What is the best time-line to cook Thanksgiving dinner? I want to be done with everything by 2'..?

Question

THe menu consist of Turkey(of course), dressing, greens, cornbread (yams with marshmellows),Ham, macaroni and cheese casserole, Homemade German Chocolate cake, sweet potatoe pie, pumkin pie and lemon cream pie. Should I start cooking the sweets the day before? The plan is to be done cooking by 2. 10 points to whoever gives the best schedule.(I have a son too so it'd be nice to fit time in for a snack for him.)Im off the whole week of thanksgiving so I can start as early as Monday.

Id even appreciate websites with suggested timelines. i couldn't find any myself. THANKS A BUNCH!!!!!!!

When I say Timeline I mean should I cook the macroni and the turkey at the same time or should sweets be done last all together. Should I just make the pies a day b4 and set them aside? Every year I say Ill be done by three o clock and Im not done till 7. I would love an efficent time lime/schedule!

Answer 1

i think of course u cook everything as much ahead so u spend time with family more than kitchen

Well the item u have to serve hot are....
ham, cornbread(is it stuffing? i am just gonna assume not), greens, mac, turkey right? so

Days before..buy all the ingredients! or take them all out and put them in one place so it easy grab.

Mon
*Marinate Ham with w/e ingredient u usually do. Set aside in the fridge. Make space! (20 - 30 min or 5min)
*Prep the Greens - if they string beans, cut the edge off wash and store away. collards - cut trims store. even do it for the herbs u going to use for any/all ur dishes. (10 - 15 min)
*Start defrosting ur turkey now, if it already at that temp, do a rub now if u got one, but if neither one of those just get it out of the freezer and store it at the refridgeated side.
*If it ur own pie crust, start making the dough, Set in fridge.If not Skip it (20 - 30 min) or (instant)
*Prepare the pie filling now - if u using real pumpkin, add to the oven if not add w/e spices u use in it and put the filling into a container and place in the fridge|||| Prepare the lemon filling but don't make the whip cream taht goes on top (it will fall by thrusday) after taht add to a container add the to fridge ||| now the sweet potato pie is optional for this day but u can try (cook, peel, puree and store) (1hr - 2 hr)

Tues
*blind bake crust. All 3 of them. if not Skip this. Add the filling to it and bake the pie that need to be bake. (use a plate and place it on top of each crust and put the next crust on top to avoid breaking anything and save space, kinda like stacking them) (around 30 - 45 min)
*Start making the mac and cheese. place it in the casserole. And put in the fridge. (30 - 40 min)
*Make your german cake, (batter, butter pan, frost and all taht) set aside ( 2hr if i am not correct?)

Wed
*Cook your Ham. and set it aside. (Reheat it on Thrus) (1 1/2hrs? or 40 min)
*While Ham cooking, make your dressing (salad right? creamy type-air tight container, vingeratte - store and whisk again before serve (that will take only what 5 - 10 min with cleaning time?)
*While Ham cooking, make the corn bread batter and set aside. (15 - 20 min)
*Prep ur turkey base and do all that stuff u want to do before baking it. Cover and refrigdate. (5 - 30 min)
*Take out the Ham, cover it with aluminion and let it rest. then Add the pies that need to be bake in there. (30 min)
*Par cook ur greens or cook them and just reheat them on thrusday (4 - 7 min if it strng beans)
***(i don't know if corn bread get soggy the next day but if they do don't bake them today)

Thrus (thanksgiving)
Wake up at 10 am if u want andddddddddddddddddd
Pull out all the things that need to get bake. (turkey, reheat Ham, mac and cheese, cornbread right)
Turkey has to come to room temp before bake so let that chill out somewhere
Reheat ham and corn bread. (corn bread might be done before ham (10 - 20) so take them out mid way and add mac and cheese and the ham should reheat the same time as mac is done) (another 15 - 25)
During all that baking somewhere...add whip cream and garnish ur dessert.
Ok now bake turkey!!!!!!!
while you wait that happening, reheat greens on pan, pull alll the food out set table, bring the stuff otu and change clothes and uwill be done at 2!

TELL ME IF I MISS ANYTHING.

Answer 2

It will be hard to give you a timeline as we don't know how many you're cooking for nor how big your turkey is.

Do the pies and cake for sure the day before!! We eat at 2 also, my Dad does the turkey and it is probably about 20 pounds and he has it in the oven by 7, he makes the stuffing at the same time and stuff the turkey but also has 2 other pans of stuffing to heat after the turkey is done. Your best bet is to have family/friends that are coming put stuff in their ovens and bring it with them. The yams and casseroles for instance, that is how we do it. You can't possible make all that in your oven the morning of.

