Emergency Thanksgiving Holiday Shopping List, Menu and Recipes

Easy Efficient, Planner for First Time Holiday Hosts

Congratulations, you're hosting the Thanksgiving fest this year. Nervous? Well don't be; here's a surefire planner for shopping, preparation and cooking with grocery list recipes and timetable.

Supply List: (for a party of 6)

large foil roasting pan with handles
4 disposable baking pans with lids
heavy duty aluminum foil
turkey ( 2# per guest)
3 16 oz bags frozen or 4 cans cut green beans
2 cans mushroom soup
1 large can french fried onions
one large sweet potato per person
1 # bag brown sugar
2 # stick butter (2 boxes)
one can orange juice concentrate
1 24 oz loaf of white bread
one large onion
one stalk of celery
one can chicken broth
one bag fresh cranberries
one can refrigerator biscuits
5 # white round potatoes
frozen pies (any flavor you like) or use recipes for pumpkin custard, Dutch Apple pie
whipped topping
one cup white sugar
one and 1/2 - 2 cups of milk
flour for gravy (1/4 cup)
sage
garlic powder
salt
pepper

Timetable:

If you can, try to do these tasks on Tuesday;Wednesday if necessary.

Thaw turkey in refrigerator.
Use up leftovers.
Clean out refrigerator.
Shop.
Use large blunt bread knife to cube loaf of bread ( cut four slices both ways).
Spread bread cubes in a single layer to dry out. Cover loosely with towel. (Protect from pets and kids who for some reason love bread cubes.)

Wednesday or Thursday if necessary. I use ITMT (In the Mean Time) to mean 'do this while another process is taking place. This helps you to multi-task and get a lot done at once.

Bake pies (Save boxes and put baked pie back in box. They will keep for one day.)

ITMT: Set two large pans or kettles filled about two inches with water to boil. You will add more water later but they will boil faster with less water.

ITMT: Wash and poke white potatoes with fork.
Wash sweet potatoes.
Add sweet and white potatoes to each pan. Add about two more inches of water. Cover.
Boil with skins until you can easily poke with fork. White potatoes: 20-30 minutes, sweet potatoes: 45.

ITMT: Rinse cranberries.
Place in sauce pan with one cup of water and one cup of sugar.
Bring to a boil.
Reduce heat: simmer about 40 minutes.
Berries will begin to pop and whistle as they soften.