Kavi’s an officer in her school med club, and they’re having an officers’ board meeting here this morning at 10:30, and she asked if I could put out some snacks. I think she was probably thinking a bag of chips.
Or maybe not — Kavi does know me pretty well. Do you think I should add some charcuterie? I think I should…board meetings are hungry work. Public officials should be fed early and often.
Thanksgiving meal planning. First I start with the menu, then the next step is getting the groceries (ordered for delivery last night, delivered this morning), then figuring out what to do in what order for the next two days. We try hard to do dishes as we go, so the kitchen isn’t too much of a disaster at the end of the night.
Appetizers:
- Bon Appetit hot artichoke dip with crackers
- charcuterie board
- roasted chestnuts
- spicy-sweet roasted cashews
Beverages:
- hot mulled cider
- some kind of cocktail / mocktail to be determined
Main meal:
- turkey
- mashed potatoes & gravy
- cornbread-sausage stuffing
- green bean casserole (courtesy Nara)
- roasted brussels sprouts
- Caesar salad
- maybe crescent rolls
Dessert:
- mango fluff
- fresh berries
- assorted sweet bites (passionfruit marshmallows, cashew milk toffee, dragonfruit chocolates, spiced banana bread mini muffins)
Schedule:
Wed morning:
• put away groceries (figuring we’ll probably have to run out to the store for something at some point, but hopefully can make it a surgical strike)
• bake cornbread for stuffing
• bake banana bread mini muffins
• swing by my shop and pick up some autumnal serveware
Wednesday afternoon:
• talk to Kevin and consult re: whether we’re brining the turkey; if we are, brine
• make cornbread-sausage stuffing and refrigerate
• assemble most of artichoke dip and refrigerate
• make cashew milk toffee (will need to be cut after setting for a few hours)
• make mango fluff and refrigerate
• make dragonfruit chocolates
• make mushroom dark chocolates
• roast spiced nuts (we bought the chestnuts pre-roasted this year, will see how they are)
• clean up first floor and set table for sit-down dinner, including candles
• make sure kids know what they’re wearing tomorrow
• give Anand a much-needed haircut
Thursday (appetizers @ 3, dinner at 4:30, dessert and board games starting at 5:30):
noon: get dressed, including apron 🙂
1:00: set oven preheating, prep turkey
1:30: start turkey in oven
2:00: add more Parmesan on top and bake artichoke dip (toaster oven), set out appetizers and drinks
3:30: have kids make Pillsbury crescent rolls (toaster oven); have Kevin prep brussels sprouts, set potatoes boiling
4:30: roast brussels sprouts (toaster oven), have Kevin and Kavi make Caesar salad, mash potatoes, have Anand light candles
5-ish: take out turkey, make gravy
5:30ish: sit down dinner
6:30ish: set out desserts (to be eaten more casually as desired), board games and chatting
Friday morning: go into shop early to take down Thanksgiving and set it up for Christmas. Shop open from 11-6 for Black Friday — I’m going to do 10% off everything in the store. Better pack a calculator…
Did I forget anything?
I have some free time now — I think I’m going to try to make some resincrete tea light holders. 🙂
