About 1 week prior to Thanksgiving you need to purchase the turkey and put it into the freezer
Turkey 10-12lb will feed 6 people with leftovers
Sunday before Thanksgiving
Remove bird from the freezer
Place on a sheet pan
Thaw in refrigerator, this will take at least 3 days. If it isn’t thawing fast enough, take it out of the refrigerator and put on the counter. Check it every day. Leave the bag on.
Monday
Check the turkey for thawing
Purchase ingredients
Celery, enough for 2C chopped
Onions, enough for 2C chopped
Cranberries, 1lb bag
1ea orange,
Parsley, 1 bunch
2ea lb loaves of Wonder bread,
Poultry seasoning about 2T to 4T, but need to adjust as you prepare the dressing
Dried sage, about 2T to 4T to be adjusted as you prepare the dressing. Be careful not to use too much
1 medium potato per person
1lb Butter,
1/2gallon Whole milk,
1quart Heavy cream
5lb bag of Sugar
Tuesday
Check bird for thawing and leave on counter for a couple of hours to speed defrosting. Leave the bag on.
Return to refrigerator
Turkey needs to be thawed enough by Wednesday to remove the giblets
Polish silver tray, serving pieces, and silverware
Check tablecloth and linens
Check the crystal
Clean the bathrooms and mop K floor
Wednesday
Remove the bird from the bag
Remove the giblets
Use the neck, heart, gizzard, and tail. Discard the liver
Place the giblets in a saucepan
Cover with water, salt, and simmer until the neck meat is tender
Reserve the cooking liquid and refrigerate
Dad eats the heart and gizzard with salt and pepper
Chop the neck meat to use in the dressing
Cool the giblets and refrigerate
Sides
Dressing inside and out of the bird
Desserts
Penny’s Dessert
Thursday
Sides
Gravy
Appetizers
Queso Blanco w/Sweet Potato Chips
Set the table
Dinner around 4PM
Remove the bird from the refrigerator at 11AM for a 10-12lb bird earlier for a bigger one
It will take about 3hrs for a 10-12lb turkey to cook and needs about 20min to rest. For a larger turkey follow the package directions
Rinse the inside and outside of the bird, pat dry, and place on a rack in a roasting pan
Preheat the oven to 300F
Stuff the bird with the dressing you made yesterday
Tie the legs together
Rub with olive oil, salt, and pepper
Cover and put into the oven
At about 3/4 of the way through the cooking time
(Use the cooking time on the turkey package)
Remove the cover so that the turkey will brown
Make the mashed potatoes
Make the gravy
Take the turkey out of the oven, put on the serving tray, and garnish with parsley, peaches, and cinnamon apples
Pour the wine
Serve dinner
Mad Dog and Celeste's Recipes 