Let's face it, Thanksgiving is one of the most stressful holidays of the year. With all the hype and excitement leading up to Turkey Day, you haven't even thought about how you are going to get that beautiful bird in the oven. But don't fret, because we've got your back!
Whether you're hosting a large gathering or cooking dinner for your family, there are some things you can do to make sure everything turns out right.
Plan your menu and grocery list
Planning your menu and grocery list is the first step to preparing Thanksgiving dinner. Make sure you have enough time to cook all the dishes you want, and don't forget to account for any leftovers that will need to be stored. Here are some tips to help you plan your menu:
Make a list of all the items you want to serve at Thanksgiving dinner. This will help you keep track of what needs to be purchased, how much food is needed and how long it will take to prepare.
Keep an eye on your budget by calculating how much each dish costs per person. This way, if one dish is more expensive than another, it can be adjusted as needed or replaced with something less expensive.
Choose recipes that can be prepared in advance
One of the easiest ways to save time at the table is by making sure your Thanksgiving recipes can be done ahead of time. Most recipes can be made ahead of time, frozen and reheated when needed. If possible, make sure there are multiple options for meals on Thanksgiving Day so that everyone has an option they like best!
Prepare vegetables and side dishes at least one day before Thanksgiving Day. Even if you think that you won’t use them all up before then, it’s better to have them ready than not at all! Vegetables like onions and carrots are good candidates for this task because they will hold up well in a cold environment (like a refrigerator). This 7-in-1 Vegetable and Fruit Slicer/Chopper will make cooking easy plus it has a ready storage so you can just slice and then store in the refrigerator.
Clean out your refrigerator, freezer and pantry a few days before Thanksgiving
Cleaning your kitchen and pantry should be done days before Thanksgiving.Take stock of what's already in your fridge and pantry before going shopping for Thanksgiving dinner supplies. This way, when you go shopping for ingredients for specific dishes (like mashed potatoes), you can buy just what you need without getting distracted by other items that may not be needed or wanted at this time. It also helps to keep track of what ingredients are used in each dish so there's no double-dipping or confusion about which ingredient goes into which dish!
Make sure you have all the right utensils
Before you start cooking make sure you have all the right utensils! You don't want to be running around looking for something while your food is burning or raw. Make sure you have an oven mitt or pot holder, a wooden spoon, a spatula and a cutting board.
Make sure that everything is clean, especially if you're going to be using raw meat on any of your dishes since bacteria can easily spread from raw meats onto other foods. If you're preparing a dish with raw meat make sure to wash your hands frequently and use separate cutting boards for each type of meat so that there's no cross contamination between them!
Keep decor simple
Keep it simple and elegant. Make sure that all of your table settings are simple and elegant. You don't have to go overboard with flower arrangements or extra decorations, but a few candles on each table will give the room a warm glow, and will also help take some of the stress off of you so that you can focus on cooking instead of cleaning up after dinner is over!
Don’t forget about alcohol!
If you're serving wine with Thanksgiving dinner, it's probably tradition in your family to drink it before the meal. Make sure that the bottles you use are not too large or heavy and that they don't roll around on the table. You can use this floating wine bottle holder so that you can display your cocktails on the table.
Thanksgiving is a holiday that's all about being thankful. It's also one of the biggest holidays of the year, which means that it's often a time when people inadvertently add more stress to their lives instead of less. Fortunately, we have some tips and tricks for you to consider that might help make your Thanksgiving a more relaxing and enjoyable holiday overall.