Thanksgiving Day Plan

I am making Thanksgiving Dinner for my small little family.

We did the same thing last year and it was a lot of fun.

I am thankful for the chance to try and master my Thanksgiving cooking with my small family before (in the future) having to cook under pressure for a larger crowd.

This is my Plan for Thanksgiving Dinner and Prep:

The Menu:

Breakfast:

Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls

Appetizers:

Cheese ball/Crackers

Chips/Queso

Dinner:

Strawberry Pretzel Jell-O

Bacon Herb Turkey

Mashed Potatoes

Rolls

Stuffing (Stove Top)

Gravy

Green Beans

Dessert:

Apple Pie with Pecan Crumble

Pumpkin Pie

Ice Cream

Plan of Action:

The Timing is always my biggest problem. I always have a hard time getting everything done at the same time. I usually end up with something cold….Annoying. So, here is my schedule of how I will do it all without having an anxiety attack. Dinner will be around 3pm.

Wednesday:

Make Strawberry Pretzel Jell-O, Gravy, Apple Pie and Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls.

Thursday:

7 am: Bake Pumpkin Cinnamon Rolls/Eat Breakfast

Roast Pecans

9 am: Make turkey Herb Past

Take Turkey out of Fridge

Start Rolls

11:30 am: Put turkey in Oven

Appetizers Out

1:00 pm: Set Table

1:30 pm: Boil Potatoes

2 pm: Boil Green Beans

2:30 pm: Take Turkey Out

Mash Potatoes

Stuffing

Bake Rolls

5 pm: Desserts

So-so

Every Year I try and think of a new way to display our 'thankfuls'.

And, like everything around my house right now, it got half way done.

I guess that is what pregnancy does to you....

gives you the motivation to start something and then you loose the energy when it is half done.

Here are some pictures of the 'ideal' or what I was trying to achieve.

Andy, this is how it ended up. Half done, but it works I guess.

As we have added more leaves it looks better, just not as great as Tatertots and Jello.

Bacon Herb Turkey

Last Thanksgiving I decided to try a new recipe. I can't remember where I got the recipe, but it turned out so good. I am going to be using the same recipe this year. Since I am only cooking for my small little family, I only cook a small Turkey Breast that is de-boned. It works out perfect for us. Even if you don't try this for Thanksgiving, please try it, it is DELICIOUS!

(this is not a photo of my turkey, just a random pic)

Bacon Herb Turkey

Ingredients:

• 3 strips thick-cut bacon
  
• 1 1/2 tablespoons minced garlic
  
• 1 tablespoon freshly chopped sage leaves
  
• 1 1/2 teaspoons freshly chopped rosemary leaves
  
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped oregano leaves
  
• 1 teaspoon freshly chopped thyme leaves
  
• 3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened at room temperature
  
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  
• 1 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper, divided
  
• 1 (5 1/2 to 6-pound) whole turkey breast, rinsed and patted dry
  

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F and line a shallow roasting pan or baking dish with aluminum foil.

Cook the bacon in a medium skillet until crisp. Transfer to paper towels to drain, reserving 1 tablespoon of the rendered bacon fat separately. When the bacon has cooled, chop it finely and transfer to a small bowl. Add the garlic, sage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, butter, 1 teaspoon of the salt, and 1/2 teaspoon of the pepper. Using a small spoon, mix thoroughly to combine and form a paste.

Using your fingertips, gently loosen the skin on both sides of the turkey breast so that it is separated from the flesh. Divide the herb paste in half and gently spread half between the skin and flesh on each side of the breast. Season the outside of the turkey breast with the remaining teaspoon of salt and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper. Brush the turkey all over with the reserved bacon fat. Place prepared turkey breast in the prepared pan and roast, uncovered, until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the deep portion of the breast registers 165 degrees F, 1 hour to 1 hour and 10 or 15 minutes. Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 minutes before carving into thin slices. Serve with the pan drippings.