Cajun Thanksgiving

Up to 1 Month Before

• Make Bread Machine Jalapeño Corn Bread; store tightly wrapped in freezer.
• Make Hot and Spicy Peanuts.

2 Days Before

• Make Cranberry Sauce; store covered in refrigerator.

The Day Before

• Bake Sweet Potato Pie with Cornmeal Pastry; refrigerate.
• Make Family-Favorite Macaroni and Cheese; cover assembled unbaked casserole and refrigerate.
• Cook brown rice for Cumin Confetti Rice; store covered in refrigerator.
• Prepare vegetables for Cajun Vegetables; store separately, tightly covered, in refrigerator. Rinse and drain black-eyed peas for Cajun Vegetables; store tightly covered in refrigerator.
• Wash and chop greens for Hot and Spicy Greens; store covered in refrigerator. Chop onion, seed and chop chili and grate gingerroot; cover and store each separately in refrigerator.
• Prepare turkey for marinating. Rub spice rub on turkey; inject the bird with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate.

About 1 Hour Before Serving Dinner

• Cook Cajun Deep-Fried Turkey.

About 45 Minutes Before Serving Dinner

• Bake macaroni and cheese.

About 15 Minutes Before Serving Dinner

• Finish cooking Cumin Confetti Rice.
• Cook Hot and Spicy Greens.

Make It Special! 

• Music is a must. Set the scene with borrowed or purchased Cajun music. If live music is available, go for it!
• Spice up your dinner table with more than just a spicy turkey.
• Adorn the dinner table with miniature lights and colorful strings of beads and ribbons woven and wound around pumpkins and squash. Look for both at party, craft or discount stores.
• Jazz up place settings by coiling prestrung beads around napkins.
• Punctuate fall colors with metallics. Shop tag sales and outlets for bargain-priced table (or even bed) linens. Remember, they don't have to match!
• Make a serving tray by using a tag-sale gold picture frame. Screw on handles so it can be easily carried. Place decorative ribbons or colorful napkins inside the frame in random fashion.
• Perk up Cranberry Sauce by spooning it into stemware tied with ribbons. Sprinkle the sauce with orange peel curls, chopped toasted pecans or sliced jalapeños.