It's just going to be the two of us this year so it will be a scaled down Thanksgiving.

The house is as clean as it's going to get.

The menu has been decided - pan fried pork chops, mashed potatoes and gravy, stuffin' muffins and steamed green beans. I might make the pecan bars recipe that was posted here the other day.

Grocery shopping will get done on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Food will be prepared and cooked on Thursday an hour or so before we decide we want to eat. If I make the dessert, I'll probably do that on Wednesday.

Other than that, it'll most likely be a day pretty much like every other day around here.

I made a menu and a shopping list. :0)

I surfed Garden Web. I put the turkey in the frig to thaw yesterday.

I have everything bought, will not start cooking until Weds.

I made my dinner reservations. :)

No family and no need to try to cook a big meal when a nice restaurant option exists. I used to love the big family Thanksgivings but don't have any family left. So the two of us go out to a nice restaurant and that works well for us.

Our dinner will be tomorrow since I am working on Thanksgiving day. There will be four of us, my daughter and 2 of her friends. I spent most of the day shopping, 3 different stores (Thanksgiving dinner stuff, household stuff and other meals too), one I went to twice because I forgot the feta cheese for my dinner tonight. Been baking sweet potatoes and just peeled the regular potatoes to make mashed potatoes and put them on the stove to boil. I'm going to bake the turkey tonight too. I went to Trader Joe's for a few specific things, including flowers. Had a sample cup of coffee and they had mashed potatoes and fried onion pieces mixed in. It was so good I bought a can of the onions. I'll sprinkle them on top and they can move them aside if they don't want them. Getting ready to put the turkey in the oven and make the cranberry sauce. First time for me making cranberry sauce.

Got the honeysuckle turkey for free from the grocery store last week. Tomorrow I am making the pumpkin rolls and the bread for the stuffing. We aren't having Thanksgiving until Sunday. Daughter is working on Thursday, Friday and Saturday and we are babysitting her girls until Sunday as the daycare is closed. We will be eating out on Thanksgiving. anywhere that isn't serving turkey.

Cooked ham and a fresh turkey have been ordered for pick up in a few days, nothing else done.

When is your Thanksgiving? Ours was last month. My prep work is: make a grocery list. Buy groceries. Cook all day Thanksgiving day. ;)

I've not done a thing except make room in the frig for the turkey (buying it tomorrow, with the rest of the needed groceries) -- well I've already got the cranberries, brussels sprouts, golden turnips, rutabaga, and bread for stuffing; just need to get whipping cream, celery, parsley, sweet potatoes, an onion, fennel, and an orange. WInter squash is on sale, too, so I will get a couple of different ones for later.

I have a fair bit of housecleaning to do too, just because I've been working on a couple of rehab projects and mess is scattered all over the downstairs, and I've a pile of stuff to take to the Volunteers of America thrift store in the living room.

I took the turkey out of the freezer today. I’ve been working on a grocery list including things I need firvrecipies I’ve been pulling out-some old some new. Tomorrow I’ll see if the silverware needs polishing and get the china out. I’m thinking of buying doings and drumsticks to make the gravy with on Tuesday. I’ll make the cranberry sauce too and maybe the gingerbread turkey cookies my daughter wants to make. Wednesday will be pie day. I’m thinking pumpkin of course, apple ( baked in my cast iron pan -DH requested it), and maybe a cranberry meringue pie. For appetizers I’m trying a cranberry dip recipe and maybe some kind of meatballs in the crockpot. Not sure what others we will have.

Sent my shopping list to my sister. That's it so far. The day before I will go to her house to make the stuffing, cranberry stuff,Mac and cheese,the topping for the olive bread,deviled eggs and various dips. Shouldn't take more than 2 or 3 hours, 5 or 6 if she can't keep her kids outta the kitchen.

Nothing. But I baked my first two batches of Christmas cookies and froze them. Does that count?

Just have to make pies. Will make them on Wed.

Pre-ordered a Honeybaked ham and also a 12lb. fresh turkey that my butcher will butterfly for me. (Tried that once and almost lost a few fingers). Tomorrow I make my gravy. I use America's Test Kitchen recipe by roasting turkey necks, backs, carrots, celery and onion, then simmer in stock, wine and herbs for a couple of hours. Wednesday I will prep most of the sides and make desserts. Friday I will do nothing :)

Picked up our son from college. That's it. I think we are going to my parents' senior facility; I'd better call and make a reservation!

