Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. In our home, Thanksgiving is about getting to spend time with our family — either immediate or extended. All of the trappings of other holidays are set aside for Thanksgiving. There is no emphasis put on gift giving/receiving so we aren’t going broke and aren’t feeding the greed machine that Christmas and birthdays can easily feed. It’s in the Fall (my favorite time of year). Here in Texas the weather is usually gorgeous. You might want to wear long sleeves but a jacket is usually not absolutely necessary. The young ones (and old ones if they want) can play outside without freezing or sweating. It’s just a good holiday at a good time of year. I love it!
We have entered into a phase of our lives that makes celebrating Thanksgiving as a family challenging. We have a son and daughter in-law that live on the west coast, a son going to school on the east coast and we are in the middle. We have not been completely together (our immediate family) in a few years. Last year, we were missing both of those on either coast. It really saddens me that we no longer have the flexibility to get together like we used to.
This year, the son on the east coast is driving in to spend Thanksgiving with us. There will be one other event added just before Thanksgiving. I will be spending 3 or 4 days with my sister while she recovers from surgery. So, with my east coast son and myself coming home the day before Thanksgiving, I decided I needed to get organized.
Some year, in the recent past, I wrote down a menu and a list of what I needed to do to prepare the Thanksgiving meal. I have hung on to this list and referred to it ever since. For a meal that is basically the same every year, it seems smart to not "reinvent the wheel" every time it rolls around. So, I’m going to put my plan on my blog so I can refer to it even if I’m not at home. I plan to include recipes where they are needed.
Our family has a feud every year over which Sweet Potato Casserole to make. Danny and I like the one we picked up when we were living in Mississippi (brown suger/pecan topping), the boys like the one Danny and I both grew up with (marshmallow topping). They are both good but since there are more boys around here than the 2 of us, we’ll probably do the marshmallow topping again this year.
The Menu:
Tony Chachere’s Creole Butter Turkey
Mema’s Cornbread Dressing
Mom’s Homemade Yeast Rolls
Janet’s Sweet Potato Casserole
Emeril’s Scalloped Potato
James’ Favorite Green Bean Casserole
Susie’s Shoe Peg Corn Salad
Cranberry Salad
Iced Tea
Chocolate Pie
Apple Pie
Pumpkin Pie
The Shopping List:
turkey
corn meal
eggs
milk
refrigerator (canned) biscuits
flour
margarine
sweet potatoes
brown sugar
chopped pecans
green beans
cream of chicken soup
french fried onion topping
shoe peg corn
fritos
red/green/yellow pepper
jalapeno peppers
purple onion
sharp cheddar cheese
miracle whip
sugar
cranberries
vegetable shortening
unsweetened chocolate squares
apples
cinnamon
pumpkin (fresh or canned)
evaporated milk
tea bags
ice (preferably from Sonic)
The Plan:
Monday:
Go to the grocery store
Thaw turkey if it is frozen
Clean out refrigerator — we’ll need the space on Wednesday.
Tuesday:
Cook pumpkin (this year mine is already frozen and ready to go)
Cook sweet potato
Wednesday:
Bake cornbread (2 pans)
Prepare 3 for pumpkin pie
Prepare 1 for pecan pie
Prepare bottom and top crust for Apple pie
Save scraps for the kids to make crust cookies
Prepare Betty Crocker’s chocolate pies (at least 2) refrigerate after cooling
Prepare pumpkin pies (at least 3)
Prepare apple pie (just 1)
Put together casseroles (sweet potato and scalloped potato) refrigerate
Make cranberry salad — refrigerate
Cut veges for shoe peg corn salad
Make Tea
Thursday:
Start Turkey
Start rolls – this should be done at least 3.5 hours before eating time.
Set table
Prepare coffee so it can be turned on when needed
Put dressing ingredients together — begin cooking about 1.5 hours before eating time
Prepare green bean casserole — begin cooking about 1 hour before eating time
Prepare shoe peg corn salad — refrigerate — don’t add fritos until just before serving
Turkey should be done
Bake rolls
Carve Turkey
Turn on Coffee
