Thanksgiving Dinner - It's Time For A Plan
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 Day:
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.
The Week of Thanksgiving:
Coming into the week of Thanksgiving, you want to prepare your pantry. Stock up on paper supplies or additional cutlery, or anything you may need for serving or preparing dinner. Buy food items that will store until Thanksgiving and bake any bread, rolls, or muffins now and freeze them until Thanksgiving day.
The Countdown To Thanksgiving Day:
With just a few days before Thanksgiving, prepare some items beforehand to save a bit of time during the final rush.
Things like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any like items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving morning. You may want to prepare some side dishes the night before Thanksgiving; items like Green Bean Casserole store just fine overnight. Prepare your pies and cakes now, as well. If you have items in the freezer, they should come out now and go in the refrigerator.
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!
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:
On Thanksgiving morning, stuff your thawed turkey and get it ready to place in the oven. Use the time table on your turkey and place your turkey in the oven at the time necessary. Prepare any side dishes now that you were unable to prepare last night; things like peeling potatoes, for instance. Schedule your side dishes in their cooking order. Prepare any desserts that you were unable to prepare the night before.
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.
10 Days Before Thanksgiving Day:
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.
The Week of Thanksgiving:
Coming into the week of Thanksgiving, you want to prepare your pantry. Stock up on paper supplies or additional cutlery, or anything you may need for serving or preparing dinner. Buy food items that will store until Thanksgiving and bake any bread, rolls, or muffins now and freeze them until Thanksgiving day.
The Countdown To Thanksgiving Day:
With just a few days before Thanksgiving, prepare some items beforehand to save a bit of time during the final rush.
Things like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any like items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving morning. You may want to prepare some side dishes the night before Thanksgiving; items like Green Bean Casserole store just fine overnight. Prepare your pies and cakes now, as well. If you have items in the freezer, they should come out now and go in the refrigerator.
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!
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:
On Thanksgiving morning, stuff your thawed turkey and get it ready to place in the oven. Use the time table on your turkey and place your turkey in the oven at the time necessary. Prepare any side dishes now that you were unable to prepare last night; things like peeling potatoes, for instance. Schedule your side dishes in their cooking order. Prepare any desserts that you were unable to prepare the night before.
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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posted by SolveItQuick at
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