Thanksgiving Dinner "Must Have" List

My Thanksgiving "Must Have" List

I love cooking and baking for my family, so it is no surprise that I love the holidays. I love decorating, watching and listening to Christmas movies or music, planning menus, creating homemade gifts for my friends and family members.  Thanksgiving dinner is a big deal in my house.  Some of us joke that we will fast before the big day or others say they don't over eat because its the leftovers for days they cherish.  Either way I spend many days planning and preparing the menu. I often start shopping weeks in advance, cleaning my pantry and refrigerator/freezer out and tis the season for list making.  Days in advance I create shopping list and the menu for the day, and I begin cooking and prepping on the Sunday before Thanksgiving.  Like I said its a big deal in our family....

So below I created a list of my must haves for preparing Thanksgiving Dinner.  Some items I have in my pantry, or need to restock. There are a lot of fresh items and seasonal items as well.  Be sure when you are gathering all the ingredients and items needed that you check expiration dates.  That can of pumpkin pie filing you bought on sale, may no longer be good. I am always a fan of fresh and old fashion "from scratch" recipes.

Main Dish

Turkey: 1 pound per person.

Fresh Veggies & Fruit

Garlic

Celery

Yellow Onions

Cranberries: Fresh and Canned

Oranges

Gala or Green Apples, used for pie and stuffing.

Russet Potatoes: ½ pound per person, approx. 1 large potato per person.

Yams (Sweet Potatoes): ¼ pound per person, approx. ½ of a Large Yam/Potato

Sweet Baking Pumpkin or Canned Pumpkin Pie Filling

 Dairy 

Whole Milk

2% Milk

Eggs

Unsalted Butter

Sour Cream

Cream Cheese

Mayonnaise

Heavy Whipping Cream

Grated Parmesan Cheese

Evaporated Milk

From the Pantry

Chicken Stock

Honey

White Flour

White Sugar

Brown Sugar

Powdered Sugar

Vanilla Extract

Poultry Seasoning

Salt

Pepper

Baking Soda/Powder

Ground Nutmeg

Ground Cinnamon

Ground Paprika

Ground Mustard

White Vinegar

Bittersweet Baking Chocolate

Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips

Onion Soup Mix

I will be posting this years menu and several reciepes to share with you. I hope that you enjoy them as much as my family does.  Please feel free to ask me any questions. I would love to help you plan and create your next successful dinner or party