Thanksgiving Plans

Thought I'd share my Thanksgiving Menu and plans for those of you that are fellow obscessive planners. OK, probably I'm the only crazy person planning every minute, but its tough when you're working and juggling a house full of guests and family and dog and exercise. Seriously, I've been having so much fun planning and trying to make healthy recipes to please everyone! Quite a challenge considering I'll have almost 20 people including in laws, northerners, southerners, coworkers, and young children! The current list includes Kris's parents, his aunt and uncle, my parents, my sister, her father in law, a few coworker friends, and picky kids too!!! Kris's parents haven't decided how long they are staying, but will be here most of the week if not longer. We're hoping Kris's Uncle and wife will also be here at least 2 days. So, here is the menu, plan, and some recipes to follow:

Appetizers
-Roasted Butternut Squash Dip with Pita chips
-Varitey Nuts/Pumpkin Seeds
-Veggie Tray with Ranch Dip (Veggies can top salad too)
-Decorative and tasty Cheese Balls

Starters
-Lite Broccoli Cheese Soup
-Green Salad with optional Dried Cranberries, Pecans and Homemade Citrus Vinegrette
-Cranberry Relish

Meal
-Traditional Sweet Potato Casserole, lightened a bit
-Corn Something: Simple or Soufle/Pudding Casserole (undecided on recipe)
-Roasted Green Beans with toasted almonds
-Savory Mushroom and Herb Dressing (undecided on dressing recipe)
-Homemade Turkey Gravy
-12 lb Turkey
-Small Ham
-Sam's Crossaints or Aldi Yeast Rolls

Dessert (if people offer to bring anything, otherwise I'll do these)
-Pumpkin Pie or Pumpkin Bread
-Lite Coconut Cake
-Gingerbread Trifle (Sharon- my mother in law may make)
-Store Bought Pecan Pie

The Plan: So Here is how I think I can do it all:
Tuesday: Finish grocercy shopping after working 10 hrs, start on weekend. Make final Sams run for greens, mushrooms, croisants, desserts, chicken and green beans. Serve rotissorie chicken and green salad for dinner. Make mother in law a birthday pumpkin cake or pumpkin bread or cupcakes.

Wednesday: Cook all day. Make apple, pumpkin, or blueberry Muffins, Quiche or breakfast casserole, lite lunch of some type of Autumn Soup and Grilled Cheese, and make special request Shrimp and Grits for Kris's Uncle for dinner.
Make salad dressing, broccoli soup, sweet potato and corn casseroles, stuffing, desserts, butternut squash dip, and brew sweet tea.
Fit in at least a 1 hr bike ride and walk Bella.

Thursday: Bake Turkey, ham early AM. Serve Leftover breakfast muffins/casserole. Walk Bella. Breathe Deeply. Prepare to not get snappy with critical "insert family members" here. Set up buffet and Tables. Bake Casseroles, heat soup and dip, make salad. Roast Green Beans while carving Turkey and making gravy.
Brew Coffee during dinner for dessert.
Enjoy 4 oz of turkey for coma. Pray Dad doesn't use bad language or topics. Skip Dessert. Drink Coffee.
Let everyone else clean up. Play with kids: Laura and Matthew.
1-2 hr bike ride pretty please. oh please, please, please.

Work 10 hrs Friday. Let everyone eat all the leftovers. Especially the dessert.

Saturday: Shop, eat light, bike. Turkey Tetrizini or Crock Pot Something (Cattitori or chicken something)
Sunday: Hopefully Guests have gone!!!
Whew, I'm tired already!
What do you think? Any specific recipes you want? Let me know!