Prep ideas for Thanksgiving Day?

Question

Iam hosting Thanksgiving Dinner at my house this year , i would like for some to share some ideas, recommendations, on what i could do to prepare for the big day ! Share some recipes that i can make the day before , and still taste as good on Thanksgiving !

Answer 1

well just make sure not to invite people that start conflict, becasue ive argued with people and been to dinners where people argued, and that is prolly the biggest dinner killer. when u have a nice dinner and everyone leaves happy, u have a sense of pride like it was ur doing and ull feel good inside, i know that sounds gay, but ive gone through that.

for dinner heres one of my fav recipies

use fresh everything here no cand crap

2 (12 ounce) packages frozen French cut green beans
8 ounces crimini mushrooms, quartered
3 tablespoons butter, divided
1 small onion, halved and thinly sliced
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 pinch ground black pepper
1/2 cup milk
1 cup sour cream
1/2 cup shredded Cheddar cheese
1 (2.8 ounce) can canned French fried onions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
Place green beans into a saucepan and fill with about 1/2 inch of water. Bring to a boil and steam until beans are tender but still bright green, about 5 minutes. Drain and toss with the mushrooms. Set aside.
Melt the butter in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and parsley; cook and stir until onion is tender. Whisk in flour until blended, then mix in the lemon zest, salt, and pepper. Gradually whisk in milk, stirring constantly, so that no lumps form and then stir in sour cream. Warm over medium heat until the sauce begins to bubble. Dump in the green beans and mushrooms, stirring to coat.
Remove from the heat and toss briefly with some of the Cheddar cheese and French fried onions, saving some of each to sprinkle over the top. Spoon into a 1 1/2 quart casserole dish and top with the reserved onions and cheese.
Bake in the preheated oven until the cheese melts, about 15 minutes.


this is prolly my favright casarole, i have pride in making it myself :D

Answer 2

This is what I did the night before our early T-day. Clean and dice potatoes for masheds, put them in a bowl of cold water in the fridge. Juice lemons if needed. Lay out bread cubes for stuffing to get day-old bread. Chop as many veggies as you can and put them in ziplocks. Make the dessert and/or dip. Lay out the table setting. Lay out all the utensils you'll need the next day, like measuring cups, cutting boards, knives, pots, pans, baking dishes. You can even put the water in the pot and cover it for the night. That way all you have to do in the morning is walk in your kitchen and you're prepped and ready to go!

Oh, and make a list the night before. Like "Put out 2 pounds of butter to soften, start the potatoes at *whenever*". It really works to keep thing organized.

Answer 3

I make all my stocks, and breads a few days before, plan on making my brine the day before as well. Turkey is only going to take a couple of hours, so will bake the pies first and will cook the stuffings when the turkey is resting.

Answer 4

here's a tip if you are open to suggestions:

pre-chop all of your veggies that you'll be using the day before, so it'll save you some time.
clean up as you go along while you are in the kitchen cooking.
have one of your kids help you host your party or even be a special helper in the kitchen so you won't be burned out by the end of the day.

Answer 5

Candied Yams... you can make them anytime and let them sit in the fridge cold for days and then thanksgiving morning warm them up and serve hot and dripping with sweetness.. it would be perfect.
Also homemade cranberry sauce always goes over well...

you can look these recipes up online.

Answer 6

Today - Monday - I make my pie fillings and refrigerate until Wednesday when I bake the pies. I also make my sweet potato and casserole today and keep it in the fridge until Thursday when I bake it in the oven. Tuesday, I begin to thaw the green beans for the green bean casserole and put it together on Wednesday; I also make my jello salad and stuffing/dressing on Tuesday. Wednesday is the day I prep my potatoes for mashed potatoes - peel and cut them, boil the eggs for deviled eggs, make the deviled eggs and put together the relish trays. On Thursday I roast my turkey, bake my casseroles and rolls and cook my potatoes for mashing.

Kings Arms Tavern Sweet Potatoes

3-pounds sweet potatoes
¾-cup light brown sugar, packed divided
3-tablespoons butter
5 teaspoons cinnamon
½-teaspoon nutmeg
¼-teaspoon salt
1-cup milk

Preheat oven to 400º
Grease 1½ quart casserole
Cook sweet potatoes in boiling salted water until done; drain peel and mash them.

Stir in all the remaining ingredients except 2 tablespoons of sugar.

Turn the mixture in to prepared casserole and sprinkle with remaining sugar.

Bake at 400º for 30 minutes.

PUMPKIN can be substituted for the sweet potatoes and it comes out well.

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Lime Jell-O Mold

1 large box Lime Jell-O
8 ounces Cream Cheese - room temperature
1 can Crushed Pineapple - chilled
1 16 ounce container of Cool Whip or fresh whipped cream

Drain pineapple saving liquid to use in Jell-O. Make Jell-O using the quick-set instructions replacing some of the cold water with the pineapple juice. Make sure gelatin is well dissolved. Place in fridge until semi-set. In a blender combine cream cheese and pineapple until well blended. Mix into semi-set Jell-O than fold in Cool Whip. Pour into a gelatin mold and refrigerate until set or over night. To serve, unmold onto a plate large enough for the mold.

Answer 7

Home-made turkey dressing is normally made the day before and is a great addition to the meal. Sry, no recipies offhand.

Answer 8

Well you could start by having hourdourves out, along with a punch bowl, maybe one that is spiked and one that isnt! =)
Have some music playing in the background.
Maybe play some games??
GL

Answer 9

get a Jello Turkey Mold and make a Turkey shaped cranberry sauce

you can get them at walmart or taget, its not impossible to find

Answer 10

sometimes I make the dressing the day before because the oven is in big demand