What do you make a day or two before Thanksgiving?

[Anonymous]

I usually make cranberry sauce two days before Thanksgiving, and mashed potatoes (Pioneer Woman make-ahead mashed potatoes recipe, and yes they are fabulous) the day before. My husband usually makes pies a day or two before.

What do you make not the day of Thanksgiving that is ready to serve or reheat the day of?

[Anonymous]

Cranberry sauce
Chocolate mousse pie
Tear up bread for stuffing/dressing and dry out in low oven
Pre chop celery, onion, etc for stuffing/dressing and loaf
Cook lentils if not using canned.

[Anonymous]

Pies and squash casserole/soufflé

We do the canned cranberry sauce and the bagged dressing so those are easy day of.

[Anonymous]

Cranberry sauce, pie dough, the additions (sausage, caramelized onions, etc) to the breadcrumbs for dressing, roll dough, stock, and the sweet potatoes

[Anonymous]

I make cheesecake for Thanksgiving instead so that has to be made a day before. If I'm making stuffing I make the cornbread a day before so it can be cubed to get stale.

[Anonymous]

It takes us 2-3 days to make the gravy. It’s a process.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It takes us 2-3 days to make the gravy. It’s a process.

It’s not made from the turkey drippings?

[Anonymous]

Sweet potato casserole but I put the pecans on the day of and bake it the day of, but I could bake 2 days earlier

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes us 2-3 days to make the gravy. It’s a process.

It’s not made from the turkey drippings?

OP here. I love to make a gravy “base” and then just add the turkey drippings and whisk well. It’s so much easier than making it all day-of.

[Anonymous]

Cranberry sauce
Pear anise sauce
Stuffing
Mac and cheese
Salad dressing
Pie crust
Cheesecake

[Anonymous]

Gravy - week before and frozen
Potatoes au gratin - week before and frozen
Cranberry sauce - 2 days before, fridge
Pecan Pie - day before

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Cranberry sauce
Pear anise sauce
Stuffing
Mac and cheese
Salad dressing
Pie crust
Cheesecake

Do you fully bake the stuffing the day before, or do you just assemble and fully bake the day of?

[Anonymous]

All desserts baked the day before, everything else prepared the day before, and goes into the oven on Thanksgiving Day

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes us 2-3 days to make the gravy. It’s a process.

It’s not made from the turkey drippings?

OP here. I love to make a gravy “base” and then just add the turkey drippings and whisk well. It’s so much easier than making it all day-of.

What a great idea. I would love to hear how you break up the steps.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It takes us 2-3 days to make the gravy. It’s a process.

It’s not made from the turkey drippings?

OP here. I love to make a gravy “base” and then just add the turkey drippings and whisk well. It’s so much easier than making it all day-of.

What a great idea. I would love to hear how you break up the steps.

Different poster here, but I make the gravy base in advance as well and finish it on Thanksgiving day. I use an Ina Garten recipe from her “Make it Ahead” cookbook.

On a separate note, I’ve started a tradition whereby I serve appetizers and cocktails (cranberry martinis!) on Thanksgiving eve. It’s laid back and festive and we don’t have to venture out on what has become a big “going-out” night.