How I Plan To Stay Out Of The Kitchen Tomorrow

As I have stated in a previous post, I decided to  simplify Thanksgiving dinner this year. I reduced my normal 11 items and 4 desserts down to 6 items and 2 desserts (it was going to be 3 but I want stuffing and my kids want cranberry sauce).  This may seem like a lot still, but it really isn't see I have a plan.

I have worked in restaurants too long to not have learned the importance of prep. Everything, yes everything, for my dinner can be started or even finished today so tomorrow it is relatively painless and I can spend my day playing with my kids instead of listening to them have fun while I work.  Here is my menu and how I am making tomorrow easier.

Sage Garlic Butter Turkey: Because my family is only a family of five and the turkey was 16 lbs, last night I cut out turkey in parts. Now I have boneless turkey breasts and boneless thighs (the wings and drumsticks will be used for other meals) instead of a full bird.  Last night, I also made my compound butter that I like to use with my turkey.  I put it under the skin of my turkey.  I was planning on tying them into roasts last night but my twine wasn't butcher's twine like I though it was, so I will be doing that today after my husband brings some home.  Then I they will be already to be cooked (one breast and thigh will actually be frozen for Christmas Dinner.  Yep, I am ahead of the game).

Since I don't have a whole turkey to cook, the cooking time drops almost in half freeing up oven time for anything else I may need to put in there.  My only problem is, I don't want the bottom of my turkey roasts to get crispy (my beef roast, yes, my turkey, no).  So I cook my turkey roasts on a bed of Mirepoix (carrots, onions, celery, and garlic cloves).  Not only will the vegetables create steam which will help my turkey from drying out, they will also impart flavor.  Besides any juice that comes from the turkey mix from the juices from the vegetables and makes the best jus for gravy.  So today I am cutting up celery, onions, celery and garlic into chunks and putting them in a Ziploc, all ready for me.  Tomorrow, all i need to do is place my vegetables in a pan, dip my roasts in garlic butter (I know, yum) hit them with kosher salt and bake.

Carrot Mashed Potatoes: Instead of doing sweet potatoes, which we don't really like, I am going to cook carrots in with my potatoes then I will whip them together with a little butter and cream (yep more butter).  Today I will peel and chunk my potatoes and carrots.  I will them put them in a container in the fridge covered in water.  Tomorrow, I will just drain them before cooking and giving them fresh water.

Green Beans With Bacon: This is my families green bean casserole.  It is whole green beans that have been cooked in bacon fat and served with bacon pieces.  Today I am slicing and cooking my bacon and cleaning and blanching my green beans (cooking them for 2 minutes in boiling water, before putting in ice water to stop the cooking.  Tomorrow, I will heat up the bacon fat and slightly caramelize my green beans in them, add in the bacon, cook until it is hot and serve.  Really about 5 minutes of work.

Sausage Apple and Pecan Bread Stuffing: My mom would make this every year, except she would never bake it.  I am going to make the stuffing today, add in the eggs then place it in a casserole dish for tomorrow.  When I put in my turkey in will go the stuffing.

Fresh Cranberry Sauce: I wasn't planning on making this but my kids are in love with cranberries right now.  Since this is best cold anyway,  I will make it today for tomorrow.

Gravy: Okay, I can't do much about this today since I need the cooking liquid from my turkey, but I did make turkey stock overnight to add to the drippings instead of adding water or chicken stock.

Pies: Since my son is gluten free, I am making all of our pies without a crust.  How?  Well that is easy.  I am turning my pumpkin custard into creme brulees and I am making chocolate cream and banana pudding cups.  The creme brulees must be cooked today to set up for tomorrow. The same with the Chocolate and Vanilla Puddings for my cups.  In fact I can even build them tonight.  

Although it seems like a lot it will actually go pretty fast, on both days.  Especially with three kids wanting to be in the kitchen.  Tomorrow will be a piece of cake (hmm, maybe I should make cake, too.  No, Julie!!! Simplify, don't add).