Kitchen

[JeanLouiseFinch]

Besides desserts, cranberry sauce, and cold sides, do you do any advance cooking?  
I'm going to make mashed potatoes, mashed cauliflower and other vegetables on Wednesday, to reheat Thursday.  I've made my turkey in advance once, but won't do that again.  

[On It]

My aunt made her candied sweet potatoes well ahead and froze them. I think they were better than when she served them fresh because all the the flavorings marinated throughout the sliced potatoes.

[coffee drinker]

@JeanLouiseFinch I always prepare the sides and stuffing the day before, but cook the day of.  Makes the day a bit less crazy.  Today I may bake a couple of quick breads, lemon poppyseed, 1 to freeze and the other for my husband's after dinner dessert w/coffee.  Someone else will bring dessert for

T-day.   

[fthunt]

Think you covered everything.......was going to list...squash.  "Other Vegetables" pretty much covers your question/answers.

[RedTop]

I made my dressing today.   

[Carmie]

The only foods I make. ahead of time is the desserts and pre dinner munchies like deviled eggs.

Everything else is made the morning of.  My husband and I do not like leftovers and making foods the day before and heating them up would taste like leftovers to us.

[vabreeze]

I cook my pot of leafy greens (kale, collards, turnips, etc.) ahead of time. They're more flavorful when seasonings are given time to announce their presence.

[Meowingkitty]

The only thing I make ahead is cranberry sauce. We don't go all out for Thanksgiving. We keep it simple because it's just the two of us. Mashed, sweets,veggie, turkey and stuffing. No rolls, no pie (bought a coconut cake), no gravy, etc. . No table to set as we take our plates outside and sit by the firepit.  I don't have to cook for an army.

[SoonerLater]

One of the best dishes to start early in the day is a hot fruit compote in a slow cooker.  I made it with a mix of canned peaches, apricots, pears, a few prunes, canned cherries (drained), and whatever else you like.  Make the mix the night before if you have fridge room. 

You add brown sugar, brandy if desired, cinnamon and nutmeg, and let it heat all morning.  The house smells fabulous and people can dig out the fruit to go on their place, or with cake, cookies or ice cream for dessert.

There are lots of recipes!  I think peach halves are wonderful.  Then people can have a whole peach half on their plate--especially wonderful with ham.  Leftovers are good too!  

[ECBG]

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@SoonerLater wrote:

One of the best dishes to start early in the day is a hot fruit compote in a slow cooker.  I made it with a mix of canned peaches, apricots, pears, a few prunes, canned cherries (drained), and whatever else you like.  Make the mix the night before if you have fridge room. 

You add brown sugar, brandy if desired, cinnamon and nutmeg, and let it heat all morning.  The house smells fabulous and people can dig out the fruit to go on their place, or with cake, cookies or ice cream for dessert.

There are lots of recipes!  I think peach halves are wonderful.  Then people can have a whole peach half on their plate--especially wonderful with ham.  Leftovers are good too!  

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@SoonerLater 

Goodness!  That sounds AMAZING!!!!!  How much brown sugar please?  How long does it cook before you have mush please?