https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Mon, 06 Apr 2026 17:13:57 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1924718 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 16:39:47 +0000 Ra 1924718@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: Good tip on the injector! I've never made a turkey before. Off to Amazon... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923971 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 09:49:53 +0000 abmamma 1923971@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hosted a couple of years ago with one oven (that really only fit the turkey) also. My advice is similar to what others have said-- try to make side dishes that either don't require the oven (e.g., salads or something that can be made in the crockpot or solely on the stovetop) or that can be made ahead and then reheated briefly in the oven while the turkey is resting. Also, I don't know if you have a toaster oven (that has a bake function) but I think i used that for warming up the rolls, etc. I love Thanksgiving-- I wish we could host every year :happy: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923910 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 09:16:42 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: my regular grocery, (Publix) store had, they were located closer to the smoked meats section. They came two in a pack and I bought a total of four. They sell turkey wings too. These things are huge almost like the size of the Disney World turkey wings. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923817 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:36:59 +0000 looch 1923817@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: so where do you get the turkey legs? Do you have to special order them?</p> <p>This year, I am not hosting, my aunt wants to host again. But if I were, now that I know I could get the turkey legs, I would have done cornish hens for everyone, with a side of turkey legs, for the guys! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923812 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:35:40 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@looch: heck yeah! I have been the carver in my family since my parents split. Every year my mom would take a beautiful bird out of the oven and by the time I finished carving and plating it the darn thing didn't look like a bird. So for my own hosted dinner I just stick with the pieces people like and called it a day. Turkey is mandatory, but certainly not everyone's favorite meat.</p> <p>We had Cornish hens for Christmas one year and the presentation of course was so cute, and they tasted so good. We made them lemon buttery. What was your game plan? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923744 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:11:19 +0000 looch 1923744@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs. Lemon-Lime: OMG, I didn't know you could do turkey legs! I was trying to convince my dad to do cornish hens, but he's like, i want the turkey leg. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923740 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:07:32 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923740@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>No matter which turkey recipe you ultimately use an injector kit goes along way to make your turkey moist. You inject the turkey with liquid spices before you bake it. </p> <p>I only have one oven as well. The first time I hosted I made turkey breast in the slow cooker. OMG 2 Die For, but prep was gross as you have to remove all the turkey skin. The second time I only made turkey legs since I didn't want a ton of leftover turkey. </p> <p>Even if you don't use the juices leftover from the turkey roaster to make your gravy keep it to drizzle over turkey to serve it moist.</p> <p>Foil is key to trap the heat in your food that has to be on the counter a bit before serving. Just buy an extra pack for Thanksgiving. </p> <p>Do you have an extra set of hands that can help you in the kitchen? Someone that knows how to boil water &amp; will follow *your* instructions. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923736 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:03:49 +0000 hilary 1923736@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I do a lot of prep the day before. Like mashed potatoes can be made the day before but add more milk than usual or add a little before you reheat them so they're not too stiff. Also the turkey has to rest and then breaking it down so after I pull the turkey out, any sides that need baking/warming up can be put in and about ready by the time the turkey is actually rested and carved. We make gravy while carving the turkey is a "man job" and other things are in the oven. As long as those sides don't take more than a half hour, it tends to all come out around the same time. Also rolls are made way in advance and normally in the freezer so just have to defrost, put in pan and cover with foil in the oven to heat up. </p> <p>And because this was longer than I expected the only real cooking I do the day of besides heating up is turkey, stuffing and gravy. Everything else just needs to get hot. Makes it less stressful. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923732 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:57:41 +0000 mrs. wagon 1923732@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I always do desserts and breads the day before, then the day of the turkey is in the oven and I do all appetizers on the stove. When the turkey comes out and rests for about an hour before serving, I pop in the pan of stuffing and I prep the gravy. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923727 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:53:41 +0000 macintosh 1923727@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm terrible at organizing the meal and I end up doing 5 things at once. Also, this thread is making me hungry! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923687 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:13:45 +0000 StrawberryBee 1923687@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much to add, except that I make this cranberry sauce the day before:</p> <p><a href="http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/11/cranberry-sauce/" rel="nofollow">http://www.ourbestbites.com/2008/11/cranberry-sauce/</a></p> <p>So easy to put together, and because it bakes in the oven, you don't have to watch it as much as you would on the stovetop. