Thanksgiving Meal Planning

Let's Give Thanks For 

This Meal

Well it's a little more than a week til Thanksgiving and I'm starting to meal plan. I don't usually have
Thanksgiving; we usually head north to my in-laws, but this year they are coming here.  I grew up with my mom having every holiday meal. She always had the same things and never, ever thought of adding or changing something. I try to change big meals up a bit but honestly, sometimes it's scary because you never know what you're going to get when you experiment.

I am a perfectionist and when I say I'm having Thanksgiving, I'm doing it up right, even if it kills me! I want it to be the Thanksgiving you see in the Norman Rockwell painting. It's not to show off, it's just who I am and how I'm wired. No, I don't expect the same anywhere else or from anyone else, just myself!!!

We will be having around 20 people. So right off the bat I know I need to have around a 20+ pound turkey. I actually got mine today and it was 22 lbs. My confession...I HATE COOKING TURKEY! I don't like dealing with a whole dead bird, it makes me sad, but I have to do what I have to do, RIGHT???

Next are the sides. I try to do things I can prepare the day or two before, that way it takes the pressure off a little. I love casseroles!!!

We always have the staples but the recipes tend to change...

MEAL
Autumn squash soup
Apple cranberry walnut salad                                                                                                              
Green bean casserole 

Scalloped potatoes                                                         

Mashed potatoes with gravy                                                               

Sweet potato casserole                                                                                            

Apple-Cranberry stuffing 
Applesauce
sweet white baby corn
Parmesan garlic asparagus 
cranberry bread
rolls

Dessert
Apple pie
pumpkin pie
pumpkin roll
pumpkin bread

So there we have it, our Thanksgiving menu. Now to figure out how to keep sane through it all!