Comments on: Organized menus for Thanksgiving dinner

By: A year ago on Unclutterer | Unclutterer

A year ago on Unclutterer | Unclutterer — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 17:53:32 +0000

[...] Organized menus for Thanksgiving dinner Thanksgiving dinner preparation doesn’t have to be stressful. These guides can help you to keep the anxiety at bay. [...]

By: Maggie

Maggie — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 14:48:06 +0000

Gourmet does that “Game Plan” every year. Very useful.

By: gypsypacker

gypsypacker — Sat, 08 Nov 2008 12:31:17 +0000

Simplest thing is to make a list on paper or whiteboard on 11-1, with all dishes, and a second list for the ingredients. Note newspaper sale prices as sales come up, then mark them off the ingredients list as you purchase them. Day before Thanksgiving, do all your prep work and start noting and marking off. You will be amazed at what can be done in advance. By Thanksgiving morning, half the list will be gone. The remainder will keep you on task. If all goes well, you should be up at 6:30 to 7 and done by 11-11:30.
Cooking sites online are the handiest for getting good/frugal/simple recipes.

By: JuneBug

JuneBug — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 15:39:57 +0000

We usually have a potluck. The host is responsible for the bird, dressing, and potatoes. Everyone else brings the sides and desserts. I have the biggest house so I am usually hosting. It has worked out well for years. Of course it’s helpful that the longest drive is only .75-1.25 hours weather depending. It also gives me time to prepare everything for the children to make paper turkeys while waiting for supper.

I have to have surgery before the end of the year but am committed to playing the organ for twice a week choir practices until our 21 December performance. I schedled the surgery for 22 Dec. and will be taking it easy for the rest of the holiday season! My children are old enough and practiced at making several simple yet tasty dishes so we won’t be a burden on others either.

By: the minimalist

the minimalist — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 14:34:03 +0000

Are you kidding Barb, we just uncluttered the White House!

Now as for Thanksgiving, I find the best thing to do is to start collecting what you need now a few items a time as you do your regular shopping. Nothing worse than having to shop with the rest of the citizens. I am a vegetarian, so I order a pre cooked turkey from the deli. They are perfect and then I go nuts with the sides. I like to try something new to keep it fresh. This year I’m making a cranberry relish I found on Rachel Ray’s site.

By: Sue

Sue — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 11:45:32 +0000

MIL is having the main dishes catered this year, and we have a 3 hour drive to get there. Everyone seems to have their “requests”, so I make a 7 layer salad–travels well in a big cooler, and give me a healthier choice than BIL’s sweet potato casserole (heart attack in a dish!)

(As per the politics–it was refreshing for me to have someplace to come where the election was NOT the first and only topic.)

By: Amanda @ www.kiddio.org

Amanda @ www.kiddio.org — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:16:13 +0000

I love the menus that Cook’s Illustrated provides. (www.cooksillustrated.com). I especially appreciate that they refine the recipes by testing them various ways over and over so you can be confident that it’s the best recipe!

Amanda @ http://www.kiddio.org

By: ann

ann — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 03:14:10 +0000

you know, i should probably include a post-clean-up tip sheet as well in my planning stuff.

By: Carrie

Carrie — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:18:32 +0000

I’m doing the dessert and potatoes for our dinner with the problem that we gotta drive 2 hours to dinner so my main prob will be cooking the desserts ahead of time and storage in a car going to “grammas” house. Also how far ahead can you make those taters?

By: Linda

Linda — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 02:03:28 +0000

I am only responsible for a couple of side dishes, but they better be edible. Apparently Birds Eye has decided that they CAN do it better and at their price I agree. My local grocer has BE creamed onions at $0.67 per box and I can’t beat that. Four boxes today and 4 boxes tomorrow and I will be set for that dish.

By: ~JmB~

~JmB~ — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:23:54 +0000

I haven’t followed the links offered yet so may find some ideas there …

I’m interested in ideas for preparing ahead, items to take when traveling for Thanksgiving.

We have an 8-9 hour drive to “Grandma’s house” so it helps if I don’t have to work in the kitchen more than necessary after we arrive. Besides, “Grandma” has a small kitchen and she will be working in there to cook the bird and other things.

~JmB~

By: Cynthia

Cynthia — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 18:07:42 +0000

As seeing that I’m almost always running late. Last year for our Christmas dinner I put together a list of what needed to be done starting from the week before. I included cleaning tasks, shopping, prep time, and when I needed the actually cooking everything.

I also had a budget so that I knew exactly what I needed to get from the different stores. I had lots to do, so I didn’t want to be spending time shopping for things I didn’t need.

A few months ago I put together a simple Access file for my grocery list, so that will definitely come in handy for this years Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinner. But I think I’ll take a look at all the suggestions here so that I can make my life easier during the busy holiday time. Thanks for all the suggestions!

By: Crystal

Crystal — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:57:38 +0000

Martha Stewart also has a Thanksgiving Planner. I don’t know if it’s as detailed as some of the others, but it gives you a starting point. I don’t know how people put together a large holiday gathering without some kind of list or planner – there’s so much to remember I always forget some detail if I don’t write it down!

By: Mari

Mari — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:46:11 +0000

Barbara, I totally get your first comment!

By: Re

Re — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 17:09:01 +0000

I know some people have used the Thanksgiving menu in Leanne Ely’s Saving Dinner for the Holidays with great success.
Like Ann, I keep a binder w/ my menu and recipes and a schedule. A few years ago I took over handling Thanksgiving from my Mom and it has been a learning experience.