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I am starting the holiday month off with my 2017 Thanksgiving Menu and Guide.
Can you believe it’s already Thanksgiving time again? It seems like Thanksgiving 2016 wasn’t long ago, but I’m pretty excited to be getting back into the holiday frame of mind. I know it’s lame, but the next two month are truly my two favorites of the year. I will forever and always be a holiday girl. And we have so many fun things in store this holiday season…today is only the beginning!
Clearly I’m trying to build up your excitement here, hoping it is working!
Thanksgiving is obviously the biggest food holiday of the entire year. Some years I take Thanksgiving a little more seriously than others. Fortunately, this is one of those years I’ve decided I’m really going to DO Thanksgiving. What exactly does this mean? Well, almost all month long I’ll have new Thanksgiving/holiday recipes I will be sharing. I’ll also be sharing easy dinners to make leading up to Thanksgiving Day (because we DO have to eat dinner for the next twenty-two days).There’s going to be a lot of really delicious food.
Today I am sharing my 2017 Thanksgiving Menu, along with a few tips to make Thanksgiving Day a breeze.
First up, the menu. A lot of these are new recipes and will be coming to the blog in the next two weeks. I wanted to share my menu first, so you could all plan properly…ok, I also wanted to get you excited for all the great recipes heading your way. I will be adding the recipes links to this post as each new recipe goes live here on HBH so you can use this post as your go-to Thanksgiving prep guide.
Half Baked Harvest 2017 Thanksgiving Menu
Breakfast
Tip: I always start the morning off with a good breakfast. We eat a little later than most, so breakfast is essential.
Pumpkin Spice French Toast with Cider Syrup
Cocktails
Tip: both cocktails can be made a day in advance (see directions with recipes).
Cranberry Thyme Spritz (party punch!)
Appetizers
Tip: each appetizer can be prepped a day in advance and warmed before serving. The acorn squash can be eaten at room temp.
Honey Butter Roasted Acorn with Burrata and Pomegranate
Pastry Wrapped Baked Brie with Maple Butter Roasted Apples
Simple Salty Sweet Potato Skin Chips
Mains
Tip: the lasagna can be made a few days ahead and baked before serving
Herb and Butter Roasted Turkey with White Wine Pan Gravy
Butternut Squash and Sun-Dried Tomato White Lasagna
Sides
Tip: don’t be afraid to go overboard with the sides. They’re the best part!
Cranberry Pomegranate Salsa
Cream of Pumpkin Soup with Maple Pecans
Easy Flaky Pull-Apart Dinner Rolls
Pan Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Bacon, Dates, and Halloumi
Sweet Potato Casserole with Sweet ‘n’ Savory Bacon Pecans
Cinnamon Streusel Swirled Maple Sweet Potato Casserole
Crockpot Three Cheese Mashed Potatoes
Butternut Squash and Wild Mushroom Stuffing
Pomegranate and Avocado Salad with Candied Walnuts
Dessert
Tip: Make the pies in advance, but bake the cookies just before serving. Warm cookies are the best…serve with milk.
Chai Pumpkin Pie with Maple Whipped Cream
Gooey Chocolate Chip Cookie Pie
Butter Pecan Chocolate Chip Cookies
As you can see, it is quite the menu, but I have a lot of mouths to feed. this year we are heading to Cleveland, so it will be a VERY big group. Hey, it’s Thanksgiving, go big or go home, right! As you will also see, I have included a lasagna as part of my main course. I wanted to have a hearty and delicious vegetarian option this year for the non-turkey eaters, and I can’t wait to tell you about this lasagna, it’s too good for words.
Since my menu is so big, I thought I would give you guys a break down of just how to get this entire meal on the table and not have stress about it. You ready? Here we go!
My Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday Prep Plan:
My Thursday Schedule:Â
It’s a lot, but trust me, having it all on paper is so helpful!
A Few Tips:
Think about your Menu
A few things to be thinking about when creating your Thanksgiving menu, how much oven space do you have, how many people are you serving, and does anyone have any dietary restrictions.
