To pull off the perfect Thanksgiving feast, you need a plan. Here are my work-ahead tips that can make this special Thursday less stressful:*
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Okay, back to the helpful hints!
Okay, back to the helpful hints!
- Create your guest list. Get an idea of how many people are going to come, just so you can start figuring out the quantities you need.
- Purchase your turkey. This way you don’t have to panic and worry about finding the right size or trying to defrost at the last minute. Depending on the size, start defrosting the turkey now (allow one day for every 5 pounds of meat: a 15-pound turkey will require three days to thaw thoroughly).
- Make your pie dough. Pie dough is something that can freeze really well so you can enjoy delicious homemade crust for your Thanksgiving pies without having to stress the week of. I find the best way to store the dough is to form individual pie discs, store in a seal-able plastic bag, and freeze. Then when you are ready to assemble your pie, let your crust set out for 20 minutes and it's ready to go!
- Make and freeze your gravy. Making gravy while everyone is hovering over the turkey ready to eat can be pretty stressful. It's one of those last-second details that would be so much easier if you can just heat it up and go.
- Prep your linens and serving pieces. Make sure you have everything you need and that all linens are cleaned and pressed. Also check your drinking glasses for water spots and wipe down any pieces that need a touch up. Don't forget to find your carving knife if it's tucked away for most of the year!
- Clean house. Not the most exciting part, but it is a great feeling to be proud of your home when you're welcoming in your friends and family.
- Write out your menu. This will help with grocery shopping and coordinating who is bringing what if others are contributing.
- Make sure you have a well-rounded drink selection. Alternatively, having your guests bring beverages is a great way to share the load and insure that everyone has a drink option they enjoy.
- Create a grocery list. I like to organize mine by categories: produce, dairy, meats, bakery, etc. I know the layout of my grocery store well, so I list my categories according to how I walk the store. You won’t believe the time this saves!
- Create a schedule. Use the prep and cooking times of your different dishes to determine when you should start each item. This is especially important when you're working with one oven and limited burners on the stove--you need to make sure everything fits in at some point during the day!
- Do your grocery shopping. When you get home, organize the groceries in your fridge.
- Chill wine. Place the wine you’re serving in the refrigerator, or if you’re out of space and it's chilly outside, keep it in the garage or on the back deck.
- Chop and dice your ingredients. For storing all your diced veggies, you might want to use sealable bags instead of plastic containers because they take up less space.
- Sauté stuffing ingredients. Cook the celery, onions, sausage, etc., and once cooled, place the combination in an airtight bag in the refrigerator. The next day it only takes a few minutes to put the stuffing together and into the oven for baking.
- Bake your pies. This way they'll be cooled and set for the next day and that's one less thing to fit in your oven on turkey day! Looking for a good apple pie recipe?
- Prepare any side dishes you can. Prepare the dish in a container that can go directly from the fridge to the oven (and if it's pretty, from the oven to the table).
- Decide where dishes will be served. It can be really challenging to fit all of Thanksgiving dinner on the table--especially if you have a centerpiece or a smaller table. A good solution is to serve some items buffet style (those things that might be a struggle to pass around the table due to size or temperature) and serve other items family style (bread, salad, etc.). If you don't have a buffet server, the kitchen counter can work just as well!
- Set the dining table. My favorite part! The final task is setting the table complete with floral arrangement, candles, and whatever else you have envisioned this year. This is a nice way to wind down the day. Enjoy a nice glass of wine as you go and then get a good night's sleep before the excitement and celebration begins!
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