On Monday she'd already finished preparing both the sweet potato dishes and the gravies. If you haven't started already, start today, making at least one thing at a time. Although two turkeys might sound like overkill, Dupree says it really is better to do it her way. Instead of buying one huge turkey, she buys two medium-sized birds, about 13 pounds each. Schnelle says you can purchase either a fresh or frozen turkey, as long as you keep it cold even when thawing it.
Coldness is key.
Dupree, still planning ahead, prepares one of her birds the night before, and carves it, arranging it on dishes that can be reheated. The stock keeps the meat moist. Then you don't have to carve in front of everybody, which takes so much time. Many Thanksgiving hosts view carving the turkey as a monumental challenge. It's not that hard, Dupree says.