Last week I made a couple of pumpkin rolls and froze them. Took the turkey from the freezer to the fridge yesterday. Today I made some pie crusts, rolled them up in parchment paper, wrapped in plastic wrap and refrigerated.

All I've done is buy the (fresh, brined) turkey. Dear friend brought over tables and chairs to accommodate all 23--yay! House cleaner in the early afternoon then I really get organized.....

Turkey finally in the oven. It was still frozen, grrr....had to do the cold water sink thing to thaw it enough to take the gibblets and neck out. Still kinda frozen inside but I want to go to bed...so in the oven it went. I'll still be up till 2 am. Made the cranberry sauce, sweet and very tart but good. Baked the pumpkin pie, it's cooling right now. made the mashed potatoes and cut up the 1950's carrot & celery sticks (lol). So, tomorrow will just have to bake the ham, yeast rolls, think that's it. Also washed a load of towels so I could wash the place mats too. So many dirty dishes...still have some last minute cleaning to do but Lauren is coming over tomorrow early to help with that. I hope. She was out this afternoon with friends celebrating one of their birthdays. We have a 1:00 pm oil change for both mine and her car. Dinner is around 5:30. I hope I have time to make the ham before they get here. I have to say Elmer's cranberry sauce looks absolutely beautiful in my little fancy glass bowl!

I took the turkey out of the freezer yesterday and put it in the frig. 24 pounds. But you know turkeys..the bigger the bird the bigger the bones. Lol

I won't do any food prep until Wednesday. I'm always worried about spoilage. So I will work myself into a frenzy Wed. One or both of my sons will show up Wed offering to help and basically getting on my last nerve. ..they both know I do my own cooking.

I haven't even decided on what dinnerware or table linen I'm using yet which I need to do tomorrow.

lol Mamapinky, I can totally relate! I work solo, no one is allowed in my kitchen.

I'm totally done! I just ordered (online) the Thanksgiving Turkey Feast from Marie Callender's. Includes one pie, and I received an e-mail from them with a promo code to get a second pie free, so I used that promo code. The MC turkey feast is really, really good! It includes the turkey (or ham if you prefer, or both!), apple-sage stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, cornbread, honey butter, cranberry sauce, chef's vegetables (usually a combo of green beans and carrots), fire roasted yams, and coffee!

If you opt for ham, it includes all of the above as well as a bone-in, spiral-cut ham and chipotle pineapple glaze.

DD#2 is bringing the butterball Wednesday. Free work holiday gift. I have two kinds of cranberries done,working on the mashed potatoes between doc apts today,most of the shopping is done, sweet breads galore in the freezer for continental breakfasts, did a lot of cleaning yesterday. It will get done, not too worried.

LOL sort of forgot I spent the day making "snacks" :Hummus,corn salsa and our blessings snack mix!!

I am cooking some on Weds but have been thinking about making sweet potato pies from sweet potatoes I canned last year. Do you think the pie crusts will be OK if I make the pies Weds or should I wait until Thurs?

Lucille I always make my pies Wed. No way I'm baking pies Thanksgiving day. But in what way are you referring to the crusts being ok?

I have baked the pumpkin bread that the family likes. I serve it at Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners only. Tomorrow I will make the cranberry sauce. I have done most of the shopping, leaving the turkey and grapes for the Waldorf salad to get on Wednesday. I think I will shred the cheese I will need for the twice baked potatoes, cornbread pudding and quiches ahead of time too.

All my prep consist of driving! Drove eight hours to be at my daughters. Am here to watch the kids while they are out of school, and then eat the thanksgiving dinner she cooks.

I am making pies today and chopping prepping ingredients for various dishes.

Today I'm going grocery shopping to get a few things I need. Decided to make Georgysmom's pecan bars so I will also pick up the corn syrup and the pecans at the store. I was thinking about making the bars tomorrow, but I think I'll do that on Thursday too; otherwise we'll get into them tomorrow and I would really like to hold off eating them until Thanksgiving.

ETA that I got the last bottle of corn syrup at the store today - everyone must be making pecan pie this year!

Debby, Thanksgiving in the US is the 4th Thursday of November so it's this coming Thursday.