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923666 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 07:00:37 +0000 looch 1923666@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I only have one oven as well, but I leverage the four burners on my stove top and the crockpot. We also have a grill outside that has a burner, it's a great way to keep cooked food "warming."</p> <p>I don't make any sides that have to go in the oven the day of. I do make a corn pudding, but I assemble and bake the night before, and then I take it out of the fridge and serve it either room temperature OR I warm it in the grill outside.</p> <p>My menu typically has:<br /> Turkey and stuffing (one pan of stuffing that I do put in the oven with the turkey).<br /> Mashed sweet potatoes, cooked on the stovetop<br /> Corn pudding, made ahead as above<br /> Steamed string beans, tossed with an olive oil dressing, warmed in the grill<br /> Mac and cheese, made ahead, warmed in the grill</p> <p>This year, I was planing on serving a soup as a starter, but I am not hosting. My idea was to do three very good courses, and have less food, rather than more. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923631 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 06:04:20 +0000 Anagram 1923631@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Same as pps---Turkey goes in early, early morning (first thing when you wake up)--and if you bought frozen, make sure it's totally thawed--start thawing 3 days before in the fridge.</p> <p>-bread and desserts before Thanksgiving day (you can also boil and peel potatoes the day before)<br /> -Turkey early morning<br /> -while the turkey is cooking, do all the prep work for your sides but don't actually put them in to bake/cook until the hour before.</p> <p>-try to have a mix of sides, where half require the stove and half require the oven.</p> <p>-Aim to have everything FINISHED an hour before dinner, but keep it all in the oven on "warm" so it's served hot.</p> <p>-and don't forget the pre-dinner snacks! =) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923624 Fri, 31 Oct 2014 05:54:53 +0000 mrs scrapbook 1923624@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I had my first Thanksgiving last year. I found stove space to be more at a premium then the oven (that could be because one of my burners broke so I was only working with 3, and one of those was a small simmer burner!). But this is what I remember doing/kind of my plan for this year.</p> <p>Pies and desserts were all made the day before. So was the corn bread. I chopped/prepped all the veggies then too, to make my life easier. I also prepped the anti pasta platter, which we always do cold anyway. </p> <p>Turkey went in first thing in the morning. It can sit and holds heat well. I also roast a bunch of veggies with the turkey that go into my gravy When the turkey came out/was resting, I put in the stuffing and butternut squash + brussel sprouts, and made the gravy with the veggies from the roasting pan.</p> <p>Mashed potatoes, Mac and cheese, green beans and cranberry sauce were all made on the stove top. </p> <p>This year, most will stay the same except we live closer to home now (no planes involved) so my mom will bring the cornbread, anti pasta, green beans almondine, and sweet potatoes. I'll still make the pies ahead of time, along with a mushroom risotto and mashed potatoes. The turkey will go first in the oven, followed by stuffing and brussel sprouts + butternut squash, lastly anything that needs warming up. On the stove top will be potatoes + kale, Mac and cheese and cranberry sauce that day. </p> <p>Oh man, I'm so excited for Thanksgiving now!!! This is my favorite time of year :grin: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923383 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:49:13 +0000 rattles 1923383@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Okay, I was planning for a 2pm arrival and a 5pm dinner. I served turkey, gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, baked acorn squash, broccoli salad, cranberry sauce, rolls, pumpkin pie and Nantucket cranberry pie. I had my MIL bring a creamed spinach that's a family tradition for them. I also had a cheese/fruit plate, nuts and bacon-wrapped apricots as hors d'oeuvres (the last of which needed to be baked).</p> <p>I made the pie crusts the weekend prior and cranberry sauce on Wednesday. I made a cornbread stuffing in the crockpot to free up my oven. The pies went into the oven at 11am at 350. The bacon apricots went in at 375 when the pies came out, and the turkey went in at 325 when those were done. The squash went in with the turkey for the last hour. The rolls baked at 425 while the turkey rested. Gravy and mashed potatoes were made on the stove, and obviously I didn't cook the salad. </p> <p>You can do it! It really went really smoothly and stress-free with all the prep and planning ahead of time! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923352 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:24:04 +0000 charmed 1923352@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We've done Thanksgiving the last few years, and DH cooks the turkey in an infared fryer. That frees up the oven for stuffing and sweet potato casserole. I'll make the mashed potatoes in the morning, then put them in a crockpot to keep warm.<br /> I usually make the desserts and cranberry-apple salad the day before.<br /> My mom and siblings generally bring appetizers, a veggie dish, rolls, and more dessert. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923253 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:45:00 +0000 StbHisMrs 1923253@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I've cooked the turkey once, usually my parents will cook it in their green egg smoker so that frees up the oven. I'm doing Thanksgiving this year too, I got the Bon Appetit magazine with an interesting way to cook turkey on the front, most of my recipes come from that magazine :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923251 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:35:26 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923251@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: you're good on sides. Agree with @Mrs. Jump Rope: regarding the accouterments. What about a second protein? I sometimes get a Honeybaked ham and call it a day. </p> <p>Smart to outsource your desserts :happy: I did that last year too and had a table of five stress-free-for-me sweets. