Creamy Pumpkin Soup (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Prepare this up to two days ahead without the soy milk and refrigerate.  Reheat in microwave or on stovetop.  Add the soy milk after the soup is heated through.
 

Tossed Green Salad with assorted dressings

Success Tip: Prepare dressings three to four days in advance and refrigerate.  Or buy your favorite non-fat salad dressings.   Buy organic baby greens in bags and toss in a bowl just before serving.
 

* Holiday Stuffed Pumpkin (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Buy pumpkin in October or early November for the best selection.  Keep in a cool place.  Buy extra pumpkins for use at other times during the winter months.  Choose one of the many varieties available at this time of the year.  One of my favorites is the “ghost” pumpkin with its white skin and orange flesh.  The traditional pumpkin for carving a jack-o-lantern is not the tastiest choice for use as a stuffed pumpkin, although I have used them when nothing else was available.  Clean the pumpkin the day before use and refrigerate, but do not stuff until just before baking.  If you do not have enough room to refrigerate the cleaned pumpkin then clean it just before stuffing.  Cube the bread the night before and allow it to sit out overnight so the bread dries out slightly.  This step helps to make the stuffing mixture nicely moist, but not mushy.
 

* Mashed Potatoes (newsletter July 2004 & October 2004)

Success Tip:  Peel potatoes in the morning and store in water to cover until cooking time.  Drain off all cooking water.  Use a handheld electric mixer and add warmed soymilk while beating.  Place mashed potatoes into a warmed bowl before serving.  For garlic mashed potatoes, add some of the Elephant Garlic Spread to the potatoes while mashing.
 

Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  These may be made two days ahead of time and refrigerated in a covered casserole dish.  Reheat in microwave just before serving.
 

* Golden Gravy (newsletter October 2003)

Success Tip:  This may be made a day ahead of time and reheated slowly on the stovetop, stirring frequently.
 

Rich Brown Gravy (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Brown the onions and flour a day or two ahead of time, then cover and refrigerate.  Finish the recipe as directed, realizing that it will take a bit more time for the liquid to heat through.
 

Whole Wheat & Sourdough Rolls with Elephant Garlic Spread (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Order your rolls from Whole Foods or a bakery about one week early, then pick them up the day before the holiday.  Make the garlic spread one or two days ahead of time and refrigerate until serving.
 

* Cranberry Sauce (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Make two to three days ahead of time and refrigerate until just before serving. 
 

* Green Beans

Success Tip:  Trim beans the day before and store in the refrigerator.  Wash just before steaming.  I usually serve these plain with a bit of salt and pepper.
 

Brussels Sprouts with Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing (newsletter July 2003)

Success Tip:  Trim these a day or two before cooking and store in the refrigerator.  Wash before cooking.  Most people like these best with some type of a sauce, although Heather and I like them plain with only a bit of salt.  Make the dressing one to two days ahead and store in the refrigerator.  Pour a small amount of the dressing over the cooked Brussels sprouts and toss just before serving.
 

* Pumpkin Pie with Vanilla Cream Sauce (newsletter October 2003)

Success Tip:  Make the pie and the sauce one day ahead and refrigerate until just before serving.  We like this pie best chilled.  If you like warm pumpkin pie, you will need to make this just before serving.  The crust can be prepared one day early and refrigerated.  Mix the filling ingredients together, cover and refrigerate overnight, then pour into the crust and bake.  The vanilla sauce should be served chilled over the pie.
 

Wicked Chocolate Pie (newsletter October 2004)

Success Tip:  Make this one day early and refrigerate.  The toppings may be made two days ahead, if desired.  This needs to be served chilled.
 

1 week ahead:

Shop for non-perishable items and some of the perishable foods listed above.
Order rolls from bakery.

3 days ahead:

Make salad dressings.
Make cranberry sauce.

2 days ahead:

Shop for vegetables and whole wheat bread.
Make Creamy Pumpkin Soup.
Bake sweet potatoes or yams and prepare Maple Mashed Sweet Potatoes.
Make Elephant Garlic Spread.
Make Creamy Caesar Salad Dressing.
Make the raspberry sauce and the almond topping for the chocolate pie.

1 day ahead:

Pick up the pre-ordered rolls.
Make the pumpkin pie and vanilla sauce.
Make the chocolate pie.
Trim the green beans and Brussels sprouts.
Make the Golden Gravy.
Partially make the brown gravy.
Cube the bread and allow to sit out overnight

Thanksgiving
(Morning):

Peel potatoes and place in cold water to cover.
Clean out pumpkins.
Make stuffing mixture and stuff pumpkin.

Thanksgiving
(Afternoon): 

Take sweet potatoes and soup out of refrigerator.
Place pumpkin in oven and bake as directed.
Cook potatoes and mash.
Wash vegetables and cook.
Finish brown gravy and slowly reheat Golden Gravy.
Reheat mashed sweet potatoes.
Finish soup and heat.
Place baby greens in bowl.  Serve with dressings.
Heat rolls and garlic spread.
Don’t forget the cranberry sauce.