Allow yourself about 4-1/2 hours from start to finish.
00:00 - 00:30
Perform any "mis en place" tasks,
including:
- chopping the onions, celery and other
ingredients for the cornbread dressing.
- peeling and trimming the vegetables for the
stock
- trimming the green beans
- setting out any ingredients you will
need for the herb seasoning, lemon-vinaigrette and
cranberry relish.
0:30 - 1:00
Prepare the Cornbread Dressing up until
the point of adding the stock. Set aside.
1:00 - 1:30
-
Turn on the oven for the turkey.
- Make the seasoning rub.
- Prepare the turkey according to the recipe.
1:30 - 4:00
Roast the turkey; baste every 30 minutes
with pan juices. Check the temperature using an instant read thermometer. You
may need to continue cooking if not completely done.
1:30 - 1:45
Prepare the stock and skim surface.
1:45 - 2:45
Add the vegetables to the skimmed stock.
Simmer the stock slowly.
1:45 - 2:00
Make the cranberry relish. Refrigerate
until ready to use. At 2:00, baste the turkey.
2:00 - 2:45
Prepare the green beans and the
lemon-vinaigrette for the salad, but do not dress until later. Set out the
ingredients for the gravy; if you haven't already done so, get the serving
utensils out. At 2:30, baste the turkey.
2:45 - 3:00
Add the stock to the cornbread dressing,
stir and place in the pan. Cover with foil and place in the oven according to
the recipe. At 3:00, baste the turkey, and rotate the pan around in the oven so
it cooks evenly.
3:00 - 3:30
Bake the cornbread dressing covered with
foil. Then remove the foil. At 3:30, baste the turkey. In between, mingle with
any guests that start to arrive.
3:30 - 4:00
Bake the cornbread dressing *uncovered.*
At 4:00, check the turkey to see if it's done. If not, continue cooking and
checking every ten minutes until done. Remove the dressing and cover with foil
to keep warm. In between, mingle.
4:00 - 4:20 (or as soon as the turkey
is done)
Remove the turkey from oven and make the
gravy according to recipe. While the gravy is simmering, dress the green bean
salad and get the meal ready for serving. Mash the potatoes. Put sweet potatoes
in oven to warm and melt marshmallows.
4:30
Enjoy your Thanksgiving Dinner and get ready
for loads of compliments.