Menu: A Traditional New England Thanksgiving

All along the grey and November-cold East Coast, Thanksgiving is the meal we most look forward to setting the family table for each year. A perfectly roasted turkey surrounded by a bevy of simple and comforting American sides is a matter of tradition: the kids will pick the marshmallows off the top of the sweet potato casserole while the grown-ups will spike their mugs of hot mulled cider with a fire crackling in the background. Gather 'round the bountiful table with all you love, and be thankful for that second slice of pumpkin pie.
See 8 more complete Thanksgiving menus (with no recipe overlap) in our gallery »

The Menu

Planning Tips

Three days before the feast, start prepping by making the pie dough for both pies, the cranberry sauce, and the mashed potatoes. Bring your bird home at least two days before Thanksgiving so you have ample time to presalt, a simple step that keeps the turkey juicy and intensifies its natural flavors.
The day before the feast, bake both pies, make the bar nuts, and roast the sweet potatoes in preparation for the sweet potato casserole.
The turkey takes about 2 hours in the oven, so be sure to leave plenty of oven space and time. The Parker House rolls need about 2 hours prepping and rising time before baking, so be sure to plan accordingly.
The sweet potato casserole, stuffing, brussels sprouts, green beans, and stuffed mushrooms can all be cooked the morning of the feast then reheated just before serving.