Sapient Conglomeration: Thanksgiving List

It's time to make that Thanksgiving list of items you need to have to pull off your Thanksgiving weekend, whether you are staying at home or traveling, you will have a list. When I look at the date, I realize that I am late in making mine. This should have been done by November 1. When the clearance of Halloween candy was started. I am so late that I feel like I should be running around like the White Rabbit, in circles and more circles, yelling "I'm late, I'm late, for a very important date!". I'm dizzy just thinking about it all. But, if you are in the same boat as I am, know that we can still pull this off.

One step at a time. What is the most important? The food. The food list is one that may grow as Thanksgiving gets closer so don't be alarmed if you forget a minor item. Don't be offended with my list. Just because I am putting the obvious item on here, it has nothing to do with my thinking that you can not come up with the simple on your own. This is the list that I may use and may also share with young family members.

If you are doing the dinner at home, here's a bit of a list to consider.

Halloween Candy from clearance table
Turkey or other main dish meat
Butter
Cheese
Baking Supplies
Pie Crust
Pie filling
Ready Made Dough
Dinner Rolls
Cake Mix - always have a mix on hand just in case the need arises. You can throw this together in just minutes.
Cake Frosting
Pie Filling
Spices
Nuts
Dried Fruits
Marshmallows
Gravies and Gravy Mixes - if a guest is bringing the mashed potatoes, they may not bring the gravy or enough gravy
Side dishes x 3 unless your guest are bringing sides, then you could get by with only one; your favorite one
Bag of salad mix - again always good to have the back up even if you don't plan to use it for dinner. If you end up with a vegetarian guest, you will be covered for sure.
Salad dressing - you will use this eventually, even if not the big day
Cool whip or can whip cream
Drinks - think about some fun and decorative drinks. I will do some post with great ideas in the very near future. Make sure that there's some coffee to go with dessert, and maybe the makings for a bit of *foo foo coffee.

This looks like a simple list, right? Wait til you standing in front of the spice isle, attempting to remember what you have buried in your cabinet, at home, without a list of what you need. Yep - you need a spice list. And, did you notice the Halloween candy on the list? The very top of the list. This is where I really screwed up. I generally start the clearance shopping the day after Halloween. And I track the clearance until it gets close to slim pickins' and then I grab the great bargains. Why do you need this for Thanksgiving? It is always great to have little snacks, scattered around. Not only for the snack value but for decoration. Many candy companies fill a Halloween decorated bag with candy that has no holiday decoration. If you luck out with that type of find, you can use this candy for Christmas stocking stuffing too. Yep - right now I am feeling a lot like the rabbit - haven't even gotten one bag of left over candy.

Now for the list that you can be gathering right now. If you find yourself financially strapped this time of the year, it would be a great idea to gather these items through out the year. Nothing here is going to go bad or rot away in your cabinet.

Sturdy plates - if you are anything like me, I just won't use plastic or paper to serve a big dinner. A better solution is to hit up your local dollar store and pick up actual glass plates for a buck each. It may sound crazy and wasteful and definitely does not follow the 'live green and recycle' theory but, you could actually throw these plates out at the end of the day and save you from suffering through the full sink, crowded counter top and the need to wash up a ton of dishware
.
Paper plates and plastic flatware for desserts and sides

Foil, plastic wrap, baggies or storage containers - always used during the holidays and if you think you will be sending left overs home with guest, then bags and disposable containers are so darn important.

Decorations - if you don't wait til last minute, this will be a blast. You can impress your guest with unique items that they probably have never seen. Especially if you are crafty and make your own. You will see many ideas in the coming weeks, right here on this site.

Entertainment - does this sound strange to you? If it does then you just may have one of those houses that people walk around, bored, while waiting for dinner to be done. Or the house that has kids getting on every one's nerves because they have nothing to keep them busy. Wonder what might work for you? Board games are great for after the dinner since bellies are full and you have the time to relax. Movies are great for before dinner since you can time the ending with your dinner preparation. There are so many to choose from. Everything from old fashion family entertainment, kids favorites, comedy (which is pretty close to what is happening in my home, so we can relate) and even horror in the movie called Home Sweet Home.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles

An Old Fashion Thanksgiving

Charlie Brown Thanksgiving

* And now for the foo foo coffee -

Don't let the name fool you. This is great for any adult. I say adult not because there is any alcohol involved, but it could be quite good with a bit of Baileys added, but because of the caffeine. Women love this hot or cold. Confident men ignore the name and enjoy it also.

Foo foo applies to any of the coffees that have all kinds of flavor and creams added. My favorite is mocha and here's how we make it at home. For the iced coffee we use a tall glass, add 12 ounces of cold or cooled down coffee, about 3 ounces of french vanilla creamer, a good squeeze of chocolate syrup, ice cubes and then top it off with whip cream. If you want to really add some jazz to it, sprinkle the top with sprinkles that coordinate with the holiday.

Want to make it hot? Add half the contents into your warm mug, eliminate the ice and top just the same.

Foo Foo coffee hints -

There is one very important tip that I can share. It's about the ice. During the summer you will find a shelf in my freezer with little containers of ice stacked up, right next to my small soda bottles that are filled with drinkable water, that I use in my ice chest. I save the containers from fruit cups and pudding to make this ice. Here's why I like this type of ice for the iced foo foo coffee. First, this ice last longer and melt slower so you don't have a watered down drink. Second, this ice will float in your drink, right? If you notice from above, I say to add the ice and then the whip cream. The ice helps your whip cream to last longer by being cold. And, you can add your decorations on top and that last longer also. Pretty drink for much longer. During the holidays it is all about appearance.

Hot coffee hints - warm your mugs before pouring the liquid to insure a longer hot drink. Also, try your hand at some coffee art. It may be easy for you after a little practice and you are sure to impress your guest.