Thanksgiving Planner: The Four Week Plan

By: Vanessa Greaves

There's no way Thanksgiving is going to take you by surprise this year because you're planning way ahead for Turkey Day success.

Big Dinner Do-Aheads

If you're feeding a crowd this year, your plan might include:

Draw up a guest list and send invitations early.
Sharing food is what Thanksgiving is all about, so let your guests contribute to the feast. It's easiest if the host (you) handles the main dish or anything else that doesn't travel well (i.e. turkey and mashed potatoes).
Assess tables and chairs, table linens, dinnerware, glassware, serving pieces, pots and pans, etc. Is your dinner a sit down affair or a buffet? Do you need to rent or borrow anything? Call in your order 6 to 8 weeks ahead.
Are kids on the guest list? Find age-appropriate ways of getting them involved or keeping them entertained.

Thanksgiving Family Fun

Festive Touches

Sometimes it's all you can do just to get the feast on the table, but here are a few extra details in case you find the time:

Make place cards and a centerpiece. Get the kids involved!
Make a Thanksgiving dinner music playlist.
Polish the silver and press the linens.
Purchase and arrange fresh flowers.
Pick up candles and firewood.

Make Ahead and Freeze

Do this two to four weeks ahead.

Make rolls, pie crusts, casseroles, and soups, and freeze 'em up.
Using fresh pumpkin as an ingredient? Cook and freeze now.
Making fresh cranberry sauce? Purchase and freeze berries before the stores run out.
Bake and freeze cornbread for stuffing.

Now aren't you glad you cleaned out your freezer?

With four weeks to go until the biggest feast of the year, you have plenty of time to accomplish everything on your to-do list. Here's a look at what that list might include. (Not everything will relate to your own plan, so add and subtract to suit your needs.)

Four Weeks Ahead

Plan the menu.
Order your turkey, roast, duck, ham, etc. If you're doing more than just the main dish, pay attention to the next step:
Create a timeline for make-aheads, freezing, thawing, reheating, and Thanksgiving Day cooking.
Clean out your freezer.

Thanksgiving Advice:

Two Weeks To Go

Confirm your guest list.
Finalize your shopping list. Break it down into what can be purchased ahead, such as canned goods, and what perishables should be picked up closer to the day. Make your first shopping run.
Do a test run on new recipes.

Thanksgiving Recipe Collection

One Week To Go

Clean out the fridge.
If you're roasting a frozen turkey, pick it up and start thawing. Note that thawing in the fridge will take one day for every 5 pounds of meat. A 15-pound turkey will require three days to thaw thoroughly.
Review the menu; are you on target with make-ahead dishes?
You're so well prepared, you might have time to whip up some appetizers to store in the freezer.

Two Days Before

Pick up that fresh turkey you ordered.
Purchase fresh produce.
Make pie crusts and refrigerate (if you haven't gone the frozen route).
Set the table or decorate the buffet.
Set up the bar.
Lay out serving pieces and utensils.

One Day Before

Wash and prep produce.
Remove giblets and neck from turkey cavity and make turkey stock for gravy. (Don't use the liver in the stock. If you want it for the gravy, cook it separately, mince it, and add to gravy at the last minute.)
If you're brining your turkey, give it no more than a 24-hour soak.
Assemble stuffing but do not put it in the turkey until just before roasting. Better yet, put it in a separate pan, moisten with your homemade turkey stock, refrigerate, and bake it on Thanksgiving Day.
Bake pies and make cranberry sauce.
Arrange frozen dinner rolls on a sheet pan and thaw overnight in the fridge. (Otherwise, thaw at room temperature on Thanksgiving morning.)
Make sure your camera is charged and ready.

Thanksgiving Day

This is when all your advance work pays off and you look like a genius. Yes, there might be dishes to be prepared on the day, but you won't be in a panic. Do remember to map out oven and stove time for items brought by guests. Here's what you might have to plan for:

Stuff and roast turkey (or bake dressing).
Mash potatoes.
Make gravy.
Toss salad.
Warm or bake bread and rolls.
Reheat frozen dishes.
Arrange appetizer platters.
Whip cream for desserts.
Chill or open wine.
Heat cider, make coffee.

Congratulations! Now give yourself a solid hour or more to relax and get yourself ready to greet your guests. And just in case things go sideways:

Thanksgiving Disaster-Savers

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