How to Fix a Very Easy Thanksgiving Dinner

This is as easy as it gets to serve a Thanksgiving dinner. Step by step instructions. You can fix this! All the thanksgiving dishes are available in convenience food form. I have been served all of them at at very nice dinners. Just roast the turkey for a good presentation.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• for eight people
• frozen turkey 8 lb
• cooking spray
• butter or margarine pound
• two boxes instant stuffing
• jar of olives
• jar of pickles
• can of roasted nuts
• 3 cans green beans
• can of cranberry sauce
• 3 cans yams
• cinnamon
• ginger
• nutmeg
• bag of marshmellows
• frozen pumpkin pie
• whipped topping
• dinner rolls
• lettuce
• crabapples and spiced peaches
• aluminum foil
• large roasting pan
• meat thermometer
• two large saucepans (pots)
• casserole dish
• large serving platter
• two large serving bowls
• bread basket
• relish dish
• creamer
• sugar bowl
• butter dish
• small bowls
• salt and pepper shakers
• dishes, silverware and glasses for eight
• napkins and tablecloth or 8 placemats
• centerpiece

1. A frozen turkey must start defrosting several days before the Thanksgiving dinner. Put your turkey to defrost in the refrigerator. Allow one day for every four pounds for defrosting plus an extra day in case your refrigerator in too cold. This means you would put an 8 pound turkey to defrost in the refrigerator three days before you want to cook it. Very easy. One day ahead put the pie in the refrigerator and set the table.

2. For an 8 pound turkey start 3 hours before you want to serve dinner. Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Remove the wrapper and package of giblets. Drain juices. Pat the turkey clean with paper towels and put it in the roasting pan breast side up with the wings tucked under. Spray with cooking spay. Insert the meat thermometer in the breast not touching any bones. Place turkey in the oven. You have done the hard part. The rest is really easy to fix.

3. Check the turkey after an hour. If it looks too brown put a large piece of foil which you have folded in half and opened to make a tent over the breast. Roast until thermometer reads 180 degrees.

4. 
    
   cranberries

   While turkey is cooking wash lettuce. Wrap rolls in foil. Set up coffee pot. Fill sugar bowl and put nuts in dish. Put pickles and olives in relish dish, cranberry sauce in small bowl, butter on dish, and cream in pitcher put all these in refrigerator.

5. 
    
   sweet potato

   Forty-five minutes before serving time melt a stick of butter. Mix sweet potatoes, butter one teaspoon of cinnamon, one teaspoon of ginger and a quarter teaspoon of nutmeg. Put this into a casserole dish. Put this into the oven when you take the turkey out and heat for 30 minutes.

6. Heat green beans in a saucepan and prepare stuffing according to package directions. Cover the platter with lettuce leaves. Fill water glasses.

7. When the sweet potatoes come out of the oven put the rolls in. Top sweet potatoes with marshmallows. Put turkey on lettuce lined platter and garnish with crabapples and peaches.

8. Take out rolls and put sweet potatoes under broiler for two minutes to brown. Watch carefully. Take out sweet potatoes and put in pie. Set timer for five minutes less than time required for pie.

9. Put beans and stuffing in serving bowls and rolls in basket. Put your Thanksgiving dinner on the table and be thankful.

10. 
     
    pumpkin pie

    When timer goes off start coffee. Serve pie with topping and coffee. Let everyone else clean up. You deserve to take it easy.

Tips & Warnings

• If you must have mashed potatoes and gravy remember they are available in a box and an jar
• The centerpiece does not have to be elaborate. A paper turkey is fine. Or bowl of gourds and autumn leaves.
• call 1-800-butterball or go to [e-mail] for any turkey questions.
• If you want to get a bit more elaborate see my article "how to prepare an easy almost homemade thanksgiving dinner" for step by step instructions
• For an even better dinner see my article how to "prepare a southern-style thanksgiving dinner" not as easy but worth the effort.
• Immediately wash your hands and any surfaces or utensils which come in contact with raw turkey.

[Alisiane]

on 11/2/2008 I can't believe it's already November and already time to be thinking about this! It's so interesting how every family has their own secrets and tips on making Thanksgiving. I always love hearing how other fams cook up their meal. Thanks!

[dsarokin]

on 11/1/2008 Man, do you ever have this down to a science. At least, that's how it looks. Turkey Day might fall on us this year, so I'm definitely bookmarking this article. A big, grateful 5***** from me.

[IcyCucky]

on 11/1/2008 Sound so delicious, can't wait for Thanksgiving! 5*