It's beginning to smell a lot like turkey...

On the stove are two stock pots, both full of stock in the making - one turkey (using last year's carcass), one veggie. These will be put to use for the dressing (also called stuffing by some individuals not comprehending that if it's baked in a dish, it isn't stuffed into anything, let alone a dead turkey's ass) on Thursday. Normally I just eat dressing made with turkey or chicken stock, but this year there will be another vegetarian at the table. A real one. Who does not eat meat products. Of course, the thought of his presence sent me into a panic this morning - what if he doesn't like just eating a plateful of mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce? I mean, some people are crazy. That's not all heavy carbs! Cranberries are a fruit, which is almost a vegetable! But then I hit upon the GENIUS idea of making baked macaroni and cheese (also carbs but with the exciting addition of protein), which everyone likes. Yay!

So, the menu, as planned:

First Course (how fancy!): cream of pumpkin soup

Salad

Roasted Turkey
Dressing
Gravy

Macaroni and Cheese

Mashed Potatoes
Cranberry Sauce

Brussel Sprouts with fennel, almonds and lemon

Corn muffins

Coffee course: pumpkin pie, brownies (or maybe coffee cake), coffee

There will also be mulled cider.

The big question is, am I crazy to think I can have all that on the table by 2:00?