https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Fri, 01 May 2026 08:15:21 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2371958 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:52:47 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2371958@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: Fantastic! :happy: :happy: Next year, I'm hosting again and whipping out that same Alton Brown recipe. It's definitely a winner. Glad your family loved it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2371955 Sun, 29 Nov 2015 04:48:14 +0000 shopaholic 2371955@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>UPDATE:</p> <p>Thanks for all the help ladies! Used the Alton Brown recipe, made a test turkey a couple of weeks before, and brined the turkeys. Everyone RAVED about how perfect the turkey was! We have no leftover (turkey!) Thanks for helping my first Thanksgiving hostessing a success! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2329309 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 17:43:11 +0000 Mrsk 2329309@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: I've never brined a turkey before, but after reading what everyone else has posted, I think I might try this year! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328618 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 11:06:24 +0000 ShootingStar 2328618@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always get a fresh turkey from a farm every year, and I think it really makes a difference in flavor. Plus no worrying about defrosting it in time. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328600 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:53:39 +0000 gingerbebe 2328600@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: </p> <p>1. Yes to brining. Even if you just do salt water, it will be delicious. I do 50/50 apple juice and water with seasonings and its delicious. Most turkeys are sold frozen and need a full 24 hours to thaw anyway, so go grab a $1 5gallon paint bucket from Home Depot, line it with a garbage bag, fill it with your brine solution, drop your frozen turkey in there, press down with a heavy plate, cinch the top, and leave it on the porch for a day (unless you live somewhere its already freezing - then leave it in your kitchen).</p> <p>2. Decide in advance what you will outsource/shortcut. An easy choice is outsourcing pies, rolls/bread, and making a quick baby spinach salad with cranberries and nuts with a bottle of poppyseed dressing. </p> <p>3. Pick a few sides that will only require the stovetop. Gravy, cranberry sauce, pumpkin soup, and mashed potatoes will be fine on the stovetop. Mashed potatoes and mac n' cheese can also be made in advance, kept in the fridge, and then rewarmed in a crockpot the morning of. </p> <p>4. Turkey doesn't take THAT long to cook, but it will take up a lot of space, so try not to require oven space for more than 2 dishes (you will probably have the top rack open) and look for recipes that can cook at relatively the same temp as the turkey. Green bean casserole and sweet potato casserole is perfect for this. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328589 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:47:55 +0000 psw27 2328589@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrs D: Yes the real simple timeline is so helpful! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328575 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:37:21 +0000 Mrs D 2328575@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>A few comments to add:</p> <p>Real Simple has done a few "Thanksgiving Timeline" articles in the past that I have found very helpful.</p> <p>Brining is huge! I also always mix softened butter with roasted garlic and smear it all up under the skin of the turkey.</p> <p>Delegate. In my family it is common for the host to only prepare the basics (Turkey, Gravy, Mashed Potatos and Stuffing) - the rest we hand out to others to handle.</p> <p>Minimize appetizers. We eat SO much on thanksgiving to start with - no need to muss/fuss over the pre-game. I usually just do a nice cheese board (so easy) and a warm dip.</p> <p>Prep as much as you can ahead of time - and make a list with all your key times that will be your bible (i.e. turkey goes in at 8am, pies at 2pm, etc). It'll help keep you sane and help you delegate chores to guests who offer to help..."ok its 1:30pm and grandma just offered to help - whats next on my list...here grandma put the pies in the oven".</p> <p>Wine...have a big ole glass and try to relax - at the end of the day its about family and together-ness...the food doesnt have to be perfect for the day to be! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328519 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 10:11:04 +0000 mrs. wagon 2328519@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I make as much as I can the day and night before, including all desserts, and warm things in the oven after the turkey is done cooking and is resting before carving! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328338 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 09:06:25 +0000 psw27 2328338@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I prep and write a schedule out so that I know exactly what needs to go in the oven and when + what can share the oven. I make a huge shopping list and I also set out all the serving dishes with sticky notes so that I know that I have enough platters and serving spoons. Don't forget things like napkins and napkin rings, salt and pepper shakers, any decorative stuff you might want on the table, etc. That can all be set out days in advance. </p> <p>I didn't do a test turkey, but I ordered my bird in advance and I also brine it in a bag using the Sur La Table brine mix. </p> <p>Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328310 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 08:58:05 +0000 youboots 2328310@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I host Christmas and Thanksgiving fairly often. You could make a turkey for a fancy dinner with friends for fun.</p> <p>This has never failed me- perfect every time <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13464/homestyle-turkey-the-michigander-way/" rel="nofollow">http://allrecipes.com/recipe/13464/homestyle-turkey-the-michigander-way/</a></p> <p>You could ask guests to bring the sides that take up oven real estate like green bean casserole or stuffing and pop them in the oven after the turkey is out.