Thanksgiving Dinner – Step By Step Planning
Planning Thanksgiving dinner and preparing it can be very stressful, especially if you have a large family or are expecting a number of guests. In order to make Thanksgiving more enjoyable for yourself as well as your guests, some advance planning and preparation will work wonders. Use these tips to make your holiday a stress-free, memorable occasion:
10 Days Before Thanksgiving:
A week to 10 days before Thanksgiving, make your guest list. If there are any friends or family members you have not yet contacted, do so now to give them and yourself plenty of time to prepare. If any of your guests will be bringing a special dish, add it to your menu.
Plan the size of your turkey once you have your guest list made. You will want about 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of turkey for each guest. Choose a bit larger turkey if you want a lot of leftovers. Decide now whether you want to buy a fresh turkey or a frozen turkey. You may want to order a deep fried or smoked turkey from a market or club.
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.
Thanksgiving Week:
During the start of Thanksgiving week you want to start stocking your non-perishable foods and pantry items. Be sure you have all the paper products, serving pieces, cutlery, chairs, and other items on hand that you will need for dinner. You may want to bake your rolls and bread now and freeze them ahead of time.
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.
Now is is time to check your shopping list and make sure everything on it is in your kitchen ready to go for Thanksgiving day.
Time to plan the day’s games. If you have children in the house, be sure to include them in deciding what games to play. Get out the decorations for the table and the house. If there are any special Thanksgiving serving pieces, now is the time to get those out onto the kitchen counter. Don’t forget to take care of your special linens now, too. Wash and iron them if necessary now to prevent having to do that at the last minute!
Three days prior to Thanksgiving, be sure to take out your frozen turkey. Follow the thawing directions carefully. Typically, three days will give you enough time to thaw a turkey in the refrigerator.
Thanksgiving Morning:
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.
Are you a mom who’d rather play than cook? If so, you won’t want to miss FreeQuickRecipes.com where youll find quick snack ideas for mothers and others.
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