Tips for Making Thanksgiving Dinner

This week is Thanksgiving, and the Liv Northgate Blog has some tips to help you get the turkey on the table without having major mishaps! This week, it’s time to pick up the perishables, plan the table settings and seating, make the pies (a day ahead of time), and be sure the turkey is thawed if it’s frozen (it can take up to three days!). For a light-hearted look at your Thanksgiving cooking timeline, check out The Pioneer Woman Cooks take on it.  For something a little more straight forward, we like this Thanksgiving cooking schedule from Real Simple.

 

Turkey & Sides   

There are basic directions to roast a turkey and there are directions for a variety of ways to prepare it, including stuffed, unstuffed, roasted in a cooking bag, brined, braised, and even grilled. When your turkey has finished cooking, be sure to let it rest for 15 to 20 minutes, which gives you time to make the gravy. The drippings can be used to make the gravy with just broth,  or you can use the giblets from the turkey and make giblet gravy.

 

If turkey just isn’t your thing, perhaps a Thanksgiving ham will do instead. We like this recipe for Golden Clove Glazed Ham from McCormick for a change of pace. This also works well if you will have a large group and want to have a second meat dish. Of course, you’ll need sides, and last November we shared some recipes for sides to go with your Thanksgiving turkey, so check them out.

 

Dessert

Pie is the traditional dessert for Thanksgiving, so we’ll share two variations to choose from. Of course, if you’d rather not bake, call your favorite Gilbert bakery to order your Thanksgiving pies (and rolls, too, for that matter).

 

Pumpkin Silk Pie from The Gunny Sack

Make the filling for this pumpkin silk pie with cream cheese, powdered sugar, pumpkin, vanilla, pumpkin pie spice, and whipped topping. We love how light, fluffy, and delicious this pie is. Finish this recipe off with homemade whipped cream.

 

Pecan Streusel Pumpkin Pie from Chelsea’s Messy Apron

Pecan streusel pumpkin pie combines our two favorite pies in one. The pumpkin filling is topped with a crunchy and delicious pecan streusel. Finish off this recipe with a scoop of maple whipped cream. You can make maple whipped cream with heavy whipping cream and your favorite brand of maple syrup.

 

We hope that you enjoy your dinner and have a happy Thanksgiving in our apartment community here in sunny Arizona!

Tips for Making Thanksgiving Dinner