Thanksgiving Preparations

Yes. You may be thinking that this is a little early to start planning for Thanksgiving. But since the Fosters were handed over the tradition in 2005, it has evolved into THE place to be for this particular holiday. This is the day that The Infamous Unsociables open their front door to all friends and family and make up for the 364 days when we graciously decline all requests for hanging out.

We can't explain it. We get (happily) caught up in our own little world and the contentment of being home overpowers the fun factor of being sociable. I guess that's what you get when you merge the Martins with the Fosters, a happy, unsociable middle. :)

Anyway, as it turns out, the girl who could barely boil water as recent as our early marriage, has managed to master the art of a hip Thanksgiving hangout that seems to get better every year!

What does it take? Well, late September planning for starters. This week, I pulled out my past T-day menus and concocted a new menu out of the most successful recipes over the years, then added a couple new ones to spice it up a little, which I do every year! From this list, I itemize every ingredient to devise two separate lists: the perishable and non-perishable items. This list will now join me every time I hit the grocery store between now and the big day, precisely 9 weekends/trips to be exact. I will collect the non-perishables up until the last weekend, when the perishable items will get knocked out in one shot. Feeding 20+ people can be pretty expensive, so it's necessary to spread it out over time.

And this is one mammoth list for a mammoth menu. Maybe this will help to put it into perspective:

14 sticks of butter

11 cups of powered sugar

2 bags of flour

2 - 5lb. bags of sugar
10lbs. of potatoes
10 pkgs. of cream cheese
1 1/2 dozen eggs
and it goes on, and on, and on...

Aside from the shopping, having that many people in our house in one day can be a lot to handle so the next several weekends will be dedicated to getting the house into a presentable, Martha Stewart style, level. I've already made a list of a couple of projects that I'd like to see completed by then. Of course, given the number of unfinished projects in our house (far exceeding the typical family's norm) I can't expect to have them all done, but it's good to set goals! Hahaha!

And we can't forget the playlist! I started an ongoing list about a month or two ago of songs and bands that would be perfect for that day. It's coming along nicely, I must say.

And the menu? Well, I could keep it to myself, but it's so good this year that I can't help but flaunt it! Aside from Pop's fried turkeys and Grammy's homemade stuffing, this is my plan:

For Grazing:
Veggie Tray w/ Dip (Cucumbers, Broccoli, Mushrooms, Carrots....)
My Classic Cheese Ball w/ Crackers
Bread Bowl w/ Dip & Dipping Oil
Spicy Cheese Ball (new)
Ugly Dip (new)

Dinner Sides:
Mashed Potatoes
Yams
Cranberry-Raspberry Sauce
Biscuits
Green Beans w/ Glazed Shallots in Lemon-Dill Butter

Desserts:
2 Pumpkin Pies
2 Apple Cakes w/ Browned Butter Frosting
Cranberry Mousse Torte
Banana-Ginger Cake w/ Cream Cheese Frosting (new)
Turtle Tart (new)
Divinity
Marshmallows (for Roasting on the Fire)

Beverages:
Holiday Punch
Hot Cranberry-Apple Cider (new)
Beer

No. I won't pull this off by myself! My mom will surely come by and help me get things together the day before. Last year I had a few teenagers meandering around the house, so I put them all to work, too. A decision that worked out beautifully, I might add! We actually had a pretty enjoyable time and I hope they'll come back this year! The plan? I pretty much kill myself the day before so on the big day I can enjoy myself. There's still lots to do that day, don't get me wrong! But the pressure is VERY low! I just arrange the buffet and put things in the oven as needed!

Just a million things to obsess about! But I'm just the girl for the job! And in the end, whether five people stop by or twenty-five, all that matters in the end is that I spend my favorite day of the year with my family... with lots of food to eat! Hehe!

Until later...
~n~