Thanksgiving is Less Than 2 Weeks Away + Roasted Vegetables with Capers & Rosemary!

Happy Monday! If you’re here for the Fall Vegetables with Capers and Rosemary, that is a bonus recipe for paid subscribers.  Scroll to the bottom.

Life is unpredictable, but Thanksgiving is not and it is less than 2 weeks away!  My family and I are excited!  Don't let my newsletters stress you out. The whole point is to show you what you can do in advance, not what you must do in advance.  All these tips and strategies are most relevant to the hosts and hostesses who are preparing most or all of the meal themselves and who have a busy schedule leading up to the holiday.  If I didn't get a lot of these tasks completed early, I don't see how I could pull off this meal without tons of stress.

I'm so thrilled so many of you are happy with the Thanksgiving ebook! Thank you for sharing all of your feedback.  For those of you on the fence, if you are planning ANY large holiday gathering or meal with many components, this ebook will be the best $15 you have ever spent!  Click here to get your ebook.  :)

Here's what you can get done this week:

• Get your knives sharpened Especially your carving knife.  A razor-sharp knife is the most important tool in your kitchen. I have been using a mail-order company called Knife Aid. $89 for 7 knives, all shipping included. They do a great job. Otherwise, google cutlery stores in your area and take them in!

• Make your grocery lists:

Non-perishables (e.g., flour, spices, wine, nuts, dried fruit, butter, frozen foods, butter, winter squashes, sweet potatoes, sparkling water)  and longer shelf life perishables (heavy cream, milk, apples, onions, bread for stuffing) I have purchased all my non-perishables because I committed to a menu early.

Perishables to buy two days before (e.g., turkey, all other fresh fruits and vegetables, fresh herbs, flowers)

• Buy to-go containers  I always make too much food and I like sending care packages home with my guests to enjoy the day after.  I love the idea of having people bring their own reusable containers, but for me it's easier to stock up on disposable to-go boxes from amazon or Smart & Final.  I buy these brown kraft boxes.  I also bought these pint containers for storing my homemade ice cream, but they work equally as well to pack up soup to go.

• Clean out the refrigerator  Now is a great time to get rid of food past its prime or to get creative with the last spoonful of nut butter or those four olives just to make more space in the fridge.  I have a second, inexpensive refrigerator in the garage which really comes in handy for big dinners.  If you don't have the extra space, see if one of your neighbors is going away for the holiday and can store your chutney and jam collections for a few days.

  

• Check your meat thermometer   This tool is the only way you'll be able to tell if your turkey is cooked properly, so it's important that it's accurate.  If you're unsure, stick the tip of the thermometer into boiling water.  If the temperature reads 212 degrees Farenheit, you're good to go.  I have two meat thermometers - this Thermapen (shown above) and this one which can go in the oven and beeps when the meat achieves the set temp.

Check these posts for help with menu planning and stocking up on the proper equipment.  If you haven't decided on your menu yet, that's a good place to start.  Then you can create your timeline and purchase your non-perishables.

Even More Musings is an extension of my weekly newsletter, Monday Musings. My newsletter is a sponsor-free zone and is fully supported by readers like you. Consider becoming a paid subscriber to get Even More Musings! Each week, I share my tips and tricks along with a new recipe. For only $5/month or $50/year (less than $1 a newsletter), you'll also gain access to the entire archive, featuring favorites like My New Hyper-fixation High-Protein Fluffy Breakfast Bowl  and the Hillstone Copycat Emerald Kale Salad.  This week I am sharing an easy, seasonal vegetable side dish that I make all the time for weeknights, entertaining, and it’s perfect for Thanksgiving. I’ll share why and how you do this in advance.