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2024 Thanksgiving Menu and Meal Prep Timeline

* image These past few months have been busy for our family, especially since our oldest joined a local swim team. Between juggling our work schedules and balancing school with practices... we're all pretty wiped out. Although it's a lot of work, I'm looking forward to Thanksgiving. Preparing the holiday meal for our family fills my heart with joy, and I can't wait to get started. To make things easier for me, I don't deviate much from  our first Thanksgiving  as a family. The dishes I make are familiar ones, and the recipes for them live at my fingertips. Keeping the same menu year after year means I don't have to spend time researching recipes or planning a new one. Here are my tried-and-true Thanksgiving recipes, as well as my prep timeline for the big day!

Menu Plan: August 18 - August 24

Judd-Rittler Wedding Party | Photo Courtesy of Brian Samuels Photography

Surrounded by our family and friends, Stephen and I were married exactly one year ago today. I can't believe how quickly our first year of marriage has passed! I've been spending a lot of time over the past week reliving the memories of our special day, at times laughing over how stressed out I got over the littlest details.

I'd love to say that I wouldn't have changed a thing about our wedding or about the brunch reception we had following the ceremony. But, truth be told, there is one change I'd absolutely make if we were to do it all over again.


Wedding Brunch Reception - Short Ribs Sliders with Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, and Fontina Cheese | Photo Courtesy of Brian Samuels Photography

I would have tried harder to actually eat the food that we chose to serve during the reception. Nikki, our amazing and attentive catering manager, even thought to make our plates ahead of time so we wouldn't have to worry about going through the line... but Stephen and I were so eager to mingle with our guests that we wound up leaving most of the food on our plates.

Including the Short Rib Sliders with Mushrooms, Caramelized Onions, and Fontina Cheese that I requested specially.

Oh, well... Nothing we can do about it now. *wink*

Michelle Judd Wedding Photo | Photo Courtesy of Brian Samuels Photography

All we can do now is raise a glass (or two) and spend the day looking back on the memories we've made during our first year as Mr. and Mrs. Rittler. And, of course, at some point today, we will we be tasting the top tier of our wedding cake to see how it fared spending the last year in our freezer.

Stephen, Happy Anniversary to us!

And a Happy Sunday to all of you! While we celebrate, have a look at this week's Menu Plan.

Menu Plan: August 18 - August 24, 2013

Sunday: Um, hello. It's my wedding anniversary. I'm so not cooking tonight.

Monday: Mussels and Basil Bread Crumbs from Barefoot Contessa: How Easy is That?

Tuesday: Stuffed Green Bell Peppers

Wednesday: Stephen's Choice

Thursday: Panko-Crusted Salmon and Lemon Couscous Salad with Spinach from The Earthbound Cookbook

Friday: Pizza with Italian Sausage, Caramelized Onions, and Bell Peppers

Saturday: Creamy Parmesan Risotto with Roasted Asparagus and Peas

What's on your Menu Plan this week?

Photos Courtesy of Brian Samuels Photography

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