3 easy steps for planning your family’s Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving is just over two weeks away, and many families have already ordered a fresh local turkey, holiday ham or delectable roast from Olliffe. If you’re ready to place your Thanksgiving order, please take a look at our holiday dinner collection or contact us. We’d be glad to assist you!

If you’re still getting organized for the upcoming holiday weekend, here’s a helpful checklist. You can also download our FREE holiday guide for more tips and tricks. Thanks for reading and for shopping local—this Thanksgiving and always, we’re grateful for you.

Step 1: Confirm your guest list

Any home cook knows that planning a holiday meal requires a certain amount of math. Start your Thanksgiving planning by making a list of everyone who is invited to dinner. Estimate how many of those people will be able to attend, and then plan on feeding that number of people plus a few extra. Having leftovers is always preferable to running out of food!

At this stage, it’s best to confirm the date and time of your Thanksgiving gathering. While Thanksgiving Monday falls on October 14th, many families gather on the Sunday or even the Saturday of Thanksgiving weekend. Take a moment to ensure that all family members are on the same page before moving ahead with your holiday plans.

Step 2: Design your menu

Next, decide what you’re serving. Many families enjoy a classic roast turkey dinner while others serve a smoked ham or delectable roast. If you are hosting a large gathering, it may be best to offer two proteins—a roasted turkey and a ham that’s been warmed on the BBQ, for example. If you have a backyard smoker, you could always serve a turkey alongside a smoked brisket. And remember, our delectable homestyle side dishes just need to be heated before serving. (And yes, you can say you cooked everything yourself—we won’t tell.)

Here are a few products you may want to consider serving on Thanksgiving:

• Delicious Ontario turkey (see options here)
• A smoked ham (available bone-in or boneless, half of whole sized)
• A delectable roast beef or pork (click to see your options at the bottom of the page)
• Tender Ontario lamb (available in a rack of lamb, lamb leg and more)
• For those who prefer someone different: a great steak

To complete your menu, here are a few side dishes that are sure to impress:

• Garlic mashed potatoes, scalloped potatoes or hasselback potatoes
• Green beans and/or roasted brussels sprouts
• Mashed sweet potatoes or butternut squash
• Harvest salad with prosciutto
• Fresh dinner rolls or sliced baguette

Don’t forget the gravy—that’s an important part of any holiday meal!

Step 3: Pre-order your turkey, ham or roast

If you’re ready to place your Thanksgiving order, our website is available at your convenience. Please contact us or visit us in person if you’d like to place your order another way—we’d be pleased to assist you.

Thanks for shopping local and supporting regenerative food in your community. The Olliffe team is grateful to be a part of your family’s holiday traditions.