Turkey Feast Time
Table
Mastering the timing of the feast
is crucial!
We recommend doing as much as
possible in advance. The actual cooking and baking work load is
split into two days for ease. Leave the evening before free to
tackle the make-ahead dishes; then you'll be ready for a delicious and
timely feast come Thanksgiving day.
Up
to 1 Week Before:
* Buy
a frozen turkey at least 4 days ahead. Begin defrosting in
refrigerator. (If purchasing fresh, buy 1 to 2 days ahead.)
|
Up to
3 days Before:
* Shop
for all other ingredients.
2 Days
Before:
*
Set the holiday table.
|
|
Day
Before:
* Make
Parmesan
Dip through step 2, then cover and chill until ready to
bake.
*
Grate cheeses, then do Step 1 for
Cheese-Garlic Rolls
and
refrigerate. Thaw frozen bread dough.
*
Bake
Honey-Pumpkin
Bundt Cake. Cool, wrap in foil, and store at room
temperature.
*
Make
Crunchy
Walnut Pie through step 3. Cool, cover loosely with plastic wrap, and
store at room temperature.
*
Make Fresh
Cranberry Granita
through Step 3 or
Cranberry-Pear
Relish.
*
Toast walnuts for
Apple-Nut Dressing
(Step 1). Store at room temperature.
*
Mix
Chili-Orange Glaze
for turkey (Step 1). Cover and chill.
Thanksgiving
Day
5
to 10 Hours Before Serving
*
Prepare hard sauce for
Crunchy
Walnut Pie.
4
Hours Ahead
*
Preheat oven to temperature specified for your turkey's
weight on our chart.
*
Follow instructions for "Preparing the
turkey for roasting".
3½ Hours Ahead
*
Set turkey on the rack in roasting pan, insert meat thermometer, and put in
oven.
*
Mince onion for Easy
Gravy.
* Chop onions,
celery, and apples for Apple-Nut Dressing.
2
Hours Ahead
*
Start checking turkey thermometer for doneness, especially if turkey
weighs less than 13 pounds. Recheck temperature every 15 minutes.
*
Scrub sweet potatoes for Baked Sweet
Potatoes and
bake alongside turkey pan.
2
to 1½ Hours
Ahead
*
Follow
Chili-Orange Glaze
recipe.
*
Make Apple-Nut Dressing
through Step 3.
1½ to
1 Hour Ahead
*
Remove turkey from oven when done; place on platter. Let stand,
tented with foil.
*
Bake Baked Parmesan Dip,
then set out on a platter with baquette slices for hungry guests.
* Shape Cheese-Garlic Rolls
(Step 2 onward). Let rise in warm place, covered with plastic wrap.
1 Hour Ahead
*
Scrape
Fresh Cranberry Granita
from pan and transfer to serving glasses or bowls. Return glasses to
freezer.
*
Put Apple-Nut Dressing
in the oven.
* Transfer Cranberry-Pear
Relish to serving dish.
45
Minutes Ahead
* Uncover and
bake Cheese-Garlic Rolls.
*
Make Easy Gravy
using juices from turkey pan. Keep gravy warm over very low heat.
30 Minutes Ahead
*
Carve turkey.
20 Minutes Ahead
*
Remove Baked
Sweet Potatoes from oven, keep warm in a large serving dish covered
with foil.
* Microwave or
bring water to boiling to steam or cook your favorite green vegetables. (We
chose green beans for ours). Do not overcook. Put in serving
dish.
10 Minutes Ahead
* Remove Apple-Nut Dressing
from oven. Cover with foil to keep warm.
*
Remove Cheese-Garlic Rolls
from oven. Cover with foil to
keep warm.
Immediately
Before Serving
*
Transfer Easy Gravy
to serving container of your choice.
10 to 20 Minutes
Before Serving Dessert
*
Reheat Crunchy Walnut Pie
in oven still warm from the turkey, or at 250 degrees F. for 20
minutes. Put on serving plates, then top immediately with hard
sauce.
*
Slice and serve Honey-Pumpkin Bundt Cake.
* Serve
Fresh Cranberry Granita (unless serving mid-dinner).
