Planning a Thanksgiving Dinner

Thanksgiving To-Do-List Timeline

Tuesday

• Pick up turkey
• Grocery shopping
• Make spice butter
• Clean plastic tub for brining turkey

Wednesday

• Prep vegetables for stuffing and refrigerate
• Prep green beans
• Prep salad ingredients and make salad dressing
• Prep appetizer ingredients; make any appetizers that can be made 1 day ahead
• Prepare brine, let cool
• Bake cake
• Ice cake
• Put out table linens/placemats/silverware/dishware
• Cube bread and leave out to dry overnight
• Rinse and pat dry turkey, then place in tub with brine to soak overnight
• Clean bathroom
• Vacuum/sweep floors
• Place any wines and beverages that need to be chilled in refrigerator

Thursday

• Put spice butter out to soften
• Pre-heat oven
• Remove turkey from brine; pat dry; rub with softened spice butter and place in roasting pan
• Place turkey in oven 4 1/2 hours before your guests arrive

While turkey is in oven:

• Make stuffing (you can bake it in oven while turkey is roasting)
• Make mashed potatoes
• Set table
• Make appetizers if you did not make the day before; refrigerate/set aside until ready to serve
• Assemble salad

While turkey is resting:

• Make gravy Prepare green beans
• Re-heat stuffing if needed
• Re-heat mashed potatoes
• Toss salad with dressing
• Put dinner rolls and butter out
• Put beverages out
• Carve turkey
• Serve your feast!

back