This will be my first year planning and cooking our Thanksgiving dinner. I really appreciate this guide and will be using it a general guideline! Thanks Chef Meg for your great ideas! - 11/10/2012   8:54:49 AM

It's a shame some posters feel the need to leave snarky comments. It may not be the way you do it, but you don't need to rude.

Thanks, Chef Meg. - 11/9/2012   4:12:10 AM

Thanks Meg I am hosting this year, what a great timetable! May you and your family have a great turkey day too! Mary - 11/7/2012   12:20:26 PM

I have done Thanksgiving for years. One tip that I have is keep a Thanksgiving section in your recipe book. Add notes to recipes that you have tried or that didn't work. Accumulate them over the years - I now have great recipes that suit our family for all of the standards.

I also make a "this year card". It notes how many people, what I served, what wines I had etc. It is a great starting point for the next year. I have noticed that contrary to this article - my Thanksgivings have become simpler. We enjoy more with less. Less centerpieces, less fancy wines (at my house no one notices), less desserts. But last year my daughter used Alton Brown's brine recipe and it was great. - 11/7/2012   8:35:15 AM

Three weeks before you invite people and ask what they're bringing and the two weeks before you send formal invitation, if using? Really? Also, who has a table just for setting three days ahead and as for a tablescape, I need the table space for the dishes that will be passed around. Decorate the house and have a small centrepiece...really it's about people not image.... - 11/7/2012   6:26:35 AM

I really liked this article! - 11/6/2012   9:50:09 AM

Also, forget Norman Rockwell/Walt Disney/Hallmark/Martha Stewart, etc. Those are idealized gatherings, not reality for the majority of us. I agree with MEL_UNRAU -- remember this is about friends and family. It's a great checklist and a place to start. Use it to do what is reasonable for you and your family.
- 11/6/2012   9:19:31 AM

Thanksgiving is always at Mom and Dad's but I like the Timeline . . . I do something like it for Christmas Eve which is at my house . . . lots of lists . . . lots of planning . . . the key is to have a plan just like with everyday Sparking. - 11/6/2012   8:59:09 AM

Great tips, thank you! - 11/6/2012   8:54:03 AM

I had thanksgiving dinner at my house 2 years ago for the first time. And although the timeline / list may be a bit too much, I would have loved to have it back then. My kitchen looked like a mess, I was worn out and tired but we all had a blast!! - 11/6/2012   8:44:46 AM

i just read the rest of the comments! yikes!! we have some crabby non celebrators posting! lots of people celebrate like this AND need help with the list .... and this is so not martha ... it seems perfectly sane and manageable ..... - 11/6/2012   7:59:39 AM

the best tip on here is "make and freeze a meal for the wedn. before t-day" ... just brilliant!!

great list ... thanks! - 11/6/2012   7:56:00 AM

One other thing to add to this list: Make a list of the foods you are serving, post it on the fridge, and check it before calling your guests to the table. This way you won't forget to serve the strawberry pretzel salad (which is time consuming to prepare) the way I did one year! lol - 11/6/2012   7:30:52 AM

Julia Child used to make lists like this. Informative and helpful. - 11/6/2012   4:15:41 AM

Well, guess I'm not Martha Stewart then. I use paper plates, paper table cloth, and I cook what is on sale in the grocery store!
China-HAHAHAHA, glass ware-HAHAHAHA - 11/6/2012   3:17:00 AM

Great list, outstanding for keeping my Type A personality in check! Thanks and Happy Thanksgiving! - 11/6/2012   1:29:54 AM

GREAT LIST! I Could Have Used This List In The Past. I'm One Of Those Night Before People Although Desserts May Be Made A Couple Of Days Earlier. When You Wait To The Last Minute You Truly Get Tired And Grouchy And Not Very Thankful lol. I Appreciate You Sharing This And It Can Be Used On Other Holidays Or Occassions. Many Blessings Upon You And Your Family! Happy Thanksgiving To you All!!! :))))
- 11/6/2012   12:31:40 AM

I think this is a great timeline. To the few people who think it is going too far, the point of starting early is to spread out the workload so that it's not too much at one time. I have about 20 people for Thanksgiving each year, and a number of them are overnight guests, meaning multiple meals for large groups. If I don't start my planning early, it's a lot of stress. Thanks, Chef Meg! Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! - 11/5/2012   11:56:44 PM

I think more people need to be thankful for this list! ;-) As a youngin' I would totally need something like this for my first Thanksgiving! Thankfully, my parents are still feeding me on the holiday - 11/5/2012   10:30:41 PM

I think more people need to be thankful for this list! ;-) As a youngin' I would totally need something like this for my first Thanksgiving! Thankfully, my parents are still feeding me on the holiday - 11/5/2012   10:30:41 PM

this plan sounds like Martha Stewart and many of those fancy cooks on the food channel. we don't have to do all the fancy stuff that for those who like things done fancy. my plan check the recipes out and i think this list is a good your own to do list going. and i can remember my aunt doing the table setting thing part way since she had a separate room and didn't use the room unless she had company they ate in the kitchen other wise. - 11/5/2012   10:14:32 PM

Ha Ha another plus to living in Canada - I am done with Thanksgiving!!! - 11/5/2012   9:47:22 PM

Seriously? This is a bit insanely silly. I throw lots of dinner parties, but with a small home and two small kids, this would never happen. Clean regularly so you don't feel you have to do a major deep clean, then touch up the day before. Make a lovely dinner and remember this is for friends and family... :) 3 weeks to plan one dinner? You need to enjoy the month too! After all, it's about being thankful, not perfect! - 11/5/2012   5:38:09 PM

I would like to add one important note to the list: considering one's vegetarian guests. Most veg folks will be willing to bring their own food and will really appreciate your consideration.

For some great tips, there's a handy article right here on SparkPeople:
www.dailyspark.com/blog.asp?post=15
_tips_for_omnivores_who_love_vegans
- 11/5/2012   5:33:01 PM

Set the table 3 days before? I don't think so.

Nonetheless, I appreciated this timeline and will refer back to it on a regular basis, since we ALWAYS host the family Thanksgiving gathering. And I'm glad to see that kids are included in the tasks as this is the only way they'll learn to do them.

Happy Thanksgiving to All! - 11/5/2012   3:45:48 PM

I love this article, there are many ideas and tips I can use at Christmas so have saved to my spark favorites... Thanks for sharing... - 11/5/2012   3:42:59 PM

That sounds too organized. ;) - 11/5/2012   3:10:55 PM

Wow this is wonderful. I will be using the tips because tag! I am it for Thanks Giving. - 11/5/2012   3:05:32 PM

Thank you for bringing sanity to the timeline. - 11/5/2012   2:31:50 PM

Good article. Great check list so things aren't skipped.
The only way to know if meat has reached the desired level of doneness is to use a thermometer. Do not use a 'touch' test. Do not use 'juices run clear' test. Do not use a combination of 'temperature and time' as all ovens are slightly different. Please use a thermometer. Don't forget to refrigerate leftovers as soon as possible. - 11/5/2012   2:30:04 PM

Buy one frozen Lean Cuisine Turkey Dinner. Peal back plastic. Microwave for 5 minutes. ;) - 11/5/2012   2:20:53 PM