Thanksgiving Dinner help

I am very nervous because I am hosting my first thanksgiving dinner at our house. Does anyone have any suggestions or great recipes? Thank you!

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

I use a turkey bag , the turkey bastes itself and comes out really moist

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

I am going to take a class at Viking next Monday. There was suppposed to be one this Wed. - Time Saving Thanksgiving - but it got cancelled. So the other is Classic Thanksgiving or something like that...

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

I always make Green Bean Casserole. You can find the recipe on those fried onion canisters.
My MIL makes the best Stuffing.
You can make sweet potatoes with marshmellow on top.

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

I just made my first thanksgiving last year and it was a hit! A couple of little tips:

1) get DH to clean out the turkey for you

2) put a few tablespoons of butter int he pan with the turkey when you put it in. When you baste it (which you should do every 30 minutes), you'll be basting it with the butter in addition to the turkey juice. It keeps it sooooo moist.

3) if you're making butternut squash, buy the precut squash - that was THE worst part of the dinner was trying to cut that sucker.

4) clean everything as you go along. It will help you feel more organized and in control if you have a clean kitchen to work with.

5) map out the day so you have everything ready at the same time (this is what I was told the mark of a good hostess/cook is. that and a clean kitchen when we sit down to eat). think about how long everything takes to cook, how many burners you have, what can be cooked 3/4 of the way through ahead of time and finished up when the guests are there... It made it MUCH easier for me to have a schedule to go by that I did beforehand. I also did a lot of the prep work the night before.

Good luck! I felt SO accomplished after that

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

Thanks for the advice! The only definites I know are candied yams, stuffing, brussel sprouts w/ pancetta. I'm really nervous about the turkey. Is it bad if I order that from Zorn's? Has anyone ever done that, i actually heard it was really good

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

Williams - Sonoma has a free cookbook that you can pick up in one of the stores. They are in Roosevelt Field, Walt Whitman and Smithhaven Malls.
I only get my turkey from Zorn's for the past 5 years. I think they are way better than frozen. If you need a big bird make sure you call ahead.
Oh and don't forget Cranberry Sauce

Re: Thanksgiving Dinner help

If you are making pasta, like lasagna or stuffed shells, make and prepare it the day before but cook it that day. It will be easier and delicious. Prepare your salad the day before and just don't add vinegar. A lot of stuff tastes better the next day so see what you can make the day before and cook it that day or reheat it.