Turkey Travails

So my Thanksgiving dinner has gone from three people to five. Which isn't a huge jump by any means, but it does mean a whole turkey (yikes!) as opposed to a breast. I am planning on feeding six people to allow for enough (and leftovers of course), so now I need to make sides to feed six as well. Three people sounded so easy...six sounds like a party. And I have only ever cooked for other people, besides Dave, maybe twice in my life. Oy. I am still working on my menu but I am trying to find things that either I can make ahead or that can be made on the stove top since my oven is so small. I think we'll just have to eat room temp turkey and hot stuffing as I figure if I take the turkey out first and throw the sides in after it should be ok. And if anyone complains I'll just tell them to stuff it. And since I love desserts, I am now going to make two, if not three things. I have to get Dave's opinion on that since he's the dessert guy around here.

My acorn pan. I love it. Probably too much.

In honor of my upcoming kitchen extravaganza, I am trying out the convection oven setting today. I am making pumpkin acorns in honor of Dave's dad's visit. I thought I'd try the convection since I have never used it. It seems to work fine, and maybe a bit faster than the regular setting, even with the temp turned down slightly. And luckily my acorns seem to be turning out ok. I might have taste tested one, or two, or...

They look like little acorn soldiers, marching into battle. And the ones in the back aren't funky, they have chocolate chips inside. Because why not add chocolate chips? They're awesome.

Speaking of my oven, why in the world does the oven timer start at 30 minutes? Why doesn't it start at say, oh I don't know, ZERO? I have so many issues with appliances here but I'm not going to go into that today. I need to approach my cooking challenge with an open mind, not with negative thoughts about never ending beeps, and weird indecipherable icons racing through my mind.

Ooops, one is missing. How ever did that happen?

Since my acorn convection challenge was a success I have confidence that I can now cook a turkey, four or five sides, two or three desserts, a salad and hors d'oeuvres with no problem. No prob whatsoever. I figure it should only take me three days, so we'll be eating Thanksgiving dinner on...Sunday.