Thanksgiving Prep

For the first year ever, I will not be home with family for Thanksgiving. What does that mean? I'll miss my family, for one, but it also means I am responsible for making Thanksgiving dinner! I'm excited yet nervous at the same time, I have never attempted to cook a full bird before. But I think I'm ready, the turkey is in the fridge thawing already and I have Food Network Magazine's Thanksgiving issue ready to show me what to do!

Since we're staying here, it will only be me, Matt, our college friend Bryan, who is in the pilot class about 3 weeks behind Matt's, and maybe one of Bryan's classmates. So it's a small affair, but I still want to have the Thanksgiving feast! Our turkey is the smallest one I could find at a mind blowing 8 pounds, but it's still going to ROCK! Here is our menu. I think I'm keeping it simple enough that I shouldn't have a problem:

-Turkey, with a dry brine and a classic herb butter

-Gravy

-Steamed peas (very easy, won't take much time, and also very light)

-Honey glazed carrots (also very easy, won't take much time, either)

-Alton Brown's Popovers (hopefully these turn out ok, but they look fairly easy)

-Apple Crumble (basically an apple pie, but with a crumble top, Bryan doesn't like pumpkin; I will make this the day before and just reheat them while we're eating dinner)

-Pumpkin Cheese Cake Swirl (pumkpin pie with a cheese cake type feel, never made pumpkin pie before, so I'm hoping this turns out ok, I will also be making this the day before)

Bryan will be making:

-Mashed potatoes (seriously, try this recipe, it's AMAZING! And so bad for you, but hey, Thanksgiving is only once a year)

-Cream cheese stuffed mushrooms for the appetizer (delicious, he has made these before for us)

-Stuffing (I can't stand the stuff, so that's why he gets this honor :)

Hopefully I'm not taking on too much of a project. And don't worry faithful blog readers (all, like, 2 of you), I will be taking pictures and posting them for you to either brag about my success or show what not to do. :)

Happy cooking, everyone!