</p> <p>Make a prep list with times/ prep everything you can the day before.</p> <p>7am prep turkey and preheat oven<br /> 7:30 start cooking turkey<br /> 1:30 boil potatoes<br /> 2:15 mash and prep potatoes<br /> 2:30 pull turkey and let rest<br /> 2:30 warm items in oven<br /> 3pm dinner time </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328279 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 08:51:40 +0000 travelgirl1 2328279@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have turkey advice, but I do as much as I can the night before (make stuffing, peel and chop veg). If people offer help, let them! Write everything down with timings and then allow for at least half an hour after it is all supposed to be done (we always misjudge when it will be ready). Have fun! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328254 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 08:42:58 +0000 yoursilverlining 2328254@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Map out your cooking spaces and needs well in advance. (i.e., X hours in oven for turkey at X temp – do you have double ovens so you could cook something else at the same time? Could you fit anything else in there along with turkey to cook at the same time?).</p> <p>Map out your baking dishes and serving dishes in advance. I set everything out on the dining room table and just put a stick-it note on each dish so I remember where everything should go. Then you don’t have any surprises come the day of. </p> <p>Make sure you have EVERYTHING you need on hand at least a few days in advance. </p> <p>Much of thanksgiving can be made ahead – do as much as you can in chunks. Even prep – chop up all your potatoes the night before, so the day of all you have to do is boil and mash them (or roast up, whatever your preferred method). </p> <p>Thanksgiving dinner isn’t really all that overwhelming, as long as you prep accordingly and give yourself enough time. </p> <p>I'm personally a fan of dry-bining turkey (and whole chickens). We do ours just with salt, pepper and some orange zest. (sounds weird, tastes delicious) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328188 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 08:22:22 +0000 mrsrain 2328188@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband spatchcocks the turkey... A weird term, but the turkey cooks in like 2 hours! <a href="http://www.marthastewart.com/355976/roast-spatchcocked-turkey" rel="nofollow">http://www.marthastewart.com/355976/roast-spatchcocked-turkey</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328129 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:48:44 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2328129@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>One more tip: get your turkey as soon as they hit the store! Experts are predicting a shortage of turkeys this year. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328116 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:38:09 +0000 looch 2328116@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think the rule of thumb is one pound per person and anything over 12 pounds requires too much oven time for me, so I'd suggest going with two smaller turkeys.</p> <p>I am skipping that entirely this year though and going with two breasts and a couple of legs. We don't carve at the table (and no one is skilled at it anyway) so I am skipping the whole bird. If anyone wants to complain that it's not traditional, they can go and have a Big Mac down the road. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328100 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:17:27 +0000 BSB 2328100@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>If you and your family likes turkey, I would test cook. We love turkey in our house so turkey sounds amazing right now. We freeze it and eat it pretty much most of the year. Turkey noodle soup would be soo good now. </p> <p>Anyway, I definitely have used Alton Brown's recipe online and watched his Good Eats episode. For some reason his online recipe doesn't include the turkey tent that is on his show. So weird, so I do a online &amp; turkey tent version when I make mine. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328099 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:16:34 +0000 regberadaisy 2328099@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@shopaholic: do you have any large buckets or stock pots? It's been our experience that most brine recipes are a little salty, so we always reduce the salt amount. Most times it's cold enough outside with the ice in the brine, that we keep the turkey outside. We cook a humongous bird and there's just no room in the fridge! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328094 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 07:11:31 +0000 blackbird 2328094@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Have you thought about cooking turkey breasts and/or tenderloins? It cooks much faster!</p> <p>i also third brining it! I brine so many meats--turkey, pork chops, etc, and it makes a WORLD of difference. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328060 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 06:09:00 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2328060@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I hosted Thanksgiving two years ago for eight adults. I did some prep the day before, which helped alot. For instance day of prep including all of the veggie chopping and cheese shredding. I tried prepared two side dishes the day before that could be warmed up/ finished in the microwave or oven.</p> <p>I got up extra early Thanksgiving morning to brine the turkey, but didn't have to worry about more prep &amp; cooking for a few hours. I served ham along with the turkey. Instead of getting a gigantic turkey I would just get turkey legs or just breast if you still want more turkey. I like turkey breast for day after sandwiches &amp; salads, but many prefer dark meat legs if they eat it on Thanksgiving.</p> <p>If you are already familiar with the foods you plan to make then you can easily create a timeline of how long each dish will take and work backwards so that everything is served hot. If you're following recipes for the first time then I'd tack on at least 25% more time. </p> <p>Two days before the dinner I set up all of my serving dishes and utensils just to make sure everything had a place and it also helped remind me of any necessary accouterments. I also did a grocery/ pantry inventory check at that time to beat the super last minute shoppers. </p> <p>I had family help me assemble the punch and accepted offers to bring desserts. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328036 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 04:43:08 +0000 autumnleaves 2328036@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Alton Brown did a Good Eats episode on turkey that we youtube and follow for thanksgiving.<br /> With a large group would you get a ham in addition to making a turkey? </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328027 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 03:53:13 +0000 lamariniere 2328027@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I have only cooked the turkey twice and used this recipe, which dry brines the turkey. It was relatively easy and fantastic!</p> <p><a href="http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/salted-roast-turkey-with-herbs-and-shallot-dijon-gravy-350432" rel="nofollow">http://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/salted-roast-turkey-with-herbs-and-shallot-dijon-gravy-350432</a> </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2328003 Wed, 21 Oct 2015 01:03:07 +0000 shopaholic 2328003@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Mrsk: Ooh! That sounds really yummy! I think I'll test cook that just because! Do you also brine it the day before?</p> <p>@Tanjowen: @regberadaisy: @Freckles: OK, 3 votes for brining! I've never done that before, so I'll try it out - if only to figure out how to prep it. It seems a little confusing with the double-bagging instructions. Thanks for the tips! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327845 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:15:24 +0000 Freckles 2327845@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Definitely brine it! I use the Alton Brown recipe and it is so good.</p> <p>I make a schedule and also plan out what needs the oven, what uses the stove stop, and what can be left out at room temp. </p> <p>I also do as much prep the night before (chopping, washing, etc). </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327827 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:07:09 +0000 Mrs. Microscope 2327827@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My family are pros at time management on Thanksgiving! My cousins have a huge chalkboard in the kitchen, and everything is figured out the day before! Having only 1 oven, you have to figure it out. Times to prep everything, cook, set the table, you name it! Even the parade time and channel, as well as football times and channels are on the schedule. Good luck! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327821 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 20:03:37 +0000 Kimberlybee 2327821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>How exciting! I like making the sides but have never really cooked a turkey by myself before. I've helped out at my aunt's but she's always instructed me on what to do. Good luck, I know you'll be such a fabulous hostess! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327806 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:58:40 +0000 regberadaisy 2327806@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Brining the turkey is definitely key to a moist bird!!! Leave time for the turkey to rest and time to carve it! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327796 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:54:51 +0000 Tanjowen 2327796@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>My husband brines our turkey for 24 hours before it cooks, and it comes out so juicy! <a href="http://www.food.com/recipe/turkey-brine-101391" rel="nofollow">http://www.food.com/recipe/turkey-brine-101391</a></p> <p>We also try to make or assemble dishes the day before so all you have to do is heat them up or throw in the oven to cook. Green bean casserole can be prepared beforehand, and mashed potatoes can be made and then reheated in a crockpot a few hours before serving. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327756 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:30:31 +0000 Mrsk 2327756@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We always get compliments on our Turkey! After you rinse it, we pay it dry and put it in the roasting pan. If you plan to stuff it, do so and tie up the legs together. Then we smear butter over the whole turkey and then cover the whole thing with bacon. we then pour a beer in the bottom of the pan and then cook to the internal temp for a turkey, maybe a little tiny bit less as it always continues cooking a little bit longer once it's out of the oven. The fat and juice from the bacon seeps into the turkey and it's very moist and juicy! Plus you've never had bacon so good! Wish I cooked all my bacon on a turkey! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327754 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:28:41 +0000 MrsSRS 2327754@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I wouldn't practice cook, but I would make a list of all dishes and then, starting with dinner time and working backward, make a detailed list of what has to be done every half hour to fit everything together. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/thanksgiving-dinner-prep#post-2327751 Tue, 20 Oct 2015 19:26:31 +0000 shopaholic 2327751@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I'm hosting Thanksgiving Dinner this year and it'll be the first time in over a decade that I'll have cooked a turkey! And never one for such a big group! </p> <p>Should I cook a practice turkey? And if so, should I get the same size I'll be cooking, or is a little one enough practice?<br /> I'm really most worried about time management and cooking being done on time. I expect we'll have about 15 adults + a few kids. That requires a pretty big turkey right?</p> <p>Also, ANY tips welcomed. I haven't hosted a Thanskgiving dinner ever! </p>