This week we sat down with our mom, Susie Sproule, to get the inside scoop on what it takes to host Thanksgiving, and we are so excited to share with you! Typically, she hosts about 40 people and she makes it look absolutely effortless. We sat down with her to learn how exactly she plans not only the day, but the week leading up to Thanksgiving. She doesn’t gatekeep anything either! She shares everything from her grocery list to the exact time the turkey goes in the oven, and even our top-secret family gravy recipe! Don’t forget to right click (or tap and hold) to save any images for easy reference! We hope you enjoy this post as much as we did sitting down with her.
Thanksgiving Menu
Turkey
Ham
Dressing
Mashed Potatoes
Gravy
Sweet Potatoes
Lefse
Olive + Pickle Tray
Cranberries
Creamed Corn
Coffee + Hot Apple Cider
Pumpkin + Pecan Pie
Widmans Chocolates
Ice Cream Dessert
Susie has guests bring things like squash, Special K Bars, and a ham glaze.
Susie's Week of Calendar
Susie's Shopping list
3 Days before Thanksgiving
This is the grocery shopping day
Organize all groceries at home by recipe. The more organized the easier!
Get all your cookware needed out
Set up Coffee and Apple Cider Bar
2 days before Thanksgiving
-
9AM Prepare the Brine
combination of apple cider, water, fresh rosemary leaves, garlic cloves, kosher salt, sugar, pepper corns, bay leaves, 3 orange slices w/ peel
Fully submerge turkey + set outside
Clean house and bathrooms
-
Get out linens + set tables
1 Day before Thanksgiving
8 AM remove turkeys from brine + start cooking (add olive oil and butter under the skin, salt+pepper)
Cook 2 Turkeys @400 degrees for 4 hrs
-
Prepare dressing (stuffing) in a big pan.
The dressing is made up of 5 bags of Sage+ Onion Cubed Stuffing, 3 yellow onions, diced, 2 celery heads diced
Sautee together with 5 sticks of butter
add one box of chicken broth
put bread crumbs in large rectangle baking dish
add one pint of whipping cream over bread crumbs, spread evenly
Add sauteed mixture, stir really
Salt + Pepper to taste
Cover with foil and put in fridge to cook tomorrow.
-
Peel potatoes while turkey cooks.
Boil, then mash with butter + whole milk. Put in big pan.
Top with cubes of butter and cream
Put in fridge for tomorrow.
Take out turkey and let them set for 30 min. Carve turkey. Separate dark + light meat into one big pan & refrigerate.
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Make bone broth
Take separated turkey bones and add to big pot with the leftover potato starch water
add 1 chicken broth box
Boil low for 4 hours
Add 3 large carrots, celery, onion
Set outside for gravy tomorrow.
Make squash (x3) put in fridge
Brine Dad’s turkey (to be de fried tomorrow)
Do all dishes!
Thanksgiving Day
Susie's Gravy
Here is an inside look at our family chat on Thanksgiving morning. The gravy is no joke in this household. It's all hands on deck!
After the meal is enjoyed and the kitchen is tidied up, we like to bundle up for a walk around our neighborhood.
Now that everyone has enjoyed a lovely walk, its time for round two! This is when we will take out the buns, leftover meats, potato chips, and set up our sandwich assembly line. We will then round out the evening enjoying some dessert, football, and a round or two of our family favorite game, Left, Center, Right!
Q&A with Susie
What Advice would you give someone who is hosting Thanksgiving for the first time?
“Have a place for everyone to sit. Whether you need a smaller kids table, card tables, whatever it may be. Have a seat for everyone to enjoy their meal. This will allow you to relax from unnecessary messes or spills, and will allow you as the host to also get a moment to relax and enjoy their company at the table."
*A kids table, card table, or folding chairs are another great thing to delegate to a family member to drop off earlier in that week.
What is the Sproule Thanksgiving dress code?
“We don't necessarily have a dress code, but we do all end up dressing up. My girls have gifted me with some adorable aprons, so I will wear that while I'm in the kitchen. After the big meal around 1PM, we all change into comfier clothes for our walk and evening game night.”
What do you do with all of your Thanksgiving leftovers?
“I buy disposable to-go containers and load them up for every family to take with them at the end of the evening. Nothing is wasted.”
Happy Thanksgiving from our family to yours!
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1 comment
Surprised to find all the preparations listed in detail. Wow. What helpful lists and ideas for the serious entertainers.