Your First Thanksgiving
Here's the help you've wanted so you can prepare and serve a traditional and delicious Thanksgiving dinner just like Grandma's. We provide dishes you can prepare in advance of the big day as well as help in dovetailing the preparations for this family-and-friends feast. If you receive offers of help, take them! Everyone likes to pitch in with this special dinner. So go ahead and send those dinner invitations!
Make It Special!
Easy-Does-It Appetizer
- Make a light and easy appetizer that doubles as the salad. Any apple and pear combination works.
Simplify Serviceware and Linens
- Short on serving bowls? Try inexpensive sturdy plastic bowls available in the housewares or party supply section of your favorite store.
- There's no need to worry about matching linens. Select from the array of bright, colorful paper napkins and place mats available.
Stunning and Colorful Centerpiece
- Fill a large bowl or dish with chrysanthemums.
Preparation Guide
Up to 1 Month Before
- Freeze purchased dinner rolls tightly wrapped.
Up to 5 Days Before
2 Days Before
- Make Cranberry Sauce; cover and refrigerate.
- Make Sweetened Whipped Cream for Pumpkin Pie; freeze as directed in recipe tip.
1 Day Before
- Make Bread Stuffing; cover and refrigerate immediately.
- Peel, slice and cook carrots for Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots; cover and refrigerate.
- Make Pumpkin Pie, or purchase from your favorite bakery.
- Make Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes through step 4.
About 6 Hours Before
- Remove rolls from freezer.
- Prepare glaze ingredients for Brown Sugar-Glazed Carrots; place in skillet and leave at room temperature until ready to finish.
About 4 Hours Before
- Wash turkey; pat dry with paper towels. Stuff with Bread Stuffing.
- Place turkey in oven for roasting immediately after stuffing.
About 2 Hours Before
- Wash apples and pears; core and slice. Dip into lemon juice to keep them from turning brown. Arrange apple and pear slices on a serving plate with a small bowl of lemon yogurt as the dip. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate until serving.
About 1 Hour Before
- Bake Do-Ahead Mashed Potatoes, following step 5.
About 30 Minutes Before
- Remove turkey from oven; place on carving board or platter, and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- Remove stuffing from turkey; place in serving bowl and cover with aluminum foil to keep warm.
- Make Foolproof Gravy.
About 20 Minutes Before
- Heat rolls in aluminum foil in 325°F oven until hot.
About 10 Minutes Before
- Heat the glaze for the carrots; add carrots.
- Carve the turkey and arrange on a platter. If serving time is delayed, cover carved turkey with aluminum foil to keep warm.
Just Before Serving Dessert
- Place frozen dollops of whipped cream on servings of Pumpkin Pie; let stand 5 minutes to thaw.