Posts Tagged by holiday organization

Preparing your Thanksgiving dinner takes a lot of planning. It can be stressful, to say the least! How can you make your dinner successful, especially when you have a large group? By laying out a planning strategy that works, of course. Let’s look at some ideas and tips for planning your holiday meal:

10 Days Before Thanksgiving:

About 10 days prior to Thanksgiving, or at least one week, get your list together of folks who are invited and contact anyone you haven’t spoken to as yet. This will give you plenty of time to prepare for the amount of food and seating. Be sure to jot down next to your guest list names any special food needs or dishes that anyone is bringing to the meal.

Now that you have your guest list you can figure out the size of the turkey. You’ll want about one to one and a half pounds of turkey for each person; more if you want leftover turkey. You may want to buy a fresh turkey, so check with your market now for availability. Or, you may want a frozen turkey, a smoked turkey, or even a deep fried turkey. Now is the time to make that decision.

Deciding upon your final menu should be completed at least a week before the big day. Consider the number of people you will be entertaining and if you have children on your guest list, try to plan a couple of special dishes or treats especially for them.

Week of Thanksgiving:

The week of Thanksgiving is the time to stock up on necessary items from the grocery store. You can make certain items in advance such as bread or rolls, and freeze them until Thanksgiving morning. Also make sure you have supplies such a napkins, cups, etc.

The Countdown To Thanksgiving Day:

Two or three days before Thanksgiving is the time to get some items prepared so they are ready and waiting for you on Thanksgiving day.

Foods that can be prepared in advance are things like cranberry relish. You can also clean and dice the vegetables you need for your stuffing, like onions and celery. If you are preparing a vegetable tray for an appetizer, wash and trim those vegetables as well. Store everything in tightly sealed plastic zip lock bags or containers. Some side dishes may be prepared the night before Thanksgiving. Some folks prepare their stuffing and store it overnight so it is ready to go in the morning. It’s also time to make your pies and cakes. If you have frozen rolls or side dishes that need to thaw, get them out the night before.

Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.

Get out your games, decorations, and special serving pieces for Thanksgiving. If you have kids, be sure to involve them in the game planning at the very least. If they are old enough, be sure they are included in decorating the house and table. Now is the time to get out your special table linens and wash and iron them if necessary.

Thawing your frozen turkey correctly is very important. Three days before Thanksgiving morning should be sufficient when you thaw your turkey in the refrigerator. Be sure to following the thawing instructions on the bird itself.

Thanksgiving Morning Is Here:

Thanksgiving morning is here. You have prepared as many dishes as you could ahead of time. Start arranging the cooking time for those dishes, beginning with the turkey. Stuff your bird, place it in your roasting pan, and figure out the timing using a cooking table found on the packaging. Prepare the side dishes and desserts that you were not able to prepare ahead of time – peel potatoes, cut sweet potatoes, etc.

Now, set the table, sit back, and relax for a few minutes before the guests arrive. Congratulations! You have successfully planned and carried out your Thanksgiving dinner! Less stress and more time to enjoy your Thanksgiving celebration.

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