Southern Style Thanksgiving

Up to a Week Ahead

• Make Hot and Spicy Peanuts.
• Make Frozen Cranberry Margaritas.
• Decide whether to prepare or purchase dinner rolls and cranberry sauce.

Up to 3 Days Ahead

• Thaw turkey

The Day Before

• Make Praline-Pumpkin Cake; refrigerate.
• Prepare Marinated Veggies; store covered in refrigerator.
• Cook bacon, shred cheese and chop parsley for Pepper Jack-Bacon Mashers; store separately, tightly covered, in refrigerator.
• Prepare turkey for marinating. Rub spice rub on turkey; inject the bird with the marinade. Cover and refrigerate.
• Prepare Cranberry Sauce, if using recipe. Chill or thaw purchased cranberry sauce.
• Wrap purchased dinner rolls tightly in foil.

About 4 Hours Before Serving

• Prepare and cook Slow Cooker Chorizo, Pecan and Cheddar Stuffing.

About 11/2 Hours Before Serving

• Make Classic Baked Corn Pudding.

About 1 Hour Before Serving

• Cook Southern-Style Deep-Fried Turkey.

About 30 Minutes Before Serving Dinner

• Set out Hot and Spicy Peanuts and serve guests margaritas or other favorite sippers as they arrive.

About 15 Minutes Before Serving

• Prepare Pepper Jack-Bacon Mashers.
• Bake Garlic-Rosemary French Rolls (if served). Place purchased rolls in oven to heat.
• Place cranberry sauce in serving bowl.

Make It Special!

• Sit-down dinner or buffet?  That’s the decision that will guide your centerpiece choice.  Taller arrangements work at the back of a buffet; lower arrangements that don’t interfere with conversations are good sit-down dinner choices.

• Tuck a few blooms on waterpicks among the trailing foliage of houseplants. Football mums might be just the thing! (Waterpicks are the small water vials that hold water for cut flowers added to potted plants.  Florists are where you can find them.)

• Burnish large oak leaves with metallic spray paint.  Use in vase with rich toned blooms, colorful twigs and a few pheasant feathers.

Success Strategies

• Before or after the game?  Check television schedule. If family will be watching a game before you eat, more appetizers might be called for.  Good additional suggestions are: The Big Game Chex® Mix and Portabellas with Corn Salsa.

• If wine is part of the meal, choose richer, more robust reds and more flavorful whites than those that typically grace the Thanksgiving meal.  We like California Syrah or Australian Shiraz with rich tasting deep-fried turkey.  Or, consult your wine merchant for a regional wine that’s perfect with this menu.

• If you have yet to invest in the equipment needed for deep-fried turkey, here are two alternative spicy turkey suggestions: Southwestern Turkey or Grilled Chipotle Turkey Breast.