Thanksgiving Checklist- Week One

This week, here are things you can do to get ready for Thanksgiving:

Monday:

Order your turkey. Skip the grocery store Butterball. Order your turkey from a local farmer, that was well-fed and had a good life. On the Seacoast, Hurd Farm and Kellie Brook are both good choices.

Tuesday:

Order flowers. If you want to have (low!) centerpieces for your table, order from a florist to pick up Thanksgiving week. Also consider a tall arrangement for the buffet and also some for the bathroom.

Wednesday:

Take inventory of all your stuff. Plates, silverware, platters, gravy boats, serving utensils? A stain-free tablecloth, and suitable napkins? Meat thermometer? Ice bucket? Water pitcher? Think of what you'll need, and make sure it's all in good working condition.

Thursday:

Buy beverages. Figure out a signature cocktail or two-- perhaps the Blood Orange Banger, Lavender-Bourbon-Maple Sour, West Rye, Caprice, Old Pal or even just a solid, well-made Cosmo. Get the appropriate booze for that, plus the exact brands of liquor that anyone over 60 likes. Read more rules about beverages (amounts, etc.) here. Don't forget non-alcoholics, either. Sparkling water, maybe the fixins for Shirley Temples for the kids? plus one interesting drink for the designated drivers/pregnant ladies.

Friday:

Test your signature cocktail. Gotta make sure it's going to work for your crowd!

Saturday:

Make and/or freeze pie crusts. Since you are so organized and on-the-ball, you have time to make some homemade pies. This week, make this delicious pie crusts, roll them out and into your pie tins. Poke holes all over them with a fork, and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. If pie crusts are scary-- as they are for many people-- just buy pie crusts. You can still roll them out and freeze them, so they are ready to go.

Sunday:

Make your stock. Dry turkey, bland stuffing, lumpy mashed potatoes... not that your dinner will offer ANY of those, but just in case, you'll need a delicious gravy that will rescue them. And what is gravy made of? Basically butter, flour and turkey stock! So you'll want to spend a lot of time on that now, as a little insurance policy. Make extra and you will be totally set up for turkey soup!