Help a Thanksgiving novice

[kristenk]

So, the last time that Thanksgiving dinner was consumed at my house, DD was an infant and I had just had surgery for a deviated septum and wasn't really expected to be up and around and cooking. And, honestly, before that time, I don't know if we EVER hosted any family members for Thanksgiving. For all intents and purposes, this is my first ever Thanksgiving dinner, which is somewhat embarrassing.

I need help planning the timing of things.

The menu is not complicated and I ordered a smoked turkey so I don't have to worry about cooking the turkey.

Greenberg Smoked Turkey - arrives at our door cooked and ready to go
Dressing - my mom is making this
Green Beans - trying the recipe for "Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon" recipe that specialp listed in the Thanksgiving menu thread
Sweet Potato Casserole - a variation of this recipe http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Gourmet-Sweet-Potato-Classic/Detail.aspx
Cranberry something - not sure what
Homemade Rolls
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie

What items can I make ahead of time and which items should be made the day of? Right now, this is what I'm thinking:

Wednesday (or before??? )
make cornbread for dressing
blanch green beans
bacon for green bean recipe
pumpkin pie
apple pie

Thursday
Rolls
finish dressing
finish green bean recipe

What about the sweet potato casserole? Can I bake/boil the sweet potatoes the day before so they're ready to go? If I do that, should I go ahead and assemble the casserole that day, too?

Crud, I just realized that DH's T-giving meal always had mashed potatoes, too. I can't do those ahead of time, can I?

[SnuggleBuggles]

You can peel and cut the potatoes ahead of time; just put them in salt water. I've only ever done that one day out.

I think you can assemble casseroles anytime now (minus any crunchy topping). Just remember that baking time will be longer if its cold.

I always chop and sautee veggies for the stuffing ahead of time.

I make whipped cream ahead of time.

Pull out dishes you need and figure out serving dishes and serving spoons now.

[kristenk]

Good point about the whipped cream. Thanks!

I usually boil the sweet potatoes for the casserole, but it might be easier to bake them the day before then assemble the casserole on Thanksgiving day. Baking them the day before should be fine, right?

The casserole is so dense that it takes forever to heat up. It might save me some time in the oven if I mix it the day of.

[jerigirl]

My friend reheats mashed potatoes in her crock pot. That could be an option for you.

[SnuggleBuggles]

Mashed potatoes in the crockpot were a disaster here. They got gummy and dry. I have not found any god reheating or stay warm options.

[Aishe]

I plan to make pie crusts today and freeze them. You can shape your rolls and freeze them as well. Cranberry sauce will keep for at least a week so that is easily made ahead. I've never reheated mashed potatoes, but I've had good luck keeping them warm by putting the pot or bowl in a larger pot or bowl filled with hot water. Cover with a lid or foil. Here are good tips for whipping cream in advance:

http://food52.com/recipes/14500_nancy_silvertons_whipped_cream

[kristenk]

You can shape your rolls and freeze them as well.

Aishe, please tell me more about freezing rolls. At what point in the process do you freeze (I'm guessing at the very end) the rolls? And what do you do to bake them?

I usually use a recipe from America's Test Kitchen Family Cookbook, but I'm open to other recipes... :)

[Tondi G]

You can make the cranberry sauce in advance ... it keeps for a couple of weeks in the fridge apparently. We decided to try making cranberry sauce with Pomegranate juice instead of just water and it was delicious!

We always peel the potatoes and put into a pot of cold water and keep it in the fridge overnight ... then you just pop it on the stove and boil.

you can assemble the sweet potato cassarole the day before no problem ... then just pop in the oven and heat.

[KLD313]

You can make mashed potatoes earlier and keep them warm in a glass bowl over a boiling pot of water.

[baileygirl]

I make Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes the day before and bake them the day of.

[specialp]

I host every T'day and I assemble most things ahead of time.