That is how we do it, I cook the ham and green bean casserole and yams at out house and we bring it to my parents. But at my parents the turkey is usually out about 1/2 hour or longer before we eat and at that time we are boiling the taters and when we are mashing we are making gravy and have the corn heating up. Any salads or sweets are made the day before as are the deviled eggs. And we set up the dining room the night before also. We heat up the dinner rolls last.

But just take a deep breath and relax or you aren't going to have any fun!

Answer 3

You should put the turkey in the oven first. It take 1hr to cook 4lbs of stuffed turkey.Ham only needs an hour . do you macaroni and cheese about 1/2 hrs before the turkey is done. Make your cake and pies the night before or early morning, but then you will have the oven in use for the meats. So do it before the meats and put it back in to warm while you are cutting the meats. Monday is usuallly too early. Oh, bake your bread the night before. Greens and yams can cook at the same time the cheese is warming. This is basicaly my schedule we eat at two also. Our dinner is simular to mine but we don't have the mac&ch. we have mashed potatoes and gravery from both turkey and ham. Enjoy and have a Happy Thanksgiving. God Bless

Answer 4

I would go with about 30 lb turkey because that would also give you leftovers for later on. How do I determine the correct size turkey to purchase? We recommend 1 pound to 1-1/2 pounds of uncooked turkey per person for a whole bird presentation. This will allow enough for the holiday feast and leftovers for the much loved turkey sandwiches. You will probably need about : 10 lbs potatoes, 4 lbs brussels sprouts, 10 lbs onions, 12 lbs sweet potatoes, 7 1/2 lbs turnips, 2 gals soup, 3lbs butter, 2 loaves stuffing bread, 2 large cans turkey stock, 5 lbs carrots, 4 jars pickles, 5 9-inch pies, 5 dozen rolls or biscuits, 1 lb coffee, 3 gals punch, etc. Double your recipes because they are usually written for 8-10 people. So if you double your favorite recipes that will work nicely. I used to go crazy cooking this all on thanksgiving but now i do most of my prep work the day ahead. Like my baking all my pies and breads and even the stuffing (i can heat it the next day in the casserole at the last minute). Doing that leaves more time with your guests. Also if there are guests that live fairly close maybe they could bring there favorite casserole and that would save you some time also. I used to cook for large family dinners and parties so I hoped this helps you. Congratulation on your husband return home. Good luck.

Answer 5

On Wed.
I would make all the sweet items.
Bake the ham.
Cook the yams.
Chop any vegetables that you will need on Thurs. ie onions, celery etc.
Pick over your greens.
Grate the cheese for the mac and cheese
Go over your menu and make sure that you have everything that you need.
On Thurs.
I would start the turkey around 8am. if it is an average 12lbs
Set the table
make the dressing
cook the greens
cook macaroni
assemble your yam casserole.
assemble your mac and cheese casserole
Make your cornbread
Cook the yam and mac and cheese casserole
Remove your turkey
Reheat your ham
open your cranberry sauce
say your blessing
enjoy your dinner
p.s. If you drop a whole pecan shell and all in with your greens they won't smell up the house and over power your turkey smell

Answer 6

Depending on the side dishes you can cook a lot of them the day before so all you have to do is heat them up. Put them in oven proof dishes with covers. if you take them out of the fridge about 1 1/2 hours before heating you will be able to put in oven at 350 for about 20 - 25 min to reheat.

For your turkey, roast at 20 min per lb and give it at least 30 min resting time after is comes out of the oven. That also gives you time to make the gravy while heating the side dishes.

Answer 7

I typically cook everything but the turkey the day ahead and reheat the things that are supposed to be hot. The turkey is kind of self explanatory...just cook according to the package directions and put it in the oven early enough that it will be done by 2.

Answer 8

I'm sure you'll find lots of help here...

Butterball Turkey Talk Line: 800-BUTTERBALL
http://www.butterball.com

Reynolds Turkey Tips Hotline: [phone]
USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline: [phone]
Q&A: http://www.landolakes.com

Answer 9

i do my deserts the night before. i slow cook my turkey over-night that way i have plenty of time and oven space for everything else. you should only need about 11/2 hours for your veggies and potatoes. good luck! thanksgiving dinner is my favorite meal to cook.

Answer 10

you could cook the turkey & ham over night and make the desserts a day ahead a nice little tip is to put pinnapple over the ham it makes it VERY juicey! (and its a nice HEALTHY snack for you and your son) You could even go to http://www.foodnetwork.com for the recipes if you don't have them for ALL your Delious tasting food!\

PS: have safe and happy holidays!!!