Today’s post offers a cornucopia of Thanksgiving dinner kitchen tips to lend a helping hand with the 3 P’s – plan, prep, and plate a delicious and successful Thanksgiving meal.
You’ve got questions, and I’ve got Thanksgiving dinner kitchen tips and answers.
Thomas O’Brien – Luxe Interiors+Design- Photo by Francesco Lagnese
Holiday tradition proves there’s soon to be something cooking in the holiday kitchen.
Things can get mighty hectic in the holiday kitchen, and a cook is only as good as the kitchen gadgets, tools, and accessories he or she uses.
Let’s show and tell Thanksgiving dinner kitchen tips.
Timesaving kitchen essentials making the plan-prep-cook-bake-serve process easier on the cook qualify as the consummate ingredient to a successful holiday meal.
AKB Design
Well-stocked and organized holiday pantries becomes the star of the kitchen show everyday of the week, especially at holiday hosting time.
Nik on Unsplash
Shanty-2-Chic
Seasonal vegetables, baked goods, and meats glazed, infused, and enriched by the addition of jams, jellies, syrups, marmalades, spices and seasonings combinations put a delicious twist on the traditional.
Homemade Poultry Seasoning
Ingredients
4 teaspoons ground sage
3 teaspoons ground thyme
2 teaspoons ground rosemary
1 teaspoon ground marjoram
1 teaspoon white pepper
⅛ teaspoon ground nutmeg
Directions
Combine all ingredients together. Store in a tightly sealed container.
Herbes de Provence
Ingredients
1 tablespoon fennel seeds
2 tablespoons dried rosemary
¼ cup dried thyme
3 tablespoons dried marjoram
3 tablespoons dried summer savory, optional
1 tablespoon dried tarragon
1 tablespoon dried basil
1 teaspoon dried chervil, optional
1 teaspoon dried mint
1 teaspoon dried lavender, optional
Directions
Grind the fennel seeds and rosemary in a spice grinder. Pour into a mixing bowl. Stir in the remaining herbs.
Store in a tightly sealed container.
Creole-Cajun Seasoning
Ingredients
⅓ cup paprika
3 tablespoons dried oregano
3 tablespoons ground black pepper
2 tablespoons dried basil
1 tablespoon dried thyme
2 tablespoons kosher salt
1 tablespoons cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon granulated onion
4 teaspoons dried thyme
4 teaspoons granulated garlic
Directions
In a medium bowl combine paprika, dried oregano, dried thyme, ground black pepper, dried basil, kosher salt, cayenne pepper, granulated onion, dried thyme and granulated garlic. Stir to combine.
Can be stored in an airtight container for up to three months.
Seasoning Swaps
Allspice – cinnamon; dash of nutmeg; dash of cloves
Cardamom – ginger
Cloves – allspice; cinnamon; nutmeg
Cinnamon – nutmeg; allspice (use only ¼ the amount)
Ginger – allspice; cinnamon; nutmeg
Nutmeg – cinnamon; ginger
Rosemary – thyme; tarragon; savory
Aroma therapy sous chefs.
Choose dishes and recipes you’ve met and mastered to prevent a cooking-baking meltdown.
If your dying to try that new dish you saw in a cookbook, on social media, or on a cooking show prepare it for practice a week or so out from Thanksgiving dinner day in order to get the hang of it.
Lodge 7 Quart Oval Dutch Oven – Oyster White
Cuisinart Caskata 5 Qt. Round Covered Casserole
Pots, pans, Dutch ovens, and cocottes with high performance cook and serve capability add a kick to your kitchen style.
Lodge 5 Quart Seasoned Cast Iron Dutch Oven
Take inventory of the dishes to be cooked on Thanksgiving day, taking note of the total prep to stove to oven to table time involved.
Thyme & Table Nonstick Supreme Cookware, 12-Piece Set, Cream
If you’ve been entertaining the thought of purchasing new cookware, I can’t think of a better time than preparing Thanksgiving dinner to do so.
Bobby Flay Ceramic Non-Stick 13-pc. Cookware Set
Cooks 30-pc Aluminum Non-Stick Cookware Set
Gotham Steel Hammered 15 Piece Nonstick Cookware and Bakeware Set
Anolon Advanced Home Hard Anodized 2-pc. Dutch Oven
Mesa Mia Cast Iron 7-qt. Oval Dutch Oven with Lid
Kitchen Details Pro Series 1 Piece Deep Roasting Pan with Diamond Base
Gibson Home Radiance 17.5 Inch Stainless Steel Copper Plated Oval Roaster
Theme cookware= holidays in the kitchen.
Iron Works Enameled Cast Iron 4-Qt Pumpkin Dutch Oven
Best Choice Products 6 Quart Enamel Cast-Iron Dutch Oven
Sage green is a lovely color to accent both Thanksgiving and Christmastime in the kitchen.
The Lakeside Collection Pine Cone Kitchen Collection – Baker
Temp-tations Floral Lace Set of (2) 9×13 Baker w Upswept Handles
Allow ten extra minutes per recipe to help rule out any issues.
Indoor/Outdoor Heavy-Duty Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Skillet Frying Pan Set
I ♥ this turkey scene cast iron skillet!
You know me and my fondness for working with a theme.
Lodge Wildlife Series Turkey Scene, Seasoned 13.25″ Cast Iron Skillet
Hint for cleaning cast iron skillet(s):
In most cases I use a couple of wet paper towels to wipe out the inside of the skillet. If that method doesn’t get the job done sprinkle the inside of skillet with kosher salt. Gently move the salt around with a spatula until any stuck on gunk is lifted. Wipe out the salt with a clean damp paper towel.
Dry your cast iron immediately by placing on stove burner or in oven to dry skillet evenly from the inside out.
