Entry #1808, November 10, 2012
Happy DIY Saturday! Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away! Are you ready? If you are still trying to plan out the details… who will cook what, how much food you will need to buy, and what guest is bringing what dish, you need to get organized!
Prepare your thanksgiving meal now
Stagetecture Radio – Helpful Tricks!
If you missed my Stagetecture Radio show – Episode3 – Saving Money & Time this Thanksgiving I encourage you to listen. I give you great tips for:
- Saving money – potluck dinner, catering, buying food from favorite restaurant
- Saving time – have guests help with meal, set a simple Thanksgiving table
- Make-ahead meals
- more! – Listen in here on download from iTunes
Simple Thanksgiving Turkey Meal – Video
Link to Video –> Easy Thanksgiving cooking Turkey
Turkey tricks for a beautiful bird
Thanks Southern Living for these helpful tips!
It can take two to three days to thaw a frozen turkey. So, buy it ahead of time while the selection is still good, and plan when and how you’ll thaw it. Find defrosting charts attached to the turkey online at Butterball.com
After the turkey thaws, stick your hand into the cavity and pull out the neck and giblets. They’re usually wrapped in paper. If you forget this step and find these after you’ve finished cooking, your turkey is still safe to eat; just pull ’em out, enjoy a laugh, and go on.
Once you remove the turkey from the oven, cover it loosely with foil to allow the bird to rest. The juices absorb back into the turkey, and it carves easily. This resting is prime oven time for additional casseroles or dessert.
Thanksgiving tips to save you time
The Roasting Pan
A turkey is best cooked on a rack in a shallow roasting pan. If your roasting pan is missing the rack, line the bottom with 1 1⁄2 inches of roughly chopped fruits and vegetables (onions, celery, carrots, apples). These elevate the bird off the pan and add wonderful flavor. Plus, the rich pan drippings make a delicious gravy. Here are some things to keep in mind when it comes to picking roasting pans.
- For ease of cleanup, choose a large aluminum foil disposable pan, available at the supermarket. You may need to place it on a baking sheet for support.
- Avoid deep Dutch ovens with high sides (more than 4 inches), and don’t use a lid; you’ll get a steamed turkey rather than a browned roasted one.
- A good roasting pan costs from $45 to $60. We like a stainless exterior with a dark nonstick interior and sturdy handle
Make ahead meals are perfect to save time
Oven Alternatives
If your oven can’t accommodate everything on your menu, consider replacing some recipes with ones that rely on a slow cooker, microwave, or cooktop. Steam vegetables or cook potatoes in the microwave, or sauté fresh vegetables on the cooktop. You can also microwave hard squashes such as acorns and butternut. Make casseroles ahead of time in microwave-safe dishes (make sure they fit your microwave), and reheat them just prior to serving.
When using the slow cooker, set it on a cutting board to protect your countertop from heat fluctuations that might cause it to crack. Also, make cleanup easy with new slow-cooker liners (like a plastic bag inside your slow cooker) available at the supermarket. Just lift the bag out of the slow cooker after the food is removed, and toss it. For smart slow-cooker recipes, see our Slow-Cooker Cornbread Dressing or check out how we use the slow cooker to hold mashed sweet potatoes until it’s time to eat.
Thanksgiving desserts
About Desserts
Good cooks take several approaches. The first is to offer selections that can be made ahead of time, such as cakes, some pies, and chilled desserts. Other dessert items, such as cobblers and bread puddings, go into the oven just before you sit down to eat and come out hot just as you finish the meal. Either approach works.
If you prefer something more showy such as a crème brûlée or soufflé, do as much prep work beforehand as possible, leaving the final mixing, stirring, broiling, or blow-torching until the last minute. Invite your guests to help you; they’ll love being a part of the show.
For more Thanksgiving tips on Stagetecture, click here.
For more DIY ideas on Stagetecture, & Stagetecture’s YouTube Channel, click here.
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