
Mrs. C. says
Here is the recipe: https://www.emerils.com/126618/savory-spinach-and-artichoke-bread-pudding
Mrs C. says
I also don’t use canned or frozen artichoke hearts, I use the Kirkland marinated artichokes, but have used other brands in a pinch.
Erin says
Our Thanksgiving is extra easy this year because life has been a little wild lately. Homemade gluten free cranberry & orange scones for the morning, Costco pie, TJ’s gluten free pumpkin muffins mix for the weekend, homemade zuppa toscana soup, store-bought rolls. For thanksgiving I like to play Christmas jazz music. It’s nice to have in the background but isn’t so in-your-face about Christmas. Feels like a nice way to transition. Looking forward to see your decorations! We close on our house next week & I can’t wait to decorate next year (we are gutting the kitchen & having the wood floors repaired right away, so no decorations this year).
Mavis Butterfield says
New houses are always so exciting!!!
Wendy C says
We did Thanksgiving at my mom’s house on Saturday and one of the things I brought was mashed potatoes. I made instant mashed potatoes as directed and then layered them in a hot crockpot like this: Layer of potatoes, small pats of butter and 1 tablespoon heavy cream, then repeat. The crockpot & potatoes stayed hot until I got to my mom’s 1 hour away. Then I plugged it in on Warm once I got there. Right before everyone ate (we do buffet style) I stirred the potatoes well. They turned out great!
ERIN L LOWMASTER says
I have the Jenni-O Turkey Breast too. Not sure how to cook it. What do you do with it in the crockpot?
Mavis Butterfield says
I just toss it in with maybe 1/2 cup of water and turn it on low. Super simple.
Patti Vanderbloemen says
Wow…I followed the link to the apple pie recipe and my mouth was watering with each step! And, that is a lot of steps to that pie!!! Perfect for a celebration dinner!
It’s been a rough year at our house, so taking it easy with just the two of us and no other family…cheeseburgers on the grill! Bliss!
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
Mavis Butterfield says
Cheeseburgers are always a good idea!
Hawaii Planner says
We’re swapping mashed for scalloped potatoes this year. It’s lazy, but Costco makes them & they are delicious. We also have steak instead of turkey, because no one is really a turkey fan. We have steak, potatoes, green beans (with toasted almonds & parmesan), stuffing & sometimes we roast an acorn squash & slice it. The “rings” of the squash make for a gorgeous holder for a baby kale & pomegranate salad, with diced squash inside. It’s fantastic & very aesthetically pleasing as well.
We start with happy hour: sparkling cider for the teens & pomegranate martinis for the adults. (We have a pomegranate tree & ’tis the season). We serve those with goat cheese crostini topped with thinly sliced cucumbers or pomegranate seeds.
We’re not pie eaters, although DH will have a slice, so he will likely eat pie & the rest of us might have a cookie, ice cream or nothing. I stocked up on treats, as DS18 will be home for his first visit from college, which I’m way more excited about than Thanksgiving itself.
Julie says
While prepping, Pandora station Pink Martini. While eating, Pandora station Miles Davis (Kind of Blue). After cleanup – the sounds of nature while we take a long walk!
Laura Z says
Kind of Blue is the best soundtrack for everything. That and A Love Supreme. 🙂
Nancy Nussbaum says
Thanksgiving music…..our tradition is Arlo Gurthrie’s Alice’s Restaurant!!
NANCY says
Yes! Arlo every year!
Barbara Dougherty says
Pick up ham….check
Lol
Happy Thanksgiving everyone!
samantha surovec says
I have found a plethora of Thanksgiving playlists on YouTube that are made of vintage songs you don’t really hear anywhere else. Bing Crosby type stuff from the 30’s, 40’s, etc. Feels very Norman Rockwell.
We’re having mostly traditional fare; turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, corn pudding, sweet potato casserole, garlic green beans, salad with pumpkin seeds and roasted squash, pickled eggs and beets,deviled eggs, crescent rolls. Pies are Sam’s club pumkin( hope its good!), cranberry walnut tart, and maple bourbon pecan.
Where I would like to be more adventurous, most of my family are “traditionalists”
Nancy D says
Do you still have your wonderful pilgrim dress and bonnet? That was always so awesome! SO much fun!
Laura Z says
Trader Joe’s veggie roast, dressing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cranberries, green beans, a kale salad with cranberries and orange vinaigrette, rolls, and sweet potato pie.
I’ve got my cranberries made and sweet potatoes roasted and will make the pie today, then I’ll make potatoes and prep all the veggies for the other recipes so that tomorrow all I’ll have to do is finish the dressing, reheat a few things, and warm up the bread! We are having a very quiet stay at home sort of holiday.
Happy Thanksgiving Mavis! I’m thankful for your blog!
Laura Z
HollyG says
We’re off to the OldestBoy’s house for supper so no cooking for the first time in about 25 years. I am taking a roast pumpkin pie (with cream cheese melted into the hot baked pumpkin – yum), a maple sugar pecan/hazelnut pie, and some deviled eggs (the LovelyDIL’s favorites).
Brianna says
Not traditional here. We are having oven roasted corned beef, cabbage, carrots, and baby gold potatoes. Homemade traditional Irish soda bread on the side. I might make cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie with bourbon spiked whipped cream for dessert. It is just the five of us and no guests.