Thanksgiving… Are you ready???

Stressed yet for Thanksgiving?

First I need to say something, loudly… YES YES YES!  Happy V-A-C-A-T-I-O-N to me 🙂  LOL

Man that felt good.  There I feel… “WOO HOO!!! ” WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!”  LOL  Whoa!  I’m dizzy!

Don’t get me wrong now; I truly love my job.  Okay fine.. yes I brought my laptop home and work just “in case” I need to work or go stir crazy.  I’m so not a sit-still type of person; obviously.  Working a demanding job and then starting up The Kitchen Whisperer and orders galore.. I LOVE IT!

Okay so now that my cheeks are flushed and I’m grinning from ear to ear because I’m home for almost 2 weeks; working in my jammies and pig slippers (side note… I LOOOOOOOVE pigs.  I mean L-O-V-E!  If I could have a teacup miniature pig and hide it from Mr. Fantabulous I would!).

Alright I’m done rubbing it in that I’m *whispers* off for 2 weeks,  let’s talk Turkey.

Are you ready people?  Don’t stress.  Just take a deep breath; sip some wine… swallow.. Take another sip… Okay, one more sip.. HEY HEY HEY! I said a SIP!  PUT THE BOTTLE DOWN!  LOL

So here are some quick tips to hopefully help you get through it all:

1. Turkey – if you bought it frozen, it should be in the fridge defrosting by now.  For a 10lb or higher it should have been in the fridge since late Sunday, early Monday for a Thursday dinner.
2. Pies – If you make your own (yes, you should make your own!  Your family will truly appreciate it!).  If you made them ahead of time and stuck them in the freezer, take them out the day before Thanksgiving to defrost.  If they are custard-based, like Pumpkin, store them in the fridge!  Fruit pies and pecan pies can be kept at room temperature.
   1.  If you haven’t made your pies yet, use Wednesday as a day to make your pies and treats.  Pie crusts can be even made now (well after you read this post and check out our Facebook page.  Just make them, form into round disks, wrap in plastic and put in the fridge over night.  Tomorrow just take them out about 15 minutes before you’re ready to roll ’em out and you’re good to go.
3. Stock – If you have stock from previous turkeys, defrost that as well.
4. Tables – Set up your table/buffet stations.  Have all serving spoons, forks, tongs, flippers, etc out and in place where you want the food to go.
   1. If you’re like me, you’re anal and EVERYTHING has a particular place; i.e., there are to be 2 gravy boats – 1 near the turkey and stuffing and the other next to the mashed potatoes, corn next to the potatoes and 2 butter dishes with 2 baskets of rolls placed far enough apart.  This, obviously is for buffet style but it still should be that way for sit down.
   2. So if people want to help you the day of Thanksgiving and put items on the table/serving stations, to help you retain peace of mind, take 10 minutes, grab a Post-it pad and mark each bowl/location with what goes there. You work so hard preparing the meal and making sure everything is perfect.  Give yourself that little bit of reassurance that Aunt Martha placed the corn next to the potatoes and not next to the cucka brussel sprouts!
5. Booze -Yes you read right, booze!  Al-key-hall! Hooch! Stuff you need to get through a day with your family without killing them or using the butter knife on yourself. *hides from her most amazing family.. just kidding guys*  LOL  If you live where it’s colder this time of year and you really don’t have the fridge space, put the beer and wine outside in a covered area.  ‘Roun’ dis here parts we call that our Redneck Fridge.  LOL  If you don’t and it’s warm, break out the cooler and get ice.  If you can get ice Wed. night and store it in the freezer, great.  If not and your cooler is one of those Styrofoam ones where it makes that ear bleeding sound when you squeak it, get it the morning of Thanksgiving.  Put the beer and wine in the cooler, add the ice and cover.
6. Take home containers – If you’re family is like mine then they LOVE left overs which I am ever-so-happy to offload (I rarely eat left overs personally).  Tell them to bring their own bowls and containers.  I will NOT give out my tupperware or good containers as I will NEVER see it.  To my family:  I’m still missing one of my rectangular blue Tupperware containers from 7 years ago.  You think I forgot huh? But one person will forget to bring their own to make a trip to the Dollar Store and pick up a few bucks worth of containers.  Be the well-stocked host/hostess!
7. Side Dishes –
   1. Candied yams can be made the day before and reheated while you’re making gravy and the bird is resting.
   2. The Green Bean Casserole can be prepped and ready in the bowl to be heated as well… sans the crispy onion thingamajiggers.
   3. Homemade applesauce can be made and ready to go the day before to.
   4. I don’t recommend making mashed potatoes, cooking the broccoli, cauliflower or cucka brussel sprouts prior.  They will get mushy (the veggies that is).  The taters just get ‘funky’.
8. Rolls – If you made your own and froze it, take them out the night before and let them defrost. If you cheated and bought the store bought ones (okay yes, I’ve done this as well…it does save time), set them on a cookie sheet 15 min before you pop them in the oven to warm.  Any longer and they will get hard sitting out.
9. Extras –
   1. Have extra toilet paper sitting out
   2. Make sure you have pre-dinner snacks out but keep it light else people will pig out on that and get too full to eat
   3. Have aluminum foil, plastic wrap and extra baggies
   4. EMPTY TRASH before people come!  Start with a fresh bag
   5. For God sake.. make sure you have the game on!  LOL
   6. Tell your guests ahead of time if they want to bring something to bring their favorite beverage of choice and a clean dish cloth as they will be helping you clean up and dry!  And don’t forget to remind them about the containers for leftovers!

Now take a deep breath, put on your favorite jammies and take a deep breath.  You’ll get through this and your family will love it!

As for me, since I’m on VACATION… I’m going to have cereal for dinner and watch a movie with Mr. Fantabulous!

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