Getting things ready in advance will help make this day much more enjoyable. Your prep work need only be limited by what storage space you have in your own shed, fridge and freezer. (Perhaps neighbors going out of town will trade favors of plant sitting for letting you use their fridge, freezer or stove. This can make you day so much freer.) If you serve any kind of crackers, vegetables and spreads, these can be partially assembled ahead of time. Have all the crackers together with the serving tray. The dips and spreads can generally be made a couple of days in advance. The vegetables will be just fine if prepped the day before and put in separate containers of very cold water. This will keep them crisp and fresh, and leave you free to concentrate on other things.
There are more recipes you can assemble before the big day. One easy thing to finish ahead of time is to assemble then freeze your pie crusts. If you have a family who won’t touch the cranberry sauce that comes from a can, you can make a homemade version up to a week in advance. Just be certain to put it in an air tight container, and that is one more dish done. Some say the flavors are even better after a week. Dinner rolls are a must for most families. These can be made and formed as far as 2 months before you need them. Just pop them in the freezer and most of that work is done. Now that will save you time and hassle. Even the best of plans run into snags now and then. You can choose to let everyone snack on the dishes you have so carefully prepared, listen to the complaints of hungry children (and some adults) or have a plan in place if meal prep runs too long. Place platters of heart-healthy nibbles all about for anyone to deal with their hunger if the turkey just isn’t quite done yet or people arrive early. A few notions for easy snacks are dried fruits, nuts, pre-made relish trays, whole fruit or simple fruit kabobs. These items can be implemented into later meals if you are hosting the family for the entire weekend.
Make use of your crock pot or any warming plates you may have. There are plenty of side dishes or warm dips or even beverages you can make in your crock pot that will easily stay at the right temperature and give you less bother so you can focus on the remainder of the feast. You can locate recipes for vegetables such as carrots, corn or broccoli to make in your slow cooker. Squash dishes aren’t hard at all if you use this handy device. Try out slow cooker cornbread stuffing – so much easier than stuffing it into and extricating it from the turkey itself.
Your table decorations and room décor can be done in no time – and at nominal cost - if you choose items from outdoors and from your friendly produce workers. You can always supplement with economical daisies or mums, but let the natural world be your muse as you beautify your table and dining room. Arrange walnuts in the shell, pomegranates, pine cones, mini pumpkins, cranberries, chestnuts, fall leaves, and gourds to allow the season to pleasantly envelope and add to the ambience.
Remember, just because you are hosting does not mean you can’t delegate. When others offer assistance, take it. If no one thinks to offer, don’t be shy about asking for help. Start an email group to help you coordinate dishes so everyone brings an item to the gathering that plays to their strengths. If you have a family member who is not known to be the best cook, ask them to bring games instead. Keeping everyone busy and happy will help you out immensely in the kitchen. If you have friends or family coming from out of town, bringing a heated dish is not sensible, but that doesn’t mean they can’t help. Assign items like extra rolls (for sandwich leftovers), soda, juice, perhaps alcoholic beverages, green salad fixings or even desserts and pies. If assigning tasks out does not work well for your family dynamics, send around a list of items to choose from, thus giving everyone the chance to participate and decrease your work load on the actual holiday.
Planning ahead, while still allowing for last minute changes, will save you all kinds of headaches. Do you have a formal meal? Are your table linens ready? Do you use your best silver and does it require a good polishing? Do you have all the seating, serving dishes, condiments and silverware you will need for the throng you may be serving? Borrowing what you do not have will make your life easier. Choose disposable dinnerware when you can, if it fits in. For example, the turkey can go from a cookie sheet-supported tin foil roaster to the serving platter as easily as from a traditional roasting pan and save you one very time consuming dish to wash later.
Try to set it up so that you can have time to enjoy your company while they are in your home. Have your plan made, choose carefree decorations, be flexible and prepare any food that can reasonably be made in advance and graciously agree to any help family members are willing to provide. Make 2010 your best Thanksgiving yet.
About the Author
Margo Smith graduated with a B.S. degree from BYU. She draws from her experiences as a modern day children’s governess, her time spent in New England, her years in the corporate world and an author’s perspective on life when compiling articles about a variety of subjects from organic food to online colleges to women’s issues.
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