Thanksgiving Day is a time of fellowship and food. It can also be a source of stress due to the elaborate meal. I have compiled a quick list of tips and tricks for you.
- Accept help from others. Get your family to help pitch in, whether it's last minute cleaning or filling glasses with ice, you don't have to do the whole thing yourself!
- Plan your holiday table in advance. Make sure to lay out everything you need for dinner and ensure everything is ready and clean. You could even go ahead and set the table the night before!
- If someone offers, allow guests to bring a dish! There is no shame in getting help. You never know, you might discover a great new recipe and you will allow that person to share a bit of their own tradition with you.
- If applicable, plan for children. If you will have a lot of kids at your house make sure you plan for them. You don't want them in the kitchen and under foot with all the activity. Outdoor games, coloring books, movies, etc would be a great distraction.
- Cook early. If possible, prepare as many dishes as you can the day before. This will cut down on prep the day off. Label each dish using a stick note with the cooking time/temp.
- Most importantly .. enjoy yourself amongst your guests! Don't be a slave all day to the kitchen. Mingle and relax. It may not all be perfect but it will still be wonderful.
* If you are a crazy planner like me then there are a ton of "sample timelimes" on the web. They are a great tool for figuring out what your day might look like.
Is this old hat for you? What are some tricks and tips you have learned? What is some good advice for newbies?
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