If you know you will have limited oven space, plan to make sides that can be served raw (salads), made on the stove-top, in a slow cooker, in an Instant Pot or cooked ahead and quickly reheated.
Depending on how many leftovers you’d like, plan on anywhere from a pound to a pound and a half per person. If everyone is heading out the door at the end of the day, I would go closer to a pound per person. If guests your guests are staying through the weekend go for a pound and a half. Bone in breasts are a nice option If you don’t want to cook more than one turkey. And lastly, keep in mind, that if you’ve got a lot of sides, guests will probably eat less turkey.
There are a ton of people in my family, a few who will eat most anything, but the majority are picky eaters. We’ve got the brussels sprouts lovers and those who will never go near them. Obviously, I can’t cater to everyone’s specific needs/wants, but I do like to make sure there is something on the table for everyone. It’s important to be thinking about these things before the big day so that everything can go as smooth as possible.
Make an Oven/Food Schedule
This is probably my number one tip to easily getting dinner on the table…and at a reasonable hour. An oven schedule is essential for staying on track on Thanksgiving Day, especially if you’re working with limited oven space.
Set the Table Wednesday
This is something my Nonnie taught me, and it’s probably my favorite trick. I like to set my dinner table the night before. It’s one more thing you can cross off your checklist early, plus you’ll be guaranteed to have the table set and looking pretty when guests arrive.
Relax and Enjoy your Family and Friends
I know it’s hard, but try to remember to relax and enjoy your Thanksgiving. Whether you’re hosting the gathering, or bringing a side dish, Thanksgiving can be stressful for everyone. Just remember, it’s just one day out of the year and the point is to have fun and be with loved ones. If you end up burning the whole meal, no worries, just make more cocktails, eat all the appetizers, and hey, you’ll have good story for next year!
And whoooaaaa…lots of words here on Thanksgiving! I loved putting this guide together, and while it’s by no means perfect, I hope it helps with your planning. I will be sharing so much more in the weeks ahead, everything from recipes, to cocktails, to gift ideas, to crafts, so be on the lookout for some fun posts.
Also, does anyone have interest in seeing how I set my Thanksgiving table? I wonder…
Happy November everyone!
OMG Tieghan, are you seriously going to cook (and eat) all of this ?? Wow, we don’t do Thanksgiving and being French I’m used to big, long meals, but this is just incredible 🙂 I’ll pick some of these recipes for Christmas, everything (photos included) is mouthwatering! I’m sure your big crowd will enjoy every single bite of this banquet.
Haha yes! I have a very big family, so we always need a lot of food! I hope you love some of these recipes for Christmas! Thank you Anaïs!
Hey Tieghan,
This guide is perfect! I’m so proud of how well you were able to compile everything together and love the thanksgiving guide! Haha and I like your Trial Thanksgiving when you shot this post. ?
My mom usually makes thanksgiving dinner but let’s me bake desserts when I visit, so I’d love to use one of your recipes! We normally have a small group of people but the chia pumpkin pie sounds lovely or the pecan cookies! I was thinking maybe a creme brûlée pie? But yours sounds wonderful and I’m looking forward to seeing the recipe and the rest of the recipes this month! (Especially the vegetarian lasagna ?). I’m also a big holiday person and this is my favorite time of the year. I hope you’re enjoying getting ready for your big family thanksgiving! 🙂
Hi Kristin! Baking with your mom sounds so nice! I hope you do make one of my recipes for dessert, let me know which one! I am really excited to have my family all together again for the holidays, since we are all in different places a lot of the time! Thank you!
I’m planning out my menu too and your chocolate chip cookie pie is on it! huge hit around here. I was wondering how far ahead I could make the pie. I usually make all my desserts day of and try to prep everything else at least the day before, but saw you make your pie 2 days early. Should I make it, not bake it, and then bake it day of? Or fully bake it on that Tuesday?
Thanks!
