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Thanksgiving Dinner Made Easy

Steps to reduce stress

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To me Thanksgiving is all about traditional recipes that my family has cooked for generations. From the 20-pound turkey right down to the perfect pumpkin pie, it's all about sharing our family history spelled out in food.

To me Thanksgiving is all about traditional recipes that my family has cooked for generations. From the 20-pound turkey right down to the perfect pumpkin pie, it’s all about sharing our family history spelled out in food.

I love making Thanksgiving dinner for my family and friends. I love the entire process—the planning, shopping, prepping, cooking, the whole shebang—but remember, I do this for a living.

If the thought of cooking the big feast makes you want to move out of the country and disown your family for the month of October—ask yourself the following questions:

  • Do I want to buy, store, clean, stuff, roast, and carve a turkey?
  • Do I want to be making endless vegetable side dishes the day of the event?
  • Do I want to be making pumpkin pies at 6 am so the turkey can go in by 11?
  • Do I want to be so tired that by the end of the dinner, I just want everyone to go home?
  • Do I even want to attempt the meal at all?

If you answered no to any of these questions then you’re likely ready for this easy, stress-reduced Thanksgiving menu!

Stress-reduced Thanksgiving menu

Game plan

At least three days before:

  • grocery shop to ensure that the mango and pears are ripe by Thanksgiving dinner.

One day before:

  • make salad dressing, store in fridge
  • prep vegetables for the veggie platter, store in fridge q make dessert, store in fridge
  • put wine in fridge
  • set table

Day of:

  • prep any vegetable that you are serving
  • start cooking rice 30 minutes before putting on the Chicken with Mango and Apricots
  • put out veggie platter and olives 5 minutes before company arrives
  • put Chicken with Mango and Apricots in the oven
  • plate and serve Autumn Salad
  • when the chicken is cooked and the sauce is thickening, cook vegetables
  • pour wine
  • serve main course
  • serve dessert
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