Thanksgiving Dinner prep

[tsagona]

Does anyone make some of their dishes ahead of time and put them in the freezer til Thanksgiving? I'm thinking of making my cornbread dressing and freeze it unbaked. Anyting I can do ahead of time so I don't have so much to do the morning of, would be great. Just wondering how this frozen dressing might turn out. Don't want dry dressing ;o)

Does anyone plan ahead like this and what dishes do you make ahead?

Thanks,

 

[jodyleek]

Does anyone make some of their dishes ahead of time and put them in the freezer til Thanksgiving? I'm thinking of making my cornbread dressing and freeze it unbaked. Anyting I can do ahead of time so I don't have so much to do the morning of, would be great. Just wondering how this frozen dressing might turn out. Don't want dry dressing ;o)

Does anyone plan ahead like this and what dishes do you make ahead?

Thanks,

Hey Tracy,

I was going to do the make ahead mashed potato casserole and a squash casserole. I think I am going to make them a couple days before and either freeze or just put in a really cold frig until Turkey Day. I am going to buy (gasp!) turkey gravy from a nice grocery chain that's in my area. They do a great job with their house made ready to heat dinners, so I am sure the gravy will be good. I am making a wild rice salad the night before (the official Minnesota grain, you betcha). Just going to doctor up some Stove Top stuffing (another gasp!) on the day and heat up some corn. I am making rolls from scratch on T-Day, so want to give myself plenty of time to do that and do Intensity (I hope I get it by then!).

Oh, and my sister used to make her dressing ahead of time and she would just splash some extra chicken stock on it as it baked if it was getting dry. Just keep it covered and maybe cook in a slower oven (325 deg) if you can.

Have a great Thanksgiving!
Jody

 

[Stephanie0523]

Tracy,
My aunt ALWAYS makes her dressing about a month in advance and freezes it. Her secret: She freezes it in its liquid form in plastic food storage containers BEFORE she bakes it. She has incredible dressing each year, so it must work! She just thaws it (probably in the fridge) a couple of days before and bakes it Thanksgiving morning. I usually make my cornbread the day before so it can get a little dried out (so it soaks up the liquids better) and then make my dressing the morning of Thanksgiving and take it in liquid form to my mom's house and bake it there... This year I'm attempting a vegetarian version... should be interesting!!

 

[bonvivant]

I didn't even get past "conrnbread dressing". Yum yum yum. Invite me over already!

 

[Dela]

I don't freeze, but I do make things 1 day ahead. The stuffing, you can make the cooked part a day ahead put in containers in the fridge, then on Thanksgiving, I mix it with the cubes and add any eggs and broth at that time to moisten it. Cranberry sauce can be made a couple days ahead and put in fridge, I have done mashed potatoes the day before and then reheat in the oven the day of. I prep all the green beans day before, but roast them day of, the recipe actually calls for being served at room temp, so that one is easy.

I usually add some other meat too, just for variety, the past few years it has been ribs, strange, but they are a hit, they heat up next day pretty well too.

 

[ebonynicole]

My mom always cooks the turkey and ham the day before. We only live about an hour and a hald way from each other so it works best for us. It's only my brother, myself and my mom anyway but she will make everything else when they comes up to that morning.

Hopefully we will have Intensity in time so I can watch before attempting