I kind of figured, since Sunday dinner is an after church lunch thing, whereas for us the traditional family meal is Friday night after sunset, and all holiday meals take place after sunset.
Well, just means double fun for me tomorrow!
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I am ashamed to say that after I’d done the hot water bath defrost, the bird was at 72 degrees! But only for a very short time.
Our turkey is brining in the fridge and the homemade cranberry sauce is made!
I had ‘marathon’ today:
Did a last minute TJ run this morning
Made batch of granola for a ‘Kosher’ person & GF person dessert
Baked three different types of dessert: nantucket cranberry pecan pie / apple pumpkin cake /
apple, cranberry & pear crumble with granola topping
Prepared & smashed potatoes ready for roasting
Prepared all veggies
Made the stuffing
Made a big pot of Rosemary Parsnip soup
made @Hoggirl Goat Cheese Dip!
Set the tables
Made the batter for Yorkshire puddings
Brined turkey is in fridge, will place in kitchen sink before going to bed to warm it before putting in oven - debating the mayonnaise, which is not dairy, due comments here and I have Kosher guests
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I should have set the table! I forgot about that part 
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It is not a religious thing when you eat Thanksgiving meals. We always ate at 2-3 until our adult kids started splitting up families and going to each house. Since Almost DIL family eats at 7, I moved mine up to 12:30. I think it’s too early, but I’m trying to accommodate everyone’s schedule. Christian here.
DH was very happy I did the bird yesterday. 7 hours roasting at 325 and it came out moist. He loves the thought of not having that huge yucky mess to contend with in front of everyone and he could take his time cutting all we wanted. Put it in a foiled casserole dish, added Turkey stock, covered and double covered even that with Saran Wrap. I’ll let everyone know later the final ending. Ah…cleaned up that huge mess. I am so relaxed this morning.
Only thing I have left to do is assemble already cut up stuff, and I will be able to even have a pumpkin martini later on instead of fooling around (I’d rather use another F word), with the Turkey.
Why have I not done this the last 25 years! Argh….
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They eat Thanksgiving dinner at seven?
Gee…we start appetizers at 4 and I think that is on the late side (but I’m not hosting…).
I’d love to start the dinner between 2-3…eat, relax, and have dessert a little later…and be home by 7 or so.
Both my family and husband’s family growing up ate Thanksgiving dinner around 6. We still do.
We don’t have a set time every year. Depends on everyone’s schedule. I think it will be about 5 pm today.
My daughter asked if she could invite her previous roommate, a med student from India, over today. I said of course! She’s a nice young woman and the day will be more fun. She’s coming at 2.
My family or origin ate at 2, my husbands family eats at 6. Now that I’ve taken it over we eat at 3. We have toddlers and infants who go to bed by 6:30/7:00 pm
I want to try the stuffing in crockpot this year. I will do half in crockpot and half in the oven and compare.
Happy Thanksgiving to everyone.
Please share the pumpkin martini recipe! I don’t drink very often, and I’ve never had a spirit drink!, but my S loves a good martini and I did just buy a bottle of vodka that I need to use…!
Setting the table the night before is absolutely the chore that puts me most at ease. Once that is done, I always feel much more relaxed knowing I can just concentrate on kitchen stuff.
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Prep is going well so far. DH is under strict orders to relax (a hard job for him, seriously). Son and daughter are helping a little. I’m boiling the potatoes in cream and water. About ready to start cooking the green beans. I’m most nervous about the turkey. I never know how long it will take to cook. And I love the instructions to take off the foil an hour before the turkey is done - how do you know when that is?
OP here. Turkey came out great! I will never roast it again the day of Thanksgiving. I could actually enjoy the day.
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Many thanks for the dressing/stuffing advice especially to @conmama - big success with positive comments and everyone wanting leftovers - the key was one box of boxed stuffing mixed in with my usual ingredients, both sautéed AND raw celery/onions and chicken broth - ended up using 2 whole cans! Now to remember for next year. 
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I have never used Stove Top in with my regular dressing, but I love it and am thinking I might try that sometime.
My stuffing was ok this year. I may need to try another method. The spatchcocked turkey was perfect! I bought my husband one of those meat thermometers that connects to your phone. Best thing ever. I added Mac and cheese for the first time this year and my three sons were ecstatic.
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I’m so glad the stuffing turned out great! Isn’t that box of stuffing mix just the best!? You don’t have to worry about the seasonings so much except I still add in way more salt.
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