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923240 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:24:06 +0000 Mrs. Jump Rope 1923240@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: yams? Cranberry? Gravy- my mom makes her from the turkey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923221 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 18:02:40 +0000 Mrs. Pickle 1923221@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hosted last year. There was only 5 of us though and everyone helped so it wasn't too difficult. I have one oven and used a fryer for the turkey instead of baking it. I did do a lot of veggie prep the day before. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923204 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 17:51:27 +0000 Ra 1923204@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Thanks ladies!</p> <p> @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: I haven't completely decided on my menu yet. I'm thinking turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, Mac &amp; cheese, corn, green beans, sour kraut, rolls...what else am I missing? My mom will make the desserts. :) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923137 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:49:03 +0000 youboots 1923137@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Man, I cook Thanksgiving almost every year. Sometimes in our tiny beach house oven that only has room for the turkey. Cook everything else in the oven at the same temp as turkey. Utilize croc pots if you have them. I love Trader Joes for never frozen turkey. Do the prep work in advance. Make a timeline with a countdown to the meal and to do lists per 15 minutes then work backwards from there.</p> <p>This is my go to turkey recipe. <a href="http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homestyle-Turkey-the-Michigander-Way-2/" rel="nofollow">http://allrecipes.com/Recipe/Homestyle-Turkey-the-Michigander-Way-2/</a></p> <p>9:30 prep turkey, preheat oven<br /> 10 am put turkey in oven<br /> Set table<br /> Prep appetizers<br /> 2:30 prep mashed potatoes, start boiling water<br /> 2:45 put green bean cassorole in oven<br /> Set out appetizers<br /> 3:15pm take turkey out of oven, let rest, make gravy with drippings.<br /> 3:30- mash potatoes &amp; warm rolls<br /> 3:45 break down turkey<br /> Dinner at 4pm </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923136 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:48:20 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923136@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Also, set your table the day before.</p> <p>Layout your buffet and label your dishes &amp; put the coordinating serving utensils in the bowl, so you know where everything will go. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923135 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:46:41 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 1923135@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ra: what's on your menu?</p> <p>I prep ahead of time....</p> <p>chop all my veggies and put them in baggies according to recipe</p> <p>shred my cheese and put in bag (or just buy pre-shrunk ed cheese) </p> <p>Bake my corn bread ahead of time since day old bread is suggested for stuffing</p> <p>Pies &amp; cakes can be made the day before</p> <p>Certain side dishes are made entirely the day before like collard greens, day old greens taste better IMO</p> <p>if you have space in your fridge you can mix &amp; store punch the day before </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923131 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:43:05 +0000 rattles 1923131@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm totally a planner! I hosted Thanksgiving for my inlaws a few years back in our TINY kitchen and had everything planned and in a spreadsheet to make sure I wasn't overlapping resources and whatnot. Let me see if I can find it for you... </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923126 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:39:59 +0000 swurlygurl 1923126@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think you can make the turkey early - that doesn't need to be hot (also, if you buy a frozen bird, make sure you have somewhere around 2 days to defrost it!!!!)</p> <p>Pies can cook during the main meal? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923125 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:38:59 +0000 wheres_c 1923125@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't celebrate thanksgiving, but I do celebrate and have hosted Christmas.<br /> I make desserts the day before, as well as prepping as many veggies as possible.<br /> Mashed potatoes, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes can all be made the day before without much compromise on quality.<br /> Don't forget to thaw the turkey!!!!<br /> I then cook all veggies at the same temp as the meat.</p> <p>What is your menu? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923122 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:38:26 +0000 tororojo 1923122@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have never hosted but every magazine I have read recently has pretty good suggestions for what to make ahead, day of, etc. I just skimmed and recycled but I think Parents, Family Circle and Better H&amp;G all had articles like that. One of them (FC I think?) even had easy/medium/difficult plans. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-thanksgiving-logistics#post-1923118 Thu, 30 Oct 2014 16:34:37 +0000 Ra 1923118@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I will be hosting Thanksgiving for the first time ever this year and I'm kind of freaking out about it. We only have one oven, so logistically how does it work? What do you typically make ahead of time? Day of? I know it's a month away but I like to prep and plan things early! </p>