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I have been looking forward to Thanksgiving since Labor Day.
We’ve hosted Thanksgiving at our home since the year Joe and I got engaged. I love it.
After we clean our house (a big, stressful job), Thanksgiving preparations are relatively simple. Planning an easy Thanksgiving menu makes a big difference.
We cook a lot of different foods, but many of them are made ahead and reheated just before dinner. My only Thanksgiving day headache is trying to get everything hot at the same time. It can be tricky, and I have no magic trick to get it right.
In any case, the dishes are easy and most of them stay hot (or cold) long enough that it works itself out.
Without further ado, here’s what we’re serving for Thanksgiving.
Our Easy Thanksgiving Menu
- Sparkling cider (our favorite brand is Martinelli’s)
- A relish tray with black olives, salad olives (green ones stuffed with pimentos), dill pickles, and bread & butter pickles
- Roast turkey, prepared according to the directions on the frozen turkey’s wrapper (we get this free every year by spending a certain number of dollars in a given time period)
- Chestnut Stuffing (or Chestnut Dressing depending on who’s describing it)
- Crock Pot Mashed Potatoes with gravy prepared by my mom using the turkey juice (is that called drippings?) and flour
- Candied Sweet Potatoes
- Green Bean Casserole
- Carrot Souffle
- Homemade Orange Cranberry Sauce
- Grand’s really big flaky buttered biscuits served with real butter and homemade jam – I know they’re cheating, but my Dad loves them.
- Gourmet Pumpkin Pie with Pecan Topping served with whipped topping and vanilla ice cream
- My Favorite Pecan Pie
- The Easiest Cherry Pie Ever
I love how Joe and I split all of the duties of Thanksgiving. I think our division of labor is one of the main reasons that I love the holiday so much.
Neither of us is overwhelmed with work, and we clear the table right into the dishwasher. By the time we’re all eating dessert, the first load of dishes are clean, and they can be put away.
In this post, I’ll tell you when to plan ahead and prepare each dish for a minimum of hassle on Thanksgiving morning.
In the meantime, you can start to put your shopping list together.
Photo courtesy of basykes on Flickr
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{ 32 comments… read them below or add one }
Yummy – I'm hungry now! We host Thanksgiving too! I've got to check out the crockpot mashed potatoes! We make crockpot stuffing that everybody just loves. And of course, we have waaayyyy too much dessert every year!
Lisa
Yummy – I'm hungry now! We host Thanksgiving too! I've got to check out the crockpot mashed potatoes! We make crockpot stuffing that everybody just loves. And of course, we have waaayyyy too much dessert every year!
Lisa
I love your place settings and table. Nice! I'll need to come back and read all these tips when we get a little closer to Thanksgiving!
I love your place settings and table. Nice! I'll need to come back and read all these tips when we get a little closer to Thanksgiving!
Your menu sounds delicious. We will be staying home for Thanksgiving. Just hubby and the kids. I love cooking for Thanksgiving! I make a double layer pumpkin pie each year.
Your menu sounds delicious. We will be staying home for Thanksgiving. Just hubby and the kids. I love cooking for Thanksgiving! I make a double layer pumpkin pie each year.
I love your table and the carrot souffle recipe.
Geri
I love your table and the carrot souffle recipe.
Geri
sounds like a great menu and a great plan to get it all together
sounds like a great menu and a great plan to get it all together
You've got me hungry! Sounds like a great meal!!
You've got me hungry! Sounds like a great meal!!
Sounds like a wonderful arrangement. It's so nice not to stress out and enjoy the holiday.
vickie
Great recipe links!!!
Now I really want to eat a turkey. (Sounds delish!)
Now I really want to eat a turkey. (Sounds delish!)
What a GREAT holiday tackle:-)
Our menu is fairly simple like this also. Brad MUST have his green bean casserole (I don't like it tho), and Taylor MUST have sweet potatoes with marshmallows.
Beautiful set up. Now I can’t wait for Thanksgiving Dinner:)
Yes! I totally understand that.
Everything on our list (except for the carrot souffle, which is a recent addition) is a MUST HAVE. 3 pies for 6 people? I can't bear to leave one off. I'd rather send 3/4 of a pie home with someone than not have a slice of each on the big day. Isn't that silly?
Your Thanksgiving menu looks delicious! Counting the days until Thanksgiving:)
Blessings!
Gail
I need to get my Thanksgiving menu planned out. This is our second year having Thanksgiving at home and this time friends will be joining us. Yours looks like a great menu & your table is gorgeous!
YUM.
That sounds fabulous.
I may be stealing some of these ideas!
Found you through the chic chick widget- so glad I did.
This sounds good. My menu is just whatever my cousin is cooking
But I will be taking the crock pot mashed potatoes.
Looks like a “smart” menu that has given you freedom to enjoy the family day. And I'm so glad to see your recipe for Carrot Souffle. I've been looking for that one.
I think I wrote it on the Carrot Souffle post, but it's not actually my recipe. I got it from Ilina, one of my editors on Foodie Mama.
It's delicious. Dessert-like, even.
I'm making Thanksgiving this year for the first time. It's just me and my parents, but I'll definitely be back for your tips on how to prepare things ahead of time!
Great menu!! I make my own cranberry sauce each year and what doesn't get eaten gets dabbled with a bit and ultimately turns into cranberry sorbet.
Thanks for sharing with TATT!
I am making Thanksgiving dinner at my home for the second time! Thanks for the helpful links! YUM!
Oh man, everything sounds great! I am doing Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes w/ marshmallows, corn, and pumpkin pie (store bought kind). I am not a big baker or cook for that matter. I do love to eat though.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
DAWN
Oh man, everything sounds great! I am doing Turkey, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes w/ marshmallows, corn, and pumpkin pie (store bought kind). I am not a big baker or cook for that matter. I do love to eat though.
Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family!
DAWN
I love Carrot Souffle! It’s like orange brownies. Thanks for stopping by and linking up.
Karen
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