Preparing for Thanksgiving Dinner

Saturday my mom was visiting so we sat down and “made the list.” The list of what dishes we would be serving. We browsed through a few new recipes we’d each pulled out, rejected some, kept others. And we have, of course, past dishes that have to be repeated (my mom’s creamed onions, for example, and my sister’s green beans). I’m doing a turkey and a ham because we have to have turkey and the girls asked for ham as well. My brother started this “two meats” thing a few years back and now everyone’s spoiled. He’s done prime rib and whole salmon or turkey and rib eye steaks or other such combinations.

Today I did the shopping. Ugh. As much as I love to cook, I really dislike shopping. I made myself go out to Costco and battle the crowds primarily because I knew they’d have good reasonably priced turkeys AND I was hoping to get a large ice tub thing to hold the wine and sodas and such. Struck out on the latter but did bring home a turkey only 4 pounds bigger than I’d wanted. 😉 Leftovers are good!

The menu as it stands includes the creamed onions and green beans, plus a corn souffle from a nephew and his fiance, pies from various folks (including apple, pumpkin, cherry, and blackberry), appetizers ranging from spinach dip to melted Brie and French bread, turkey, ham, dressing, mashed potatoes, a new sweet potato and maple syrup dish I saw, roasted root vegetables, cooked carrots, and more I’m sure I’m forgetting right now. No one will be going hungry!

I love planning this meal. And lo and behold I fit the turkey and the ham in the fridge today. I’ll need to NOT add anything else to the fridge in the meantime, but for now we’re doing okay!