Duck Duck Goose Garden

A Minnesota garden blog focused on pollinators, nature, and harvest recipes.

Gobble Gobble Let’s Get Ready to Wobble

Thanksgiving is the Super Bowl of holiday hosting for me. I plan and prepare everything from purchasing a fresh turkey to baking my own homemade apple pie for dessert. Today is the day we eat too much, spend time with loved ones, and give thanks for the blessings in our lives. It may not be the most glamorous holiday on the calendar, but it ranks as one of my favorites.

Memories from Thanksgiving go back to my childhood with the smell of a turkey roasting, pies baking, and the living room crowded with hungry family members. I enjoy re-creating that same nostalgia for my husband and children. We are a little over a week away from the last Thursday of the month, which falls late this year on November 28th. Christmas is now less than a month away!

My official Thanksgiving Day hostess checklist starts about 4 weeks ahead of time. Which includes various cleaning tasks, menu creating, and sending invitations. I do a big fall cleaning around this time of year also. There is a sense of relief when my house is organized and in order when heading into such a busy season of celebrations.

4 Weeks Ahead

  • Plan what time you want to invite guests over at and what time the meal will be served at. Dedicate a few notebook pages to Thanksgiving planning. I like to have a page each for: guest list, groceries, menu & recipes, and cleaning tasks.
  • Assemble the guest list and create invitations. Try using a tool like Canva, I did and they turned out very festive. Otherwise an email, phone call, or group text works also.
  • Clean out the pantry and take notes of needed seasonal grocery items. Stock up on items you will use throughout the end of year like flour, broths, and canned goods.
  • Don’t overwhelm yourself if new to hosting holidays. Start simple with well-known recipes and ask family members for advice.

3 Weeks Ahead

  • Finalize menu and request guests bring a dish to share. You don’t have to ask for anything, but I promise people enjoy contributing to this special meal. If your guest list is large, consider using a tool such a SignUp Genius to keep track of who is bringing which dish and what favorite food may have been forgotten.
  • Order turkey if going with a fresh bird. Do research on the different varieties available to purchase.
  • Study recipes from old cookbooks, magazines, and favorite food blogs. I still pull out my Cook’s Illustrated every November to familiarize myself with on how to make perfect turkey gravy and pumpkin pie.
  • Take inventory of cooking equipment needed.
  • Sharpen knives
  • Start purchasing paper products

2 Weeks Ahead

  • Keep an eye out for sales on beverage items like pop, beer, wine, water, and juices.
  • Tackle deep cleaning projects and de-clutter for the holidays.
  • Plan some fun activities for any kids in attendance such as coloring sheets or setting up a game table.
  • Start purchasing pantry and freezer items.
  • Confirm number of guests and adjust menu if needed.

1 Week Ahead

  • Wash and iron tablecloths and placemats.
  • Purchase decorations if plan on using any.
  • Get extra Tupperware from Dollar Store for guests to take home leftovers.
  • Check ads for sales on fresh items and make final list of groceries still needed.

Monday

  • Thaw turkey if frozen: USDA recommends 3 days for a 12 pound bird and 4 days for 16 pounds. Start earlier if you have a larger turkey! See link below for more details.
  • Wash coolers to keep beverages in.
  • Set up bar area.
  • Pull out glassware, silverware, utensils, and dishes to wash.
  • Make guest place cards- this is a good job for older children in the family.

Tuesday

  • Clean bathrooms.
  • Deep clean the refrigerator and make as much room as possible.
  • Make breadcrumbs for stuffing.
  • Buy fresh vegetables and last-minute grocery items.
  • Purchase or create your own centerpiece.

Wednesday

  • Make turkey stock
  • Brine turkey
  • Bake pies
  • Put together stuffing
  • Make soup
  • Clean designated gathering areas.
  • Buy fresh bakery goods or bake today if making homemade.
  • Set up dinner table and decorate.

Thursday

  • Prep turkey- let sit at room temperature for at least an hour before cooking. Make sure you know how long it will take to cook plus resting time. Set an alarm clock to wake up if planning an early meal.
  • Make green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, and other main side dishes. Keep chilled until ready to cook. Some years it’s so cold we can store in garage or on the deck to save on fridge space.
  • KEEP UP WITH THE DISHWASHER
  • Shovel driveway and walkways if you live in a cold climate and already have snow.
  • Cook the cranberry sauce and allow to chill for a few hours ahead of the meal.
  • Heat up the soup in a crockpot.
  • Put out Thanksgiving relish board and appetizers.
  • Set TV to NFL football.
  • Eat and enjoy this day with friends and family.
  • Watch National Lampoons Christmas Vacation in bed and page through the Black Friday sales ads in the newspaper….if this even exists anymore.

Miron Family Menu

I stick to the classic Thanksgiving recipes when creating my menu. They have evolved slightly over the years as I use more fresh ingredients than what I grew up with eating.

APPETIZERS

Roasted Asparagus wrapped with Prosciutto

Bloody Mary Bar

Spicy Deviled Eggs

Thanksgiving Relish Board

MAIN MEAL

Oven-Roasted Turkey & Smoked Turkey

Creamy Mashed Potatoes with Homemade Gravy

Classic Sage and Sausage Stuffing

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

Green Bean Casserole

Butternut Squash Soup

Cranberry Sauce

Dessert

Apple Pie

Pumpkin Pie

Handy Cooking Gadgets

Investing in a few pieces of kitchen equipment will be helpful for preparing this massive meal

Large Roasting Pan-Don’t try to shove your turkey into a pan that is too small. You’ll need room to place the aromatics like onions, celery, and herbs.

Meat Thermometer-Please use to check the internal temperature of your turkey to know when it is done cooking.

Fat Strainer-Super helpful when making the gravy.

Potato Ricer– I was sick of making subpar mashed potatoes and decided to try using a ricer. It has been a game changer that produces perfect mashed potatoes every time.

Soup Crockpot– Not everyone does soup on Thanksgiving, and it was absent from my table until a few years ago when I started making a vegan version for my sister-in-law. Making the soup ahead and re-heating the day of will save so much time and I think soup always tastes better the next day.

Gravy Boat- It is not a necessary item, but they look pretty filled with dark brown gravy love.

Good Working Can Opener and Veggie Peeler– Mine are horrible and I have not replaced forever and curse every time I need to open a can or peel potatoes. Multiple peelers are nice to have anyways so you don’t have to constantly be washing.

Sharp Carving Knife- Can’t carve a turkey with a dull blade!

Brine Bucket- If you plan on brining your bird, make sure you have a container large enough to hold the turkey and enough water to fully cover.

USDA Turkey Cooking Guidelines 🦃

Here is a resourceful link from the USDA on how to safely cook your Thanksgiving turkey.

http://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/poultry/lets-talk-turkey-roasting

I wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and fully bellies!

Love,

Michele