Thanksgiving Time Savers
Thanksgiving may actually be my favorite holiday. I’ve always felt such a sense of peace on Thanksgiving morning. I remember being very young and waking to the smell of my mama boiling a chicken to make chicken noodles to accompany the turkey and dressing. I can see her sitting at the kitchen table cutting veggies to prepare the salads she took year after year to my grandparents house where we would gather for a noontime Thanksgiving meal. She’d already have the Macy’s Day Parade on in the living room and she’d quickly put me to work pealing potatoes. We’d sample the dishes she had prepared in place of breakfast and sip hot apple cider while waiting patiently to see the Radio City Rockettes preform their mile high kicks in the middle of W. 34th Street.
The morning passed slowly and I enjoyed the slowness. Still to this day, I enjoy the quite, restful morning. Now as an adult I continuously strive to achieve peace in my home, the stillness and thankfulness of a good quiet morning full of rest and especially around the holidays. In order for that to happen, I do a few things during the week leading up to Thanksgiving to make the day go smoothly.
Tablescaping I always set the table the night before, once everyone has gone to bed. I also get out all my serving dishes the night before.
Pies I make a few things like my pies and cranberry sauce a day or two ahead and I also pull out some of the ingredients I know I’ll be needing on Thanksgiving. It just helps make all the cooking a little smoother when everything is at your fingertips.
Potatoes Another time saver includes pealing potatoes and slicing them the day ahead. Do this then just store them in a bowl of cold water in the refrigerator until it’s time to boil them. Just drain, and add to a stock pot with fresh cold water. Boil until for tender.
Veggies I also wash, chop and prep all my side dishes and veggies the day before and then store them in a ziplock bag.
Turkey On Monday you should be defrosting your turkey, (if you purchase a frozen turkey). Then, brine it on Tuesday. Drain and dry it all day Wednesday, in the refrigerator uncovered. Then on Thursday morning- truss it, Butter it, and prepare it for cooking. We fry our turkey because it’s just so good, but also it’s much quicker thank roasting it in the oven. I entrust the turkey frying to my husband. He’s good at it, he enjoys it and by frying the turkey outside it frees up the oven for important things like roasting veggies and warming yeast rolls (visit my recipes for the easiest and best yeast roll recipe.)
Don’t forget the snacks!
If your family is at all like mine serve up some pre-meal snacks. But keep it simple y’all. A good cheeseboard with a fun cocktail. Or shrimp cocktail and good wine make for an easy appetizer!
Be sure to check out the rest of the blog for more recipes!
Give thanks to the lord, for He is good. His mercy endures forever. Psalm 107:1
And most of all enjoy your company. Because what matters most are those around your table and not what’s on your table. Be in the moment, eat, rest, and enjoy!! Happy Thanksgiving y’all!