I had to intention of doing anything but was at the store today and had a hankering for ham... then saw smoked turkey breast... and I bought a cartful of stuff. Diet is going down the drain. Never go to the store hungry.

I bought the groceries except for stuffing. The turkey is in the refrigerator to thaw. Won't do anything else until Thursday. I keep it simple.

I just called Ramada Inn to verify serving time! They always have the most delicious Thanksgiving buffet! :)

Later today, I will take the pork chops out of the freezer to thaw.

Still debating whether or not to make the pecan pie bars today or not. Today is my birthday, so that may tip me towards wait until tomorrow mode as I'm going to have a "Dawn Day" today. ;-)

Pumpkin pie is cooling, pecan pie is in the oven, rolls are on the first rise, and cornbread made last night. Dang I'm hungry!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN!

Today, Wednesday, I will bake my sweet potatoes then scrape the meat out. Getting ready for the casserole. I will mix up the Cajun dirty rice today and have it ready to go in the oven tomorrow. I bought pies yesterday. I am not much of a baker. One of my guest is supposed to make a pie too. That's about it. My turkey is smoked so it just needs to be fully heated. Potato salad will be done tomorrow. The rest of the meal will be brought by guests.

Happy Birthday Dawn. Wait until tomorrow to make the bars.

Happy Birthday Dawn! I don't mind doing somethings ahead of time. I am chopping and stuff today and will make a pie later, but I have found it is more trouble to do it all ahead of time instead of just cooking it the day of. I will make the rolls today also.

So far I have one pie in the oven, another ready to go next. Have done all the chopping for dressing. Will make the green bean bundles, I doubled the recipe, they will be oven ready tomorrow. Will make deviled eggs tonight. The kids hafta have them.

Tidying and cleaning today -- I hadn't realized how far behind I was on those chores! I have a list of detail cleaning to tackle next week!

I think that I will make pumpkin pie this evening, and chop the celery and onions for the stuffing. I like to use the turkey drippings in the stuffing so I will wait to mix it all up. I need to stop by a different grocery to see if they have leeks (for one of the roasted veggies) at a good price -- the other store was crazy expensive.

Happy birthday, Dawn!

Happy Birthday Dawn!

Happy Birthday Dawn!

Last minute plans meant the grand baby would spend the day here. Started off by making waffles with a waffle iron that makes them in giraffe, lion and elephant shapes, she loves those.

I have done very little for Thanksgiving, made some pies and the grand baby and I sampled them, then we went to the park. I will start cooking around 4AM tomorrow, but will not regret one single moment of my wonderful today.

Getting the dishes, glasses and napkins ready for the table. Am fussing with a centerpiece of hydrangeas and fruit.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAWN

Well, I'm making lists and thinking about things. That counts as prep.

for the second time in perhaps 34 years, I am not hosting and was asked to bring wine (?). Anyway I am still going to bake a pecan pie tonight to bring earlier to someone for their birthday. I agree that baking ON Thanksgiving is too much to coordinate and I have always found that pecan pie needs an overnight to "Settle".

oh and have to edit to add- amylou that looks terrific!!

So far, I’ve done nothing. Since all of our family lives out of state, it’s just my husband, two kids and I that are celebrating. I picked up a Honey Baked Ham, but otherwise i haven’t done anything. My daughter is gonna make sweet potato casserole, my husband will be picking up rolls and cooking the ham, I’ll be making mashed potatoes and my son is gonna make buttered green beans.

I'm keeping Thanksgiving low key this year. Thursday meal will be just me, DH and our daughter. They have simple tastes so no need to go overboard. Frozen turkey has almost defrosted after being in frig four days, so that's good to roast tomorrow. Bought a bag of cranberries today. We will have turkey, gravy, cornbread, baked potatoes, broccoli (plain steamed), and cranberry sauce. Daughter might make us a pecan pie when she arrives tomorrow.

We're already planning a turkey soup & sandwich leftover meal with the rest of my family here in town, and then with DH's family a few hours south. Today I bought a frozen turkey breast to ensure we have enough leftovers to share :-)

I bought the turkey and wrote out my schedule for tomorrow:

Olychick, I love your plan! Amylou, wish I would have your food!

Well, we had a little change in the schedule, since DD is now working late tonight; we will still do the Flying Feather 4 Miler together, then she is going home to sleep and we will have our dinner on Friday.