I actually make the cranberry sauce on Tuesday. It's always great and never any leftover. Cornbread I make on Tuesday, but my recipe calls for day old stale cornbread so I we break it up and let it sit overnight and assemble it on Thursday. My sweet potato casserole is very similar (same website, different recipe) and I assemble it on Wednesday, but leave the crumb topping in another container and add it just before I pop in the oven. Anything that I pre-assemble or par cook and refrigerate a day before (sweet potato casserole, pioneer woman's mashed potatoes, green beans, etc.), I pull out of the refigerator 30 min to an hour before I'm going to put it in the oven to knock the chill off (it won't come near to room temp in that short amount of time or be unsafe, but helps to not extend the cooking/heating time).

Good luck, have fun, and don't stress . . . too much.

[Aishe]

Aishe, please tell me more about freezing rolls. At what point in the process do you freeze (I'm guessing at the very end) the rolls? And what do you do to bake them?

You freeze them before the last rise and then just bake after they've thawed and risen. This is the recipe I use. It's a great time saver.

http://www.marthastewart.com/312832/dinner-rolls?czone=food/thanksgiving-center/thanksgiving-center-dishes&center=276949&gallery=275391&slide=281515

[Minnifer]

I make Pioneer Woman's mashed potatoes the day before and bake them the day of.
:yeahthat: and they are to.die.for. Wonder if something similar could be done w/sweet potatoes since that's what you were thinking...

[kristenk]

Okay, I just spoke with DH. He's not expecting mashed potatoes this year b/c we're doing the smoked turkey and there won't be any gravy for the potatoes.

New menu:
Smoked Turkey
Mom's Cornbread Dressing
Sweet Potato Casserole (http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Gourmet-Sweet-Potato-Classic/Detail.aspx)
Green Beans with Mushrooms and Bacon (http://www.myrecipes.com/recipe/green-beans-with-mushrooms-bacon-10000001553070/)
Cranberry Sauce (http://savorysweetlife.com/2009/11/simple-and-amazing-cranberry-sauce-recipe/)
Dinner Rolls (http://www.marthastewart.com/312832/dinner-rolls?czone=food/thanksgiving-center/thanksgiving-center-dishes&center=276949&gallery=275391&slide=281515)
Pumpkin Pie
Rustic Apple Tart (http://www.marthastewart.com/274759/thanksgiving-pie-and-tart-recipes/@center/276949/everything-thanksgiving#263016)

New Schedule

Tuesday
Make cranberry sauce
Make and freeze dinner rolls

Wednesday
Bake pumpkin pie
Blanch green beans
Cook bacon, reserve some grease
Chop shallots, slice mushrooms
Bake sweet potatoes for casserole

Thursday
Assemble and bake sweet potato casserole
Make dressing
Thaw, rise, bake rolls
Make apple tart
Make whipped cream

I have to say that without the mashed potatoes (and I really like the looks of the Pioneer Woman's make-ahead version), it doesn't seem I'll be doing much on Thanksgiving day itself. I guess that's a good thing! At least the kitchen will be pretty open for my mom to use that day.

Off to search threads for ideas for another Tgiving side dish...

[alexsmommy]

We do a Greenberg turkey too. Only if you want it...

http://allrecipes.com/recipe/make-ahead-turkey-gravy/

I do it with drumsticks, just two is plenty.

No gravy=mutiny in my house.

This year I'm doing a roast turkey too (hosting 22), and I still do the make ahead so I'm not so rushed right as everything is ready to go to the buffet table.

Our make ahead list...
freezer bound: broccoli casserole, corn casserole, gravy, sweet potato casserole (topping made day of), cornbread dressing (add a little chicken stock if it's dry), cheesecake,
2 days out... mashed potatoes, make brine, do all prep work (chopping onions, grating cheeses, mincing garlic etc)
1 day out... brine turkey, make cranberry sauce, make apple pie, set table (this year, get tables for varios stations set up), put drinks in cooler with ice, pull froze items to defrost.