🍽️ Holiday Menu
12 DishesMains & Savory
📅 Prep Schedule
Saturday (Day -5)
Pantry & Grocery Run
- Complete major grocery & pantry shopping
- Put ice cream maker bowl in the freezer to chill
Sunday (Day -4)
Farmers Market & Ice Creams
- Pick up fresh produce, herbs & apples at market
- Churn Classic Vanilla Ice Cream & freeze
- Blend & churn Vegan Coconut Ice Cream
Monday (Day -3)
Turkey Pick-Up & Dry Brine
- Pick up fresh whole turkey (10–14 lbs)
- Salt generously all over & refrigerate uncovered for 24–48h dry brine
Tuesday (Day -2)
Cheesecake & Pie Dough
- Bake Pumpkin Spice Latte Cheesecake & chill overnight
- Make Vegan Pie Crust dough / Super Apple Pie disks (chill)
Wednesday (Day -1)
Major Prep & Baking
- Assemble & shape Dinner Rolls; cover and chill unbaked
- Assemble and bake Super Apple Pie
- Prepare Green Bean Casserole sauce & blanch green beans
- Tear bread and brown sausage for Stuffing
Thursday (Thanksgiving Day)
Roast & Feast
- Morning: Let rolls rise at room temp (~3h) & bake
- Midday: Low-and-slow roast Turkey (300°F covered, ~4h)
- Afternoon: Boil & whip Mashed Potatoes (Standard + Saffron)
- 4:00 PM: Glaze Turkey at 425°F (8–10 min) & rest 30m
- 4:30 PM: Bake Stuffing, Green Bean Casserole & Mac and Cheese
- 5:00 PM: Carve turkey and feast!
🛒 Master Shopping List
Categorized by grocery section
🥬 Fresh Produce
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Potatoes: 10 lb bag Once a Year & Saffron
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Onions: 3 large yellow/white Turkey, Stuffing
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Shallots: 2 medium Green Bean Casserole
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Garlic: 3 heads Turkey, Rolls, Casserole, Saffron
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Apples: 4 lbs (Granny Smith, Honeycrisp, Braeburn) Super Apple Pie
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Green Beans: 2 lbs fresh Green Bean Casserole
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Mushrooms: 1.5 lbs (cremini & button) Casserole & Stuffing
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Winter Squash or Pumpkin: 1 small (or puree) Cheesecake
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Fresh Herbs: 1 bunch Sage, 1 bunch Thyme Whole Turkey
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Citrus: 2 Limes, 1 Lemon Pie & Mac and Cheese
🍗 Meat
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Whole Turkey: 1 (10–14 lb fresh bird) Whole Turkey
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Pork Sausage Roll: 1 lb (Jones Dairy Farm) Dave's Mom's Stuffing
🧈 Dairy & Eggs
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Unsalted European Butter: 3 lbs Rolls, Potatoes, Pie, Turkey, Stuffing
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Heavy Cream: 1 quart Vanilla Ice Cream & Cheesecake
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Whole Milk: 1 half-gallon Rolls, Ice Cream, Potatoes
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Cream Cheese: 2 packages (8-ounce each) Cheesecake
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Eggs: 1 dozen large Ice Cream, Cheesecake, Rolls, Stuffing
🌱 Vegan & Dairy-Free
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Vegan Butter / Margarine: 1 tub Casserole, Mac & Cheese, Saffron Mash
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Plant Milk (Almond / Soy / Oat): 1 half-gallon Pie Crust, Casserole, Mac & Cheese
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Full-Fat Coconut Milk: 2 cans (14 oz each) Vegan Coconut Ice Cream
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Condensed Coconut Milk: 1 can (320g) Vegan Coconut Ice Cream
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Coconut Cream: 1 carton (250ml) Vegan Coconut Ice Cream
🌾 Baking & Pantry
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Flours: All-Purpose (5 lb) & Bread Flour (3 lb) Rolls, Pie, Casserole, Mac & Cheese
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Sugars: Granulated (4 lb) & Brown Sugar (1 bag) Pies, Ice Cream, Cheesecake
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Pure Maple Syrup: 1 bottle Cheesecake & Glazes
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Vegetable Broth: 2 quarts Green Bean Casserole & Stuffing
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Macaroni / Cavatappi Pasta: 1 lb box Vegan Mac & Cheese
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Graham Crackers: 1 box (12 sheets) Cheesecake
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Crispy Fried Onions: 1 large tub (3 cups) Green Bean Casserole
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Vegetable Shortening: 1 container (Crisco) Vegan Pie Crust & Apple Pie
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Nutritional Yeast: 1 container Vegan Mac & Cheese
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Pepperidge Farm White Bread: 1 loaf Dave's Mom's Stuffing
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Canned Mandarin Oranges: 1 can Dave's Mom's Stuffing
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Apple Cider & Apple Jelly: 1 small bottle / jar Super Apple Pie
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Applejack (or Brandy) & Dark Rum: Small bottles Apple Pie & Coconut Ice Cream
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Active Dry Yeast: 1 packet (2.5 tsp) Dinner Rolls
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Molasses: 1 jar Turkey Glaze
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Tapioca Flour / Starch: 3 tbsp Super Apple Pie
🧂 Spices & Seasonings
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Salts: Kosher Salt & Flaky Sea Salt
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Vanilla: 2 plump vanilla beans & Pure Vanilla Extract
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Baking Spices: Ground Cinnamon, Ginger, Nutmeg
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Saffron Threads: 1 pinch good quality Saffron Mash
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Poultry Seasoning / Bell's Seasoning: 1 container Dave's Mom's Stuffing