Hosting Thanksgiving this year? Prefer not to loose your marbles? You’ve come to the right place. Below are my turkey day to-do’s for hosting a stress-free (ish) Thanksgiving dinner!
A Few Weeks Before
Order Your Turkey // One of the first things I do to prepare for T-Day is order my Thanksgiving turkey. I am partial to fresh vs. frozen because it’s less work – no thawing necessary. (If you opt for frozen, please make sure you thaw the darn bird in advance) Places like Whole Foods make it super easy to order your bird online and the prices are spot on. How big of a bird do you need? I usually plan for 1.5 lbs per person, plenty for the night of and enough to send home leftovers with your guests!
Plan Your Meal // If you are asking your guests to contribute to the meal DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT allow them to bring whatever dish they desire. Instead, request they bring a specific dish, dessert or app or, just ask them to let you know, well in advance, what they plan on bringing. Nothing is worse than ending up with five different green bean casseroles and a pumpkin pie. If you are making the entire meal, consider your guests and what types of side dishes will satisfy the majority. A safe Thanksgiving plate usually consists of – turkey, salad, stuffing, two to three types of vegetables, and a potato dish. (I like to throw in a macaroni casserole for the kids!)
One Week Out
Set Your Table // As soon as you can set your Thanksgiving table, do it. For me this task requires pulling out, and washing, glassware, silverware, dinner, salad and dessert plates as well as linens. Not something you can do on the fly. Once the table is set you are free to focus on the most important part – the food!
Place Your Serveware // This is especially true if you are hosting family style. Pulling out, and placing, your serveware allows you to double check you have all of the trays, bowls, serving forks & spoons etc. you need. And, if you are anything like me, it keeps you from forgetting to make a dish!! // Pottery Barn Classic Rim Dinner Plate // Pottery Barn Tava Round Charger // Flowers ~ Charleston Flower Market // Kate Spade Union Street Flatware
Create A Timeline // Regardless of whether you are cooking two dishes or six, you need to write down exactly what time your dishes go into the oven, at what temperature, for how long and when to take them out of the oven. Grab one of your larger sticky notes and stick the timeline to a cabinet next to the oven. I can not tell you how many times doing this has saved me – and my dishes.
A Day Or Two Before
Order Your Groceries // I beg of you, order your Thanksgiving groceries online. You will be a much happier human if you do. Yes, this will require a little more time than your normal, weekly, homeshop order but not having to deal with the crowds and the crazy will keep your stress at a manageable level, leading up to T-Day.
Prep // So many recipes, or parts of recipes, can be made ahead of time. Chop the veggies, make the sauces, dry out the bread, make the desserts – do everything you can do before the big day.
What are your T-Day tips? Share below!!!
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