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^{Posted by: DrMommyKC}

One day this past week, it suddenly dawned on me that Thanksgiving was *gulp* a little over a week away.

I felt faint.

You see, I had made the decision to host Thanksgiving dinner at our house this year, seemingly forgetting several important points. 1) I am 33 weeks pregnant, 2) I have a toddler, 3) I am taking a graduate class with a MEGA PAPER due the Monday after Thanksgiving, 4) I work full-time, 5) I tend to overachieve in the kitchen and attempt only gourmet recipes. I'm not well.

Nevermind the fact that I have been getting mysteriously dizzy over the past week; my OB actually sent me to Labor and Delivery after my routine clinic appointment to get it checked out. Their best guess was I was not drinking enough fluids and while they attempted to give me an IV and administer fluids through my vein, I politely declined since I really didn't think it was all that necessary. It's not like I couldn't just drink more fluids. (Doctors are known to be terrible patients, yes, but I didn't agree with their logic!)

(Small digression)

Anyway, the fact remains that I am making Thanksgiving dinner for 10, including my parents, my in-laws, my brother and his wife, and my cousin. Dude. 10. I've hosted the dinner before, the last time being a couple of years ago, and had it down to a science: menu planned weeks in advance, necessary ingredients listed on a master shopping list, and a timetable for every single step, starting several days prior, including exact times and temperatures on that fateful Thursday.

I am so happy I saved those notes and recipes, since for this year, I just pulled out the 2005 notes and started from there.

First order of business: Deciding on a menu.

I went through my Thanksgiving dinner files (all recipes from Gourmet or Bon Appetit) and there are some winners that I knew I had to serve again this year:

Chesnut and Sausage Stuffing (using homemade peasant bread)

2-Hour Roasted Turkey with Herb Cider Gravy

Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Pecan Topping

Maple Squash Puree

Cranberry and Dried Cherry Sauce

Pumpkin Bread Pudding with Caramel Sauce

I wanted another vegetable and initially thought carrots but negged that idea given the serious orange root vegetable thing I had going on already. Beta-carotene overdose, anyone?

So, decided to go with: Green beans with lemon and pine nuts

And from scratch Cloverleaf rolls

And lest you think I am certifiably insane, I did accept the offer from my in-laws to bring additional desserts.

Second order of business: Begin shopping for supplies

I made a master list of all the ingredients I'd need, combining all the recipes, and started shopping for nonperishables and items that would keep until the big day. This saves me the considerable heartache I've had in years past when I realized the day before or DAY OF that I needed whipping cream. Getting whipping cream on Thanksgiving Day is like finding gold in a river. DOESN'T HAPPEN. I spread this task over several days and different stores since there are certain things I can only find at stores like Whole Food$. And other staples I'd rather get in the regular grocery store since we do have a mortgage to think of. All I have left to get are some vegetable and herbs I'm going to get closer to the big day.

Third order of business: Master cooking schedule strategy 

I've started a master cooking schedule broken down by day, steps, and for Thursday, mapping out oven temperatures and times. (Oh, how I would love a double oven!) The two-hour turkey recipe really helps make more room for Thursday baking, but only works for birds 14 lbs and under, which is exactly what we are having. I love the recipes that can be made or assembled in advance, cutting down on Thanksgiving day insanity. Days ahead, I'll make the cranberry sauce, bake the bread for the stuffing, and make the gravy base. The day before, I can assemble the stuffing, start the sweet potatoes and squash and brine the turkey. I still have to figure out the oven schedule for Thursday which is my next plan.

Now, if only writing that MEGA PAPER were this easy.

Other Food and Recipe Posts in the Yule Blog:
Recipes for Our Traditional Christmas Treats: Cookie Dough Bites and More
Christmastime Cinnamon Scones
The Great Leftover Debate -- Solved!
Turkey Day in Review
Cooking My First Bird
Gourmet Thanksgiving Dinner: Plan of Attack
Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes for Two
Links for Planning a Great Thanksgiving
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds