Thanksgiving is just around the corner, everyone! I know, it feels like Halloween just happened (but that’s because it did!) I am not a huge fan of cooking (mainly because I don’t know how to) but I am always more than willing to help out those who make the meals themselves! Whether it’s the grave, or mashed potatoes, there is always something that needs to be made! But how far in advance should you really start making your Thanksgiving dinner? 1 day?? 2 days?? Let’s find out!
1. Gravy
Gravy is something that can be made from a pouch or a can. Just like anything else for Thanksgiving. But you can also make gravy from scratch! If you want to make it homemade, the recommendation is making it at least 2 days ahead. That way when your turkey is thawed enough and all the inners are out, you can easily reheat the gravy in a sauce pan and enjoy
2. Turkey
Honestly, a turkey can take SO long to cook! According to Delish, it can take up to 5 days for a 20lb turkey! In reality, you want to give your turkey 1 day for every 4 pounds of weight. Not to mention too, if you are planning on marinating the turkey, it needs at least 12 hours of time to marinate! Personally, I would start thawing my turkey about 5 days in advance, that way there is plenty of time before the big day.
3. Stuffing
Again, stuffing is something that can easily be made from the box. Growing up, that's how I liked it. Only because all the ingredients in a true stuffing freaked me out. But we also had other portions of our dinner that I liked more, so it was not that big of a deal to me. However, if you are cooking it homemade, I would recommend cooking it just the day beforehand. And simply refrigerate before serving!
4. Casseroles
One of my favorite casseroles to ever make is green bean casserole. Surprisingly, did you know that this can be made 2 days ahead of time??? This is perfect since you have so much going on already the day of! On Thanksgiving day, simply pop in the oven till golden brown, and enjoy!
5. Mashed Potatoes
Mashed potatoes are actually super simple to make. This was one side i was always in charge of growing up. You can easily cook the potatoes 1, maybe 2 days in advance., Then the day of, simply boil and mash them and that's it!
So there you have it! 5 of the most commonly made Thanksgiving food items, and when you should make them! You truly could make any of them the day of (besides the turkey), but just to give you some help, always prep before that! Stay tuned next week for some more Thanksgiving fun!