We are officially one week away from Thanksgiving!!! I know your stomach is jumping for joy just thinking about all the deliciousness that it will be partaking in, but before that can happen we have to get some things in order. Being that cooking a Thanksgiving Day feast requires a lot of work, it is important that you PREP! Prep work is essential to ensuring a smooth Turkey Day. It is seriously a lifesaver and time-saver. I can attest to that because it has proven to work for me these past few years. So first things first starting today:
- Create a menu/Make a list: If you haven’t done so already, create your Thanksgiving Day menu and confirm your family/guest count that will be in attendance. Once you have gone over it a few times, finalized what you will make the day of, and confirmed your guest count, you can now formulate your shopping list of the items that you will need such as: the turkey and ingredients needed for all of the dishes that will be served. Keep in mind some grocery items can be purchased the Monday of Thanksgiving week to ensure it is at its freshest (this is optional).
- Organize your groceries: After purchasing majority (if not all) of your Turkey Day needs, be sure to organize your items in your fridge and pantry in such a way that will make it easier to locate and/or access the week of, for additional prep work and day of work. In addition, you never want to be in the kitchen losing your mind trying to figure out where you’ve placed your items needed. Trust me, I’ve been there and done that.
- Thaw out your turkey: If you have purchased a frozen turkey, depending on how big your turkey is, you should begin your thawing process today by placing your turkey in the fridge to thaw over the next few days (Thaw time in the fridge requires about 24 hours for every 5 pounds).
- Prep and Store: If you plan on making your pies and stuffing/dressing from scratch, you can prep and store the pie crust and breading for the stuffing (cornbread, white bread, or some fancy European bread/baguette) this weekend. Your pie crust can be stored in either the fridge or your freezer and your breading for the stuffing can be stored in a ziplock bag in your fridge or pantry, so it can stiffen up.
These are just a few preparational tips to get you started and headed in the right direction for a stress free Thanksgiving Day. Stay Tuned for Part II coming soon!