Thanksgiving cheat sheet - Part 2

Thanksgiving day cheat sheet step by step for the big day

Thanksgiving morning:

• Prepare the stuffing. Cover and refrigerate.
• Wrap your roasting pan with foil or use a disposable roasting pan or cooking bag for a quick cleanup.
• Clean the turkey, removing the bag of giblets. Place the turkey in the prepared roasting pan and put it back in the fridge.
• Simmer the giblets, adding water as needed until tender. Then refrigerate, covered with liquid, until needed for the gravy.
• Use your slow cooker if extra space is needed to keep menu items warm.
• Children can help set the table and create place cards for each setting.
• Prep any pre-dinner appetizers.
• Clean as you go to avoid big cleanups later. 

Four hours before dinner:

• Stuff the turkey.
• Put the turkey in the oven. The roasting time will depend on size of the bird. 

Three hours before dinner:

• Clean green beans, cover and set aside. 
• Cook sweet potatoes.

Two hours before dinner:

• Peel potatoes, then cube them and cover with salt water — simmer until tender. 
• Finish preparing any additional vegetables.

One hour before dinner:

• Fill a small pitcher with half-and-half or milk for coffee — cover and refrigerate. Fill sugar bowl.
• Set out appetizers along with napkins and small plates, if using.

One half-hour before dinner:

• Remove the turkey from the oven. Let it sit 20 minutes before carving.
• Reheat bread, vegetables and other side dishes, if necessary.
• Make gravy, using the drippings from turkey and the giblets.
• Mash the potatoes.
• Place vegetables, cranberry sauce and other side dishes in serving bowls.

Serve dinner!

• Whisk the gravy and pour it into a gravy boat.
• Open wine and pour into decanters or glasses.
• Set out a pitcher of water so people can help themselves.
• Make sure there are salt and pepper shakers on the table.

After dinner:

• Put coffee on to brew and boil hot water for tea.
• Set out the milk or cream and sugar, as well as tea bags.
• Serve dessert, coffee and after-dinner drinks.
• If the weather permits, take a walk to enjoy each other's company and digest.