How to do Thanksgiving

Today is Thanksgiving here in the US but even though we've been here for over 8 years now, we really don't have a "relationship" with the Thanksgiving Holiday. When our American friends are busy and stressed out cooking huge Thanksgiving meals and gathering the family members (for good and for bad), we only have a nice four day holiday to look forward to, without any obligations. We have yet to cook one of the huge turkeys ourselves (even though we've had great friends that have had us over for the real thing during earlier Thanksgiving holidays).

But with our kids growing up here, Thanksgiving is going to be part of their childhood traditions and memories (even though it was not part of ours) and already the Daughter is asking about turkeys and what about the Indians.

Next year she will be in school and maybe it's time for us to start getting into the real Thanksgiving tradition.

Our local paper had a great guide in yesterday's edition. A complete hour-by-hour guide on exactly what to do to get to that huge Thanksgiving dinner done by the early evening. The guide even tells you when to take a shower and it seems that you can have a glass of wine around 1 pm to start the festivities.

If you're a Swedish reader and would like to do a real American Thanksgiving Day - here is the complete guide! You just have to find a 16 pound (approx 7 kg) turkey first...

8 a.m.

• Make gelatin or fruit salad. (Do this a day ahead if you have time.)

9 a.m.

• Bake pies (day-ahead option)
• Select background music and load the CD player (day-ahead option).

10 a.m.

• Set the table and arrange flowers (day-ahead option).
• Fill an ice chest with ice and add beverage
• Prepare stuffing ingredients, but keep wet ingredients separate from dry and set aside.

11 a.m.

• Fill the coffee pot and get it ready to start.
• Bake rolls, then remove them from the oven and allow them to cool. When cool, wrap them in foil packets (day-ahead option).
• Cook giblets and reserve broth for gravy and stuffing (day-ahead option).
• At 11:15, take the turkey out of the refrigerator so it can warm a bit before it goes into the oven.

Noon

• Prepare the turkey for the oven. Begin roasting at 12:15 (roast four hours at 325 degrees for a 16-pound unstuffed bird; plus 30 minutes of standing time before it can be carved).
  
• Make fresh cranberry sauce and place it in the refrigerator (day-ahead option).

1 p.m.

• Shower and relax for a few minutes before guests arrive.
• Open the first bottle of wine.
• Prepare appetizers and place them on serving platters. Eat a few yourself to keep you on your feet all day.

2 p.m.

• Assemble candied-yam casserole and set aside (day-ahead option).
• Assemble green bean bake, but wait to add the French-fried onion topping until the last minute. Set aside.
• Whip whipping cream.
• Fill cream pitcher and sugar bowl (day-ahead option).

3 p.m.

• Peel and boil potatoes for mashed potatoes (day-ahead option).
• While potatoes boil, assemble the shrimp cocktails and place them in the refrigerator.
• Combine stuffing ingredients and place the stuffing into a casserole dish; cover with foil and refrigerate.
• Place any condiments on the table, including butter
• Turn on dishwasher.
• Take appetizers away from party guests so that they will be hungry for dinner.

4 p.m.

• Rally your helpers and assign last-minute tasks.
• Take the turkey out of the oven at 4:15.
• Add last-minute items to the oven to heat: pan of stuffing, yam casserole and green bean casserole (with onion topping).
• Open wine and place beverages on the table.
• Unload dishwasher.
• Turn on CD player.
• Unmold gelatin and place it on the table.
• Make gravy with pan drippings.
• Place shrimp cocktails on the table.
• Mash potatoes (day-ahead option).
• At 4:45, place foil-wrapped rolls into oven to warm up.
• Light candles.
• Carve turkey at 4:45.

5 p.m.

• Place the food on the table.
• Check your menu to make sure you didn't forget anything.
• Turn on the coffee pot.
• Count your blessings and pass the feast.

Happy Thanksgiving!!