Thanksgiving Dinner Buying Guide
As stressful as it sounds, planning a Thanksgiving 
menu isn't hard. Think about it, the main main dishes are more or less planned out for you, you just have to add your own personal twist to traditional meals. You may have to deal with your guests' dietary needs but beyond that, it's all down to planning. After considering how to make the dishes, you'll need to budget your time accordingly. Are you going to have company bring over some food or will you cook everything yourself? Either way, consider how long everything will take to prep and make, and then leave yourself the proper allotment of time. Don't forget that quantity is important as well--the number of guests coming to dinner will help you determine what size portions to make.
Turkey Talk
All right, first things first, you have to get a turkey --a real one, not just a centerpiece . It's the main event, after all. The question most people grapple with is how much turkey they will need. The answer is usually about a pound to a pound and a half per person, which is enough to feed everyone and still have some leftovers. A few things to keep in mind when serving:
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- Are any of your guests vegetarians? Tofurky is a delicious meat alternative, but you might also want to think about some kind of veggie loaf.
- Are there any children coming? Obviously portion sizes will be smaller for them.
- How many side dishes and appetizers will you serve? If you have a lot, you will have more leftover turkey than you may be able to handle.
- How much prep time will you need? A frozen turkey needs to defrost for at least a couple of days in your fridge, and even a fresh bird will have to be kept somewhere for a day or so.
- When preparing the meat, keep in mind that fresh turkeys generally taste much better than frozen , but they are more expensive. You can order both online. You can also order whole smoked turkeys for a different type of flavor.
- Don't forget that you will need a carving knife and fork . You might want to try an electric knife , although they don't cut as cleanly as a well-sharpened blade.
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Stuffing
Now you have your bird. What's next? Stuffing, of course! A tasty stuffing will complement the turkey and add zest and crunch to the meal. How you go about preparing this dish is a matter of personal taste. Some people choose to put the stuffing inside the bird, and others bake it separately. There is also pre-made stuffing mix if you don't want to attempt it from scratch. And don't forget your terminology--it's only called stuffing if it's cooked with the bird, otherwise it's dressing. Be sure to use bread that is dry, since if it's too moist it will become soggy. Crockpots are helpful since they monitor your food all day long and keep it at the right temperature. There are tons of ways to make stuffing ; see a few recipes below.
Alternative Turkey Techniques
Slow oven roasting isn't the only way to prepare a turkey. There are several alternatives to this traditional method of preparing a bird. Read up on these techniques and figure out which you like best.
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- Butterflying requires cutting the bird in half along the breast bone, so you don't have as dramatic a presentation as you would with a whole turkey. However, this method takes less time to cook, so your food will retain more moisture and taste better. You can also set up the turkey over a large tray of stuffing; the stuffing is never actually in direct contact with the bird, so there is no risk of bacterial contamination, but as the bird cooks the drippings add flavor.
- Deep frying a more risky proposition. A fryer large enough to hold a fifteen pound turkey also holds a very large amount of extremely hot oil. Use caution before attempting, and never deep fry in the house, on a wooden deck, or anywhere where there is a risk of something catching fire. Many fryers are designed for outdoor use to make cooking easier and safe.
- Want to smoke your turkey this year? Pick up a large capacity smoker and change up your turkey taste! Don't forget about all of the seasonings .
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Side Dishes
Side dishes are the unsung heroes of the holiday meal. Rolls, noodles, casseroles, and salads can make your Thanksgiving dinner complete and they give you a little variety when it's time to dig into the leftovers. Be sure to offer your guests several choices; some may be trying to eat healthier while others might just dislike certain things. These days, you can order everything you need for the feast online, but you should really buy the vegetables locally for optimum freshness. See some popular side dish ideas below.
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Mashed Potatoes Mashed potatoes can be doctored up all kinds of ways: with potato peels, salt, garlic ,olive oil , and more. Deciding which potatoes to use and preparing them correctly is definitely a science. |
Cranberry Sauce There are those who prefer the taste of canned cranberry sauce and others who like to make their own mixture from whole cranberries . Whatever you decide, this side dish is easy to prepare and a Thanksgiving favorite. |
Sweet Potatoes You can bake these in a casserole with brown sugar and marshmallows , or make them on their own--either way they will still be delicious! With two types of potatoes at dinner, you can't lose. |
Green Bean Casserole Here's where the greens come in; there are plenty of recipes out there and many ways to season these stringy vegetables to make them tasty. |
Buttermilk Biscuits What's a big, hearty meal without bread? From flaky biscuits to fresh loaves, a big basket helps to make your meal complete. |
Dessert
Did you save some room? Good! After the turkey, dessert is the best part of Thanksgiving, even better than both football and leftovers. Thanksgiving has a number of traditional sweets, but just about anything from a fruit platter to a seven-layer chocolate cake is appropriate. Satisfying your sweet tooth is priority one, though ideally your desserts have a seasonal slant: pumpkin cakes and berry pies are a good start; cinnamon is also essential as a seasoning. Here are a few favorites to start with, but let your imagination run wild.
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