Classic Thanksgiving

The Drinks & Nibbles

The Turkey & Trimmings

The Sides - Your Choice

The Pies

The Children's Table - Choose One

Festive Place Cards

• Cut a slit across the top (in front of the stems) of miniature pumpkins. Write the name of each guest on a small card, and place it in the slit of each pumpkin (the stem will help hold it up). Or instead of cutting slits in the pumpkins, secure each card to the pumpkin with a T-shaped pin. Place each place card on a pressed leaf near each place setting.
  
  
• Add a few seasonal greens and blooms to miniature vases you set at each place setting.  No centerpiece needed!
  

Fall Harvest Centerpiece

• Scatter colored leaves down the center of your table, and place votive candles in glass containers on leaves.
  
  
• Arrange small and miniature pumpkins and gourds (from roadside stands, garden centers or grocery stores) along with whole nuts and fruits, such as apples and kumquats, down the center of your table. Or, use the Cheese Pumpkins as part of the centerpiece.
  

The Children’s Table

• Use disposable dinnerware and easily cleaned placemats or linens.
  
  
• Make decorating Turkey Cupcakes or Turkey Cookie Treats part of the after dinner fun.

Up to 2 Months Before

• Bake cupcakes for Turkey Cupcakes (if served).  Tightly cover unfrosted cupcakes and freeze.
• Bake cookies for Turkey Cookie Treats (if served) through step 2.  Tightly wrap unfrosted cookies and freeze.

Up to 3 Days Before

• Thaw turkey, using our Poultry Thawing Chart as a guide.

The Day Before

• Make Cheese Pumpkins through step 2.
• Cut up celery and Havarti cheese for Apple-Pear Salad (if served); refrigerate in separate containers. Mix salad dressing ingredients; refrigerate.
• Chop bell pepper and slice green onions for Creamy Confetti Succotash (if served); refrigerate in resealable food-safe plastic bag. 
• Bake Maple Pecan Pie; cover and refrigerate.
• Bake Tempting Pumpkin Pie; cover and refrigerate.

About 6 Hours Before

• Prepare Herb-Scented Roast Turkey with Corn Bread Stuffing.
• Peel potatoes for Velvet Mashed Potatoes. Place in Dutch oven and cover with salted water until ready to cook.
• Cut up butternut squash for Broccoli and Squash Medley (if served); refrigerate.
• Remove cookies and/or cupcakes from freezer.

About 2 Hours Before

• Add finishing touches to Cheese Pumpkins; return to refrigerator.

About 35 Minutes Before

• Cook and mash potatoes.
• Prepare and bake Green Beans with Leeks (if served). 
• Prepare and bake Broccoli and Squash Medley.
• Brew Peachy Spiced Cider.

About 20 Minutes Before

• Complete preparation of Creamy Confetti Succotash.
• Make Foolproof Gravy.
• Complete preparation and toss Apple-Pear Salad.
• Carve the turkey unless carved at the table.