Preparing the Thanksgiving Dinner ~1915
The preparation of the Thanksgiving- dinner should be begun the day before, so that all of the work will not fall to the
forenoon of the holiday.
The turkey or fowl that is to be used can be roasted in advance and set back in the oven the next morning’, it will heat
through in an hour or two ; it should be basted frequently whileheating.
A more satisfactory way is to make the fowl ready for the roaster, then set it in a cool place over night, in the morning
make the dressing ; if it is to be oyster dressing, fry one oniountil browned, mix with other ingredients in the usual way, mix in the raw oysters last, and stuff the fowl ; nse a covered roaster-
When done remove fowl from pan and also part of grease, then make brown gravy with grease and dregs left in pan.
Plum pudding should be made several days in advance, and steamed an hour or two before serving, it is best with un-
cooked lemon sauce.
Mince pie is equally as good made in advance and reheated for serving. Pumpkin pie is very good served cold.
Cranberry moulds can be made several days before they are needed, and should not be forgotten as they always go with a Thanksgiving dinner, as do mashed rutabagas. Mashed potatoes are by no means the least task in preparing a dinner; boil briskly, well covered with water, drain, set on edge of stove for a minute or two uncovered, salt, then mash well, add half cup sweet milk, stir briskly with masher or heavy spoon until snow white; take up in warmed vegetable dish, dot top with small bitsof butter and then sprinkle with a few dashes of peprika.
… one vegetable is enough, celery and olives are very nice, sweet pickles such as peach or melon, should be served rather than sour pickles.
For dessert — Plum pudding and sauce is sufficient, possibly one variety of pie; fruit and nuts need not be served unless in place of something else.
The salad should be fresh made ; for a cabbage salad, chop the cabbage very fine or use a food chopper, which some like
better; use a good rich dressing.
~Bread Making and Bread Baking