Hi! I like to prep the pies in advance since they can site a while and keep well. This cookie pie can be made 2 days in advance and it’s great. That said I do LOVE this slightly warm and often prep the pie a couple days in advance, chill and then bake before dinner. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe. Thank you! ?
Wow, I don’t think I have ever made such a detailed description of any holiday menu. I can really tell that you are excited about Thanksgiving! Eager for the recipes to come!
Yes so excited! Thanks Jenny!
Omgosh, THANK YOU soooo much for posting this early! I’ve been reading up on your posts from last year as well as other brining recipes because I’m hosting thanksgiving by myself for the first time this year!! I’m definitely prepping ahead and you are one of the only blogs to post Thanksgiving meals yet, so I’m extremely grateful. Thanks again!
That is so awesome! I bet your Thanksgiving meal will turn out amazing Jessica and I hope this guide helps you out a bit! Thank you!
Yes! YES!!! YES!! I want to see how you set your table. I’m like you….how things LOOK is very improtant to me, we do eat with our eyes first. Thanks for all your work, this post is so impressive and will be my go to guide in the next few weeks.
Great! I hope this guide helps you out Karen! Thank you!
This. Looks. In. Credible. OH MY GOSH. From the menu itself to the photos (which look like a glossy magazine spread), I can see how much hard work and passion went into this post (and all the ones to come), and it is seriously impressive and amazing!!!! Can’t wait to see each recipe as you roll them out this month!
Thank you so much Molly!
My prep time is similar to yours, on the BIG DAY, just up to 2pm. At 2 pm, I take anything out of the refridg. to be at room temp. that I have prepped the day before. Make the mashed potatoes & place in the slow cooker. That is also the time I get dressed!! (wondering when you get dressed in your timeline!) I check my turkey at 2:30, usually it is done @ 160. Make the gravy at @ 3:ish (hopefully this year it won’t look soooo dark brown like it did last year, wile the turkey is resting. Slice the turkey @ 3:30, set out the appetizers. Guests arrive @ 4pm, serve dinner @ 5.
Thanksgiving is such a busy day haha! Sounds like a great prep though Leslie!
Oh my gosh! This guide is awesome. So detailed. And I love all the photos. I would definitely enjoy reading a post on your table setting!
Thanksgiving is over for us in Canada, but this is definite inspiration for my Christmas meal planning!
I am so glad you like this! Thank you Leanne!
Hello – I love the look of your menu, and since i’ve had great luck with a number of your recipes, I’m thinking to just make your entire menu for thanksgiving. Question – does your plan require two ovens? trying to figure out how you do all the baking, logistically. thanks!
Hey Michelle! So glad you like my menu! Yes, ideally my pan uses two ovens. That said, you can pre roast/bake things and do this with one oven or us crockpots too. Please let me know if you have other questions. Hope you love this recipe. Thank you! ? and happy thanksgiving planning!
I’m so inspired and we don’t even have Thanksgiving here! For the past couple of years I have used some of your Thanksgiving recipes for Christmas though. Can’t wait for the new recipes!
Thank you Marian!
Loving this guide! Cannot wait for Thanksgiving! xoxo
Thank you!
Your menu sounds absolutely fantastic and I can’t wait to discover some of the new recipes!! Whilst I have already set the Thanksgiving menu myself, there’s always place for another inspirational dish!
Perfect! I hope you enjoy this one, thank you!
Right, that’s it – I’m getting on a plane and coming to your house to experience thanksgiving!! 😉 Also, YES to a table set up post, thank you & please!!
Rebecca
xx
http://www.peppermintdolly.com
Haha yes! Wish I could have everyone over! I am so glad you like this, thank you Rebecca!
Yes! I would love to see how you set your table. Setting my table for Thanksgiving is something I think about for a long time before the actual day. In fact, I already have my menu card and name card designs chosen, new salad plates purchased and ideas for how to make new napkin rings. Would love to see what you do!
That sounds so nice! Thank you Jeannine!