{Easiest Thanksgiving Menu}

Thanksgiving is just over a month away!  Its time to start menu planning.  I hope to impart some inspiration for a stress free feast!

Last year was my first year hosting Thanksgiving.  My first time making Thanksgiving dinner was actually in middle school when my mom had purchased all the fixings and then decided we would go to a relative's instead.  She still wanted the leftovers and told me to have at it.  By the time she came home I managed to have everything done and the kitchen cleaned.


After hearing everyone tell me how stressful Thanksgiving can be, how much of a chore it is and how you spend your entire day in the kitchen (not really a bad idea to me), I decided I was going to put together a menu that I could prep throughout the days prior as time permitted so I could enjoy the day of.  So I guess it was either out of spite or pure genius!


As I picked through recipes, I decided on a menu that ended up working out perfectly.  I will post the full recipes throughout the next couple of weeks with a final post at the end to layout the schedule of prep.  For now, here is the menu:


Appetizers
Ina Garten's Rosemary Roasted Cashews - These were fabulous before dinner and as a holiday gift at work
Classic Deviled Eggs
Shrimp Spread I have been forbidden from ever sharing this family recipe so I will swap it out for another simple favorite...
Alton Brown's Hot Spinach and Artichoke Dip


Dinner
Alton Brown's Good Eats Roast Turkey - There is a reason why there are 3,417 reviews on the Food Network site for this recipe
Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes
Roasted Fall Vegetables
Crock Pot's Orange-Spiced Sweet Potatoes
Autumn Apple Stuffing
Homemade Gravy
Alton Brown's Cranberry Sauce


Dessert
Piping Hot Apple Crisp with Homemade Vanilla Ice Cream


As a bonus, I will also post a little something to do with the leftovers!