One Week Before
- Clean out your refrigerator to make room for the meal and leftovers
- Tidy up the house Confirm the number of guests who will be attending the dinner
- Determine if you have enough serving platters and place settings
- Borrow needed supplies or shop the thrift stores
Monday
- Defrost the turkey, allowing one day of thawing for every four pounds of turkey
- Iron table linens
Tuesday
- Do your final shopping
- Write out a cooking schedule and timetable
- Plan time for any religious services or volunteer events before the dinner
- Prepare and freeze appropriate side dishes and desserts
- Prepare and refrigerate moist ingredients for the stuffing
Wednesday
- Set the table
- Set out Thanksgiving decorations
- Clear out the coat closet for guests’ coats
- Clean the guest bathroom
- Clean entertainment areas including the living room and kitchen
- Take the gravy out of the freezer and put it in the refrigerator so it can defrost
- Decide on a table centerpiece
- Decide what to wear and mentally take yourself through Thanksgiving Day
- Make the stuffing in the morning and stuff the turkey right before it’s ready to go in the oven
- Roast the turkey until a meat thermometer inserted into the thigh of the turkey indicates the internal temperature is 180°F and a thermometer inserted into the breast reads 165°-170°F
- Within two hours after roasting, remove stuffing from turkey and carve meat off bones
Thursday
- Eat breakfast
- Enlist helpers to prepare the house for guests’ arrival
- Remove prepared side dishes from the freezer and bake
- Before guests arrive, delegate assignments to each family member
- Have a great Thanksgiving!
- Once guests leave, freeze or refrigerate any leftovers
Friday
- Remove any decorations
- Enlist family members to help re-tidy house
- Send thank-you cards to people who helped with dinner
- Check-out great Black Friday deals and specials
- Rest
For more tips on how to have a tasty and thrifty Thanksgiving, download our free eBook. For ideas on what to serve to streach your food dollar watch our thrifty Thanksgiving video.
Instead of spending a lot on new (and rarely needed!) kitchen items, check thrift stores or borrow from friends, family, or neighbors.