Beautiful 6 Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer, White Icing by Drew Barrymore
Instant Pot® 10Qt Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven
Presto® Ever Sharp® Sapphirite™ 2-Stage Electric Knife Sharpener
Cuisinart Matte Black 12-Pc. Cutlery Set
Celebrate Together™ Fall Pumpkin Serving Bowl
Pioneer Woman Harper Kitchen Island with Drawers, Homestead Brown
CAROTE 12 Pcs Kitchen Knife Set with Paring Knife
Savannah Black Kitchen Cart with Stainless Top
Mason Cash Mixing Bowls
Tabletops Gallery Hobnail 4-pc. Mixing Bowl Set
5-Piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set
Aluminum Bundt Pan
Nordic Ware 12 Cup Formed Nonstick Aluminum Classic Bundt Pan, Rose Gold
Nordic Ware Sunflower and Pumpkin Loaf Pan
Nordic Ware Wheat and Pumpkin Loaf Pan
Nordic Ware Autumn Wreath Bundt® Pan
Thyme & Table Non-Stick Loaf Pan with Handled Stainless Steel Trivet
Mainstays, 6″, 8″, 10″ Round Nonstick Springform Cake Pans, Gray, Set of 3
“Autumn skies and apple pies.”
— Unknown
Mason Cash | S12 Fox Embossed Mixing Bowl – 4.25 Quart
The Pioneer Woman Olive Wood 19.5-Inch Rolling Pin
Marble Board
Core Kitchen Black Polypropylene Stainless Steel Grater
Johnny Apple Peeler, Cast Iron, Suction Base, Red
10″ Round Stoneware Apple Pie Baking Dish Red – John Derian for Target
Matte White Ceramic Pumpkin Shaped Deep Pie Dish with Lid
Williams Sonoma Stoneware Pie Dish, Set of 3
Wilton Bake It Better Non-Stick Baking Pan Set, 3-Piece
Mashed potatoes will stay warm for an hour or so in a slow cooker set to low.
Starfrit Rotato Express Electric Peeler
bella 6qt Programmable Slow Cooker
♫ I can mash potato, I can mash potato ♫
Pumpkin Leaf Turkey Platter and Gravy Boat Set, Pumpkin Fall Harvest
Now, let’s talk gravy.
If you slightly scorch the gravy, don’t panic.
Add 1 teaspoon of smooth peanut butter until the burnt flavor is gone. You may need to add more peanut butter. Do so 1 teaspoon at a time.
Tasteless gravy happens.
Remedy by adding a chicken bouillon cube, caramelized onions, and/or a splash of wine, and a generous pour of heavy cream to liven up the taste of an otherwise bland gravy.
Simmer the gravy for 25-30 minutes, allowing the added flavors to incorporate and season.
Greasy gravy is nasty gravy.
Begin with a mixture of ½ teaspoon cornstarch with 1 teaspoon water. If gravy remains too greasy add another ½ teaspoon cornstarch with 1 teaspoon water.
If your gravy comes out too thin here’s a remedy to thicken it up.
Heat one cup of turkey or chicken broth (fresh or canned) until it reaches a simmer.
Mix one tablespoon of cornstarch with one to two tablespoons of cold water in a small lidded jar. Shake to mix, making sure cornstarch incorporates and there is no lumps.
Slowly whisk the cornstarch/water mixture into the simmering broth, whisking continuously to eliminate lumping.
Simmer the broth until it thickens; about 2 minutes.
Add thickened broth to gravy.
Tried, true, and my new traditional holiday gravy recipe is easy and delicious.
In a large skillet, melt ½ stick of butter. Over medium-high heat, sauté pearl onions (if from a jar, drain) and chopped garlic until translucent and tender.
Pearl onions make a lovely presentation, but if you don’t like or can’t find these little bites of deliciousness, peel and chop a medium onion and go with it.
Cuisinart Mini-Prep Plus 3-Cup Food Chopper, Metallic Red
Add 2 jars of roasted turkey gravy from a jar. Stir ingredients together, reduce heat to medium.
Hamilton Beach 2 Speed Hand Blender with Whisk and Chopping Bowl
Next, add 1 teaspoon herbs de Provence; stir and reduce heat to simmer. Simmer for 30 minutes, stirring occasionally.
Use a vacuum bottle (Thermos) to keep the gravy warm and free up another stove burner.
Cut up vegetables such as green onions, bell pepper, celery, garlic, and root vegetables ahead of time and store in the refrigerator in air tight containers.
House & Garden- Photo by Andrew Montgomery
Balboa Park ‘Roasted Oak’ Finished Server
Photo by Nick Fewings
Classic Rolling Black Solid Oak Wood Tabletop 57 in. Kitchen Island
KitchenAid ® 13-Cup White Food Processor
Thyme & Table Non-Stick Coated High Carbon Stainless Steel Carbone Chef’s Knives, 3 Piece Set
J.A. Henckels International Statement 2-pc Carving Set
BergHOFF Antigua 2Pc Carving Set: Knife and Fork
Reversible End-Grain Bamboo Cutting Board
17″ Reversible End-Grain Acacia Cutting Board
Farberware Hardwood Cutting Board
Lock & Lock canisters are my go-to storage containers to store sweet potato puree to cornbread to chocolate walnut fudge.
Lock & Lock 4 piece Tall Canister Storage Set
Modern Chef 12-Piece Glass Bowl Set
Rubbermaid Brilliance Glass Food Storage Containers, Set of 4 with Lids
Anchor Hocking Glass Baking Dish Set, 7 Piece Glass Bakeware Set
Here’s hoping these Thanksgiving dinner kitchen tips offer the information and source suggestions needed to ensure total Thanksgiving dinner success.
