I have hosted Thanksgiving before, and am happy to host again this year. I wanted to share some of my best ideas for planning a successful, stress free meal.
1. Plan your menu early. Perhaps the best thing you can do to avoid the stress is avoid those day-before (or worse, day-of) trips to the store. Consider the dishes you'd like to have included and break it down into ingredients. Take a hard look at your menu once you've planned it – can you ask guests to bring some of the components? Do you really need two potato dishes? Sometimes more is less less is more!
2. Shop sales! I just posted some fabulous sales going on at Albertsons this week, and there are some others to consider at Fred Meyer. I'm also a big fan of Winco for bulk ingredients such as flour, sugar, spices, and other basics when they aren't on sale. Don't be afraid to shop at more than one store, either. If your list(s) are well organized, you might find your savings by shopping at more than one store are well worth the gas and time spent. When prices are as low as we're seeing on these basics, stock up. That way you'll be prepared if your gravy goes awry or if you want to create some freezer casseroles with the leftovers the following day.
3. Consider paper plates. If you're having a large gathering, or if your gathering can go without formalities, consider paper plates. Right now, Dixie Plates are $2 at Fred Meyer. Also look for discounted holiday-themed plates and napkins. Don't forget stores such as the Dollar Store or party stores for additional deals.
4. Tell guests to arrive 1/2 hour before you plan to eat. Avoid stress of trying to have a perfectly carved turkey as folks walk in the door. If you wish to have everyone seated and eating by 3, tell your guests to arrive at 2:30. Have some veggies and dip to snack on or have some hot cider for folks to sip. I also like to have Christmas music playing and candles burning so people feel instantly welcome and festive, even if I still have last-minute prep work to do in the kitchen.
5. Prep what you can the day before. I usually bake two pumpkin pies and a homemade cranberry sauce. These are easy items to make and can easily be cooked the day before and chilled overnight. I also have prepped a stuffing before and heated it up while the turkey rested before carving – and it tasted just fine!
6. Use tried-and-true recipes that focus on high flavor with simple ingredients. Wondering what my all-time favorite recipes are? Here is my favorite stuffing recipe and a fantastic potato recipe. I also roasted my first turkey using this recipe and got many compliments. Virtually all the ingredients are on sale this week, or have been on sale in recent weeks. Don't forget you can find more free recipes by downloading this eBook!
7. Give to others. With so many sales going on, why not consider helping out others struggling to feed their families this year? My church has a food pantry to give to and guess what sort of items they're requesting this year? