It's T minus 14 days until Thanksgiving. Do you have your game plan mapped out yet?
Cooking the holiday feast is no small feat. There's the star of the show, of course, the turkey, with possibly a ham as a supporting cast member. Then, there's all of the sides to consider. Of course, you have to have the classic favorites like Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, but perhaps you want to try something different this year. Perhaps a Green Bean Casserole that is not made with French's Fried Onions and Campbell's Cream of Mushroom soup?
Of course, there are the guests to consider. Do you have any vegetarians or vegans to take into account? In my family, both of my siblings are vegetarian. So, I make two versions of Cornbread Stuffing (I'm from the South), one with sausage and one without. However, it's not quite that simple. My sister has a strong aversion to onions (as in if onions touch something, that food is then "tainted"). Do you know how difficult it is to make a good stuffing without onions? Yeah, me neither, since I never try the version I make for her. But yes, I'm that person who makes three versions of stuffing each holiday: one for the carnivores, one for the vegetarians, and one for my sister.
Dietary restrictions and menu planning aside, there's the shopping, prep work and timeline to consider. Lack of time must be on the minds of food writers lately as I have seen so many "Make the Entire Thanksgiving Dinner Ahead of Time" or "Freezer-Friendly Thanksgiving" articles this year. Cooked and frozen turkey that's reheated on the holiday? No, thank you.
But you don't have to resort to these kinds of recipes just to stay ahead of the game. The Chopping Block chefs have compiled a Thanksgiving menu that's sure to please everyone, as well as a comprehensive shopping list and helpful cooking and timing tips along the way.
Here is our Thanksgiving Survival Guide!
If you want even more support for the big meal, we have the following cooking classes coming up:
Happy Turkey Day!