What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

Hosting for the first time.

Was planning on making the mashed potatoes ahead of time (with lots of cream, butter, etc. to keep moist) and heating them up before dinner.

What else can I make a day before/few days/etc. ahead of time?

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I'm hosting too. The only thing I was going make the day before were the desserts but mashed potatoes are also a good thing to make the day before. Maybe even the sweet potato bake and just add the marshmallows the thanksgiving day

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I give you credit for hosting! In my family, we always prepared everything except the turkey, stuffing and gravy the day before.

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

The only thing I will prepare the day before is the desserts. And my SIL will make the mashed potatos for me the day before.
Everything else will be day of. But with alot of help from my mom!

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I host every year, usually no less than 25 people:

I do just about everything the night before, it lets me enjoy the day with my family instead of being in the kitchen all day.

Cornbread I make about a week ahead of time so I can dry it out for my stuffing.

The night before, I make:

Prep Turkey - Wash, and rub down with my spices, sealed in a marinating bag and back in the fridge until morning.

Stuffing - That goes in the oven about 15 minutes before the Turkey comes out (I have two ovens), so by the time the Turkey is carved the Stuffing is done.

Cranberry Sauce

Peel potatos for mashed potatos. I keep them in a bowl of water overnight in the fridge so they don't turn black.

Desserts I usually make 2 days before

Stringbean casserole, but I don't cook it until the day of. Goes in the oven after Turkey comes out since it doesn't need very long.

Appetizer platters get done the night before as well (everyone comes early to avoid traffic).

Table gets set

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I do everything except the turkey the day before and heat all the sides up before we eat.

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I prepare the soup, desserts, stuffing, broccoli & cheese in advance. The day of I only do the Turkey and the potatoes.

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

You can also make homemade mac and cheese the day before. Just make it a little "soupier" than normal because if not, it will dry out.

ETA: You may even be able to make it 2 days ahead.

Message edited 10/22/2008 5:25:36 PM.

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

i make the stuffing ahead of time and then heat it up that day,
i don't make my own desserts - all store bought
anything else i make day of

Re: What do you make ahead for Tgiving? What MUST you make the day of?

I host every year for the last 15 years for 25 people. It's my favorite Holiday ti cook for. I prepare the stuffing the night before but dont actually cook it until the day of, i cut up all my cheese and pepperoni and sausages the night before for appetizers and put in fridge in zip loc bags, i make a broccoli and cheese cassarole that i bake the night before and then i re-heat it the day of. i peel-cut and put potatoes in the water bowl in fridge for mashed and i boil the sweet potatoes and set them up for baked candied yams but i dont cook them till the following day.,