Here's everything you'll need to host Thanksgiving dinner
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Thanksgiving is around the corner, and while some of you perfectionists have probably been planning for weeks and already have custom place tags set up in your dining room, those of you who just reacted "Oh right, Thanksgiving," need not worry. With this foolproof, last-minute Thanksgiving plan, you can have everything you need to host the perfect Thanksgiving dinner on time -- without even needing to leave your house!
There's just one caveat: You'll need an Amazon Prime account. But if you don't have one, you can sign up for a free, 30-day trial and we doubt you'll want to cancel. You'll be able to use the free two-day shipping perks, along with Prime Now (available in 29 major cities) to pull this thing off in under 30 minutes. Don't worry about looking up recipes, making shopping lists, or spending hours at the store -- we got you covered.
You'll need to order this stuff TODAY.
Since you've got a few things to buy, filling up a Prime Pantry box will save you some money. Typically, you'd pay $5.99 in shipping for as many groceries as you could fit in the box, but Amazon is currently offering free shipping if you buy five select items. Most Prime Pantry boxes ship within four business days, and Amazon will quote your ship date in your shopping cart. If you miss the cutoff, you can always grab these items later on the Prime Now app and get free two-hour delivery in most cities. Use Prime Pantry today and order this stuff now to get it in time for the big day:
- Basil, $2
- Garlic Salt, $3
- 2 Cans of Cream of Mushroom Soup, $2 each
- Gravy Mix, $1
- Orange Juice, $2
- Cinnamon, $2
- Chopped Pecans, $5
- Pure Pumpkin, $3
Also make sure to add some beverages!
Total: $16.92 shipped (plus the cost of drinks)
Here's what you'll need to order by 11/21.
Oster 22qt Roasting Oven, $55 w/ coupon
This one is optional, but it will free up space in your oven, save you time, and make the entire process easier, especially if you don't exactly know your way around a turkey. This goes for $54.87 right now when you clip a $5 coupon, making it the best deal we could find, and delivers free with Prime shipping in 2 days.
KitchenAid 5-Speed Hand Mixer, $32
Sure, a regular spoon would do, if you've been doing pushups. Considering you'll be putting together a few side-dishes and desserts, we suggest investing in a powered hand mixer like this popular one from KitchenAid. Normally $60, it goes for just $31.99 in some colors, making it the lowest price we could find by at least $8. People seem to love it: over 1,000 customer reviewers rated it an average of 4.3/5 stars. Sorry, spoon, you've been replaced.
Crock-Pot 6-Quart Programmable Oval Slow Cooker with Dipper, $30
Another way to free up space in your oven and time in your day is to invest in a slow cooker, if you don't have one already. Amazon is the best place to find a good price - this Crock-Pot slow cooker goes for at least $9 more everywhere else.
Pyrex Easy-Grab 8-Piece Bakeware and Storage Set, $16
Since you'll be doing a bit more baking than usual, you might want to grab a few extra baking trays. When sending home leftovers with family members, don't assume every glass storage piece will be returned. Confession: My entire bakeware collection is made up of Pyrex pieces that I forgot to return to my mom after the holidays. That being said, you might also want to grab some take-out containers.
Turkey Time Burlap Garden Flag, $10
We don't expect you to go totally Martha Stewart about the decor, but for $10.35 with free shipping, this garden flag adds a nice touch.
You can wait to order this stuff on 11/23, because Prime Now is great.
The day before Thanksgiving, use Prime Now to order the ingredients for these easy recipes. You can use code 10PRIMENOW to get $10 off your first order if you haven't tried it yet.
The turkey:
Prices will vary by location and exact weight, but you can get a 10-13Ib Free Range Turkey for around $33 if you're shopping in Chicago.
You'll need to buy meat and produce through a grocery store like Plum Market, but you can place your order from the Prime Now site or app. There are no delivery fees, but you should tip.
We suggest getting other items from Amazon, since the prices are generally lower. You can use the same app to place a separate order for the rest of your ingredients. Here is a master list of everything you'll need from each store:
Groceries (delivered through Prime Now):
- 4lbs sweet potatoes, $1.49 each
- 2 bags organic cut green beans, $3 each
- sourdough bread, $4
- pie crust, $3.50
- large eggs, $4
- pork sausage, $5
Amazon items (delivered through Prime Now):
- olive oil, $7
- Horizon organic unsalted butter, $6
- organic brown sugar, $3
- ground nutmeg, $5
- mini marshmallows, $2
- 2% milk, $2
- french fried onions, $2
- shredded parmesan, $3
- cranberry sauce, $1.50
- canned pineapple, $1.50
- mushrooms, $2
- sweetened condensed milk, $2
And now, for the recipes!
Sweet Potato Casserole
You can thank my mom for this one. It's the one dish that my family will finish no matter how much she makes. You'll need:
- 4Ib Sweet Potatoes
- 1/2 cup butter
- 1/2 cup orange juice
- 1/4 cup brown sugar
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
- 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
- 1/3 cup chopped pecans
- 1/3 cup mini marshmallows
Cook the sweet potatoes covered in boiling water for 35 minutes. Drain, cool, peel, and place in a large bowl. Mash them with your electronic mixer and add the remaining ingredients, except the pecans and marshmallows. Beat until smooth and fluffy. Coat a 2qt casserole with butter or cooking spray, pour in the mixture, then top with marshmallows and pecans and bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes.
Easy turkey stuffing
Make as much stuffing as you want, using a ratio of 1 cup of butter for every 3 cups of cubed sourdough bread. You can also add pork sausage, mushrooms, onions, and pineapple.
Melt a 1/2 stick of butter in a large saucepan. Cook the sausage first until it is crispy, and then add the roasted vegetables and the rest of the butter. Add the bread last, and cook for about 6-8 minutes.
Slow Cooker Green Bean Casserole
- 2 packages frozen cut green beans
- 2 cans cream of mushroom soup
- 2/3 cup milk
- 1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese or goat cheese
- 1 can french fried onions
- salt, pepper, and seasoning to taste
Combine all of the ingredients (leave some onions out) in the slow cooker and cook on low for 5-6 hours. Add the remaining onions on top before serving.
Pumpkin Pie
- 1 can pumpkin
- 1 can sweetened condensed milk
- 1/2 tsp ground nutmeg
- 2 large eggs
- 1 tsp salt
- 9" pie crust
Mix the ingredients and pour into the pie crust. Bake for 15 minutes at 425 degrees, then reduce temperature to 350 degrees and bake for another 35-40 minutes.
Cranberries? Gravy?
Both necessary, but you don't need to make your own. Even my mom, serious chef that she is, uses canned cranberry sauce (super secret tip: she adds some orange juice).
I don't think I need to remind anyone that you should always have plenty of booze around for family gatherings, do I? You can grab wine and beer from Prime Pantry, but you'll need to get liquor from a grocery store through Prime Now.
And that's all. Click, click, a few more clicks, and done. This year we give thanks for Amazon Prime.
This story originally appeared on Brad's Deals.