Thanksgiving prep and WIAW

Every other year I host Thanksgiving.  It’s usually just us and one other family, but somehow I always end up with a stupidly big turkey.  Since I have the smallest oven available in a first world country, I cook the turkey on Wednesday and then heat it in the crockpot the next day.  Last time I hosted, the turkey nearly won.  This time, I’m prepared:  I bought a fresh turkey and I’m putting it in the oven shortly.

I’ve also pared back our meal plans to only include the things that “make” Thanksgiving for all of us, so I have a reasonable number of things to put together.  I’ll likely bake the pie and crisp today as well.  The kids are home with me and the weather sucks, so having the oven on all day won’t be a bad thing.

Appetizers:

Cheese platter with crackers
Dip with pretzels crisps
Veggies with dip

Dinner:

Turkey + gravy
Green beans
Golden corn
Sweet potatoes (with and without marshmallows)
Cranberry sauce (the gelled stuff ’cause that’s what the kids like)
Stuffing (maybe)
Rolls

Dessert:

Apple Crisp
Pumpkin Pie
Ice cream

I also have a huge variety of beer for the adults’ enjoyment and sparkling apple juice for the kids.

In preparation for T’day, I’ve been eating whatever leftovers we have in the fridge. So, here’s my WIAW…

Breakfast:  Eggs, veggies, cheese and the ever present coffee
Post run “snack”: Cauliflower with cannellini beans and cheese
Late lunch: Cauliflower with leftover pork with garlic sauce
(Yes, I do use cauliflower in place of rice a lot…)

Dinner was one of my favorite comfort foods.  It’s even a healthy choice: Potato Leek Soup.  I like it so much I’m including the recipe!

What does your Thanksgiving meal look like?  Anything unusual that you have or anything you HAVE to have every year?  Thanksgiving wouldn’t be complete around here without the Golden Corn…