Monday, November 21, 2011

Thanksgiving 2011 prep/cooking schedule

Proving yet again that I'm more Type A than I care to admit.

Monday:

  • make the Make-Ahead Mashed Potatoes that everyone liked last year
  • clean part of kitchen
  • make Pomegranate-Cranberry Sauce, put in fridge in jars
  • have epiphany that this is more jelly-like and that the cranberry eaters like a more relish-like sauce
  • decide to have the pom-cran sauce this year anyway, but vow to make a low-sugar cran-orange relish next year
  • make Butternut Squash Puree, freeze flat in ziploc bags
  • dice celery & onion, put in containers in fridge
  • worry that the fridge is already looking full

Tuesday:

  • more kitchen cleaning
  • wash and trim Brussels sprouts
  • move Halloween items to garage
  • pull pie crust out of freezer, put in fridge to thaw
  • pull pumpkin puree out of freezer, put in fridge to thaw
  • pull turkey breast out of freezer, put in fridge to thaw
  • pull turkey stock out of freezer to use in stuffing, put in fridge to thaw
  • have Sage do more vacuuming

Wednesday:

  • locate matching placemats & napkins
  • mix up turkey brine, brine to boil, cool
  • wash gravy boat
  • more vacuuming
  • scrub out brining cooler

Wednesday night:

  • make pie, leave on kitchen island covered with tea towel
  • prep herbs for turkey and roasted pears, leave on counter work area
  • put new stick of butter in butter dish
  • make sure there is enough butter in fridge for stuffing
  • measure out butter for Roasted Balsamic Pears, put in container in fridge
  • put can of green beans (hey, they were requested that way!) on counter work area
  • pull blueberry sweet rolls out of freezer, put in fridge to thaw (if possible -- otherwise leave in freezer & use alternate cooking instructions)
  • put jar of honeyed almonds on counter work area
  • pull bag of Butternut Squash Puree out of freezer, put in fridge to thaw
  • brine turkey breast overnight

Thursday morning:

  • drain brine out of cooler, pat turkey breast dry, but leave in cooler
  • scramble eggs, bake sweet rolls, turn on Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade
  • pull out side dishes to come to room temp
  • put bottles of cranberry juice and Spicy Cider in fridge
  • eat breakfast
  • preheat oven for turkey breast

After breakfast:

  • put turkey breast in oven
  • set starters/snacks on table
  • dot potatoes with butter
  • toss Brussels sprouts with olive oil and salt, put on baking sheet
  • put Butternut Squash Puree in casserole dish, dot with butter
  • put cornbread stuffing together
  • start making sausage/apple/mushroom stuffing
  • preheat toaster oven to 350F

After turkey is finished:

  • set turkey breast on top of stove, tent with foil, turn oven up to 375F.
  • put sprouts, mashed potatoes, and squash in oven
  • put cornbread stuffing in toaster oven
  • warm gravy, add stock if needed

After sides finish:

  • turn oven up to 425F
  • heat green beans in microwave
  • put rolls in oven
  • have Sage set table
  • pull beverages out of fridge

After rolls finish:

  • turn off oven, put pie in oven to warm
  • pull butter for pears out of fridge
  • EAT!

When ready for dessert:

  • pull pie out of oven, turn oven on 400F
  • roast pears
  • enjoy dessert
Wow, that's a crazy list. At the same time, I'm wondering what I left out. I tried to simplify things this year, and yet it still complicated itself.