Countdown to Turkey

By UncleDick

This is an Hour by Hour guide to a NO STRESS perfect Thanksgiving or any Holiday Dinner. It was printed in Nov. 2007 in the Sacramento Bee by writer Gwen Shoen, and I have used it ever since. You can use it for a Prime Rib dinner also, by adjusting the cooking time. I just do the cooking part and the rest of the family does the decorating and table setting. I decided to put it on Keyingredient because my newspaper is getting worn. I couldn't do it without this!!!

Ingredients

• Possible Thanksgiving Menu:
• Appetizers
• Turkey
• Stuffing
• Gravy
• Mashed Potatoes
• Yams
• Green Bean Bake
• Rolls
• Salads
• Pies

Preparation

Step 1

8am.:
1. Prepare Salads
2. Gelatin, fruit or green salad (dress later)
(day ahead option)

9am.:
1. Bake Pies
(day ahead option, I do the crusts a day ahead)
2. Select background music

10am.:
1. Set the table and arrange flowers (day ahead option)
2. Fill an ice chest with beverages and ice
3. Prepare stuffing ingredients
(keep wet and dry ingredients seperate and set aside.)

11am:
1. Fill coffee pot and get it ready to start
2. Bake rolls and remove from oven and allow to cool.
(when cool wrap in foil - day ahead option)

12 noon:
1. Prepare the turkey for the oven. Begin roasting at 12:15 pm for a 5pm dinner. Roast a 16 LB turkey at 325 for approx. 4-41/2 hours plus allow 30 min standing time before carving. (breast at 161 deg. per Alton Brown works fantastic!)
Leftover stuffing to a baking dish.
2. Make fresh cranberry sauce. (day ahead option)

1pm:
1. Shower and relax for a few minutes
2. Open the first bottle of wine
3. Prepare appetizers and eat a few yourself to keep you going!

2pm:
1. Asssemble candied yam casserole and set aside (day ahead option)
2. Whip whipping cream
3. Fill sugar bowl and cream pitcher

3pm:
1. Peel and boil potatoes for mashed potatoes
2. Combine wet and dry stuffing ingredients and put into baking dish and set aside. (if not stuffing turkey)
3. Place condiments on the table
4. Turn on dishwasher
5. Take appetizers away from party guests so they will be hungry for dinner.

4pm:
1. Rally your helpers and assign last-minute tasks.
2. Remove turkey from oven (4:15?) when breast reaches 161 deg.
3. Add last-minute things to the oven, green beans, dressing, yams etc.
4. Open wine and place beverages on table.
5. Unload dishwasher.
6. Assemble salads and put on table.
7. Mash Potatoes.
8. Put rolls in oven @ 4:45
9. Light candles
10. Carve Turkey (4:45?)

5pm:
1. Place food on table
2. Check to make sure you didn't forget anything.
3. Turn on the coffee pot.
4. Count your blessings and pass the feast!!!