Plan Ahead
The Day Before
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Make the Double-Cheese Wheel; wrap tightly and store in refrigerator.
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Make the Pineapple Salsa; refrigerate.
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Prepare Ginger Lemonade and refrigerate; slice lemons for serving and store separately in refrigerator in plastic bag.
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Make Cilantro Dressing for Potato-Vegetable Salad; cover and refrigerate. Prepare vegetables for salad; cover and refrigerate separately.
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Make Zucchini Bars; store covered.
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Carve melon and prepare fruits for the cornucopia; store separately in refrigerator.
The Morning Of
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Assemble salad; refrigerate covered.
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Prepare garlic for grilling for the Grilled Garlic with French Bread. Slice bread; store wrapped in foil.
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Arrange fruits in melon; refrigerate.
About 5 Hours Before Guests Arrive
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Start charcoal. If using instant-light charcoal, wait an extra 30 minutes.
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Prepare turkey for grilling; place on grill 4 hours before guests are anticipated.
When Guests Arrive
- Serve lemonade over ice with lemon slices.
- Serve appetizers.
30 Minutes Before Serving the Meal
5 Minutes Before Serving the Meal
Party Guide
Backyard Big-Time Fun
- Drag out all your yard games--bocce, croquet, badminton--and if you have a Ping-Pong table hiding in the garage, get it out, too! Organize the Big Games so everyone plays. Include a balloon toss or bubble-blowing event for the "sports-challenged" guests. Post an ongoing scoreboard. Expect a lot of cheering and friendly badgering. Award some crazy prizes to the high and low scores and one for the "best sport."
- No yard games in your garage? No problem! Create a three-legged turkey race (two people race as one with one leg of each tied together). A turkey-warbling contest can create more laughter and fun; direct guests to put their best voice forward and let it all hang out. A rubber chicken is one prize you have to award! Or make your own blue ribbon for the first prize "Biggest Turkey" award.
Backyard Big-Time Decor
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If shade is limited in your yard, you may want to rent a tent or canopy to cover food and eating tables. Party canopies are becoming readily available at discount and farm and home stores for inexpensive purchase.
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Supply guests with extra-large paper napkins. Or consider purchasing inexpensive colorful washcloths or hand towels; they're extra-absorbent for summer food fare, and they wrap around utensils nicely for easy pickup. They also wash up like a dream and require no ironing.
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If your guests have a sense of humor, use turkey dacor. You may just find plates, napkins and the works in a bargain store corner!
Big-Time Food Presentation
- No need to worry about having a special turkey platter. This is an outdoor party! Cover a tray with heavy-duty aluminum foil; crimp the edges for easy toting.
Big-Time Help
- Need help with purchasing, thawing and carving that bird? Check out these additional tips on BettyCrocker.com:
All About Broiling or Grilling Turkey
How to Carve a Whole Bird