How much pre-work can you do for a big supper (Thanksgiving/Christmas type)

[bebemoojem]

Having Thanksgiving dinner (my first ever hosting) on Saturday with my British side of the family since we're not home this Thanksgiving. Need to get as much done ahead as possible so I can actually enjoy it (have a 2.5yo and 13w baby so also know I'm going to be coming and going and distracted a lot).

turkey (still need to find one for 8 adults and 4 toddlers)
ball stuffings
corn (frozen)
roasted carrots and parsnips
mashed potatoes
pumpkin pie

having guests bring:
another dessert
salad
selection of bread/rolls
snacks

I was thinking I could peel the carrots and parsnips and potatoes early and just freeze them and pull them out in the morning to thaw/cook.
I was also thinking I could make the pie up (cooked and everything) and freeze that (I'm sure this is possible with crust/pastry- right?)
I've never done the ball stuffings before so not sure about those...

any ideas? does that all sound ok?

not tomorrow Saturday...the 27th

Well, you could parboil the carrots and parsnips, ready for roasting. Mashed potato freezes well, and is a bit of a pain to do last minute,so I'd have that done too. I'm sure the stuffing balls would be fine to freeze (not 100% sure what they are - but normal stuffing freezes well, so I assume it's the same).

If it were me I would freeze the pie uncooked, then bake it straight from the freezer.

The most difficult part of the meal will be the actually cooking and coordinating of all the various elements. Make sure you have plenty of helpers on the day for serving etc.

Sounds lovely - Happy Thanksgiving!

Thanks for the idea about the carrots/parsnips.

I've never baked a pie from frozen; I will have to look into that.

It is about timing isn't it? I'll have to figure out how long everything needs to cook and at what temp and see if I can figure out a schedule. Insanely nervous tho I have done a roast dinner before (but not for so many people).

Traditional meat based stuffing can be frozen, defrosted and then cooked as normal.

Cranberry sauce, bread sauce can be made and frozen and then defrosted the night before.

Wrap sausages in bacon and freeze, defrost night before.

Have a great time and due to the complexity of a roast, if people ask what time dinner is my response is 'when it's put on the table' because I can never get it ready at a specified time!

I pre-make gravy, cranberry sauce and stuffing for Christmas but that's about it. Once the roast is in the oven, I like giving all willing, unemployed guests a knife, a bowl, a glass of something convivial and a bag of spuds/sprouts/carrots/snips to get stuck into. Have had some of the best times sat around the kitchen table getting steadily squiffy prepping veggies :)

forgot about the cranberry sauce... hmmm (how could I forget cranberry sauce!?)

Also, you need to make sure you have the oven space for everything. If the carrots and parsnips are parboiled, they can go in to roast when the turkey comes out to 'rest'.

Definitely the timing is all - and it depends on your guests, some will love getting stuck in, others would be horrified at the idea of being handed a knife and a pile of veg to prep!

To be honest, no matter what way you plan it, it's still going to be a shed-load of work! From painful experience I would say, acknowledge (even if only to yourself) how difficult it's going to be, have no illusions, and delegate bigtime.

I was going to suggest pre making the gravy too, and then you can put it into the pan that the turkey was cooked in at the end to heat it all through and get the meat juices into it.

Def stuffing in advance.

I would just peel carrots, parsnips and potatoes the night before, I am not sure how much time you really save by freezing these.

Stuff like laying the table, do that the day before too.

I have never tried freezing mash but that is good to know, would be a good thing to have on stand by in the freezer. Good luck.

I am off to NYC for my first ever thanksgiving, my sister lives over there now and has had her first baby 5 months ago, I fly out on Weds (without the DCs!!! ) I can't wait.

I've got a split oven so that'll help with having to do multiple things.

going to pre do the mash on Wednesday and then to the peeling of the carrots and parsnips on Friday evening (decided not to freeze them)
Pie is going to be on Thursday (going to make a little one for myself and the girls to indulge in then and there...I cannot go without on the day ) and then freeze the other.

I did some gravy up today (used juices from our chicken) and will make more on the day.

Dh says just buy some cranberry sauce as his family is not particularly keen.

(so envious of being in NYC for Thanksgiving YOU MUST DO BLACK FRIDAY SALES- once in a lifetime experience)

I've never frozen mash so can't comment but what I have done before is make the mash hours in advance. Put it in a Pyrex type bowl and put clingfilm over the top and then about 20 mins before you need to serve it put it over a pan of simmering water - not touching the water, same as you would when you melt chocolate. Stir it occasionally and heat it all the way through- tastes even creamier and yummier than when you mash pots and serve them immediately!

Just be aware that parsnips tend to discolour when peeled, so I would parboil them to prevent this. Also, I find that root vegetables benefit from the parboiling when you intend roasting them.

ok so peel and parboil and then fridge until roasting the next morning ?

DH says I should buy mash!!!

No!!!! To buying mash!

We did thanksgiving today:

Made pies yesterday - apple as not enough like pumpkin and nut allergies...
Fridge overnight. Into Oven as we started to eat.
Peeled potatoes yesterday and left in water. Boiled and mashed today. Ditto carrots.
Made cornbread yesterday. Fridge overnight, cooked today.
Ditto stuffings.

So on the day, turkey, sweet potatoes from scratch.

And yes, lots of last minute stuff but all part of the family fun... :)

:) Yeah I'm so not buying mash...that's like one of the best bits of the meal. I've never had premade/bought mash taste as good as 'real' stuff.

Mmm sounds lovely Bleugh. Where did you find sweet potatoes?? I've been looking at all the local groceries and haven't found any :(

sweet potatoes in all sainsburys and waitrose round here.

hmmm I've not seen any :( Will have another look when I buy the last batch of things on Wednesday.

Thanksgiving leftovers If only the pie lasted as long as the turkey...