The Turkey Recipe looks like a great idea, TaterTot! Most folks are busy/busy, so anything that can help is great. One can also plan a SUPER FAST T-Giving Day menu by baking l'il cornish game hens (45 min. to 1 hr. roasting time)- kinda cool, 'cause they're really pretty and look exactly like a miniature turkey on each plate!
Working in commercial kithcens for so many years- and with Thanksgiving Brunches being SO hugely popular w/ sometimes 100's or even 1000's attending, we did many things in advance and some of the practices can prove really handy in home kitchens too. So much can be done a day- or even a few days in advance. And some things can even be done WELL AHEAD (like pies) and frozen.
Potatoes for mashing can be peeled the day before and refrigerated in a pot/bowl of water- they can even be cooked/mashed the day before and spooned into a buttered casserole for re-heating in the oven alongside the turkey! (I mix a little dry ranch dressing mix, cream cheese and shredded cheddar into mashed potatoes, chill overnight and bake the next day!). Sweet potatoes can be done the same way. As can green bean casserole, scalloped corn pudding, creamed spinach, cornbread dressing, etc.
If I'm feeding a larger crowd, I make a lot of appetizer trays and foo-foo platters to put out early as company are arriving too- and all of them I do the day before- like a crudite/relish tray, devilled eggs, smoked salmon, cheese & fruit, etc.
Somtimes, w/ really careful pre-planning all one really needs to do the actual day of the holiday is carve the bird and make the gravy!
pre planning is essential. i see you are from alaska! must be so beautiful there. hey just to let you know safeway's sister store is carrs in alaska so they have the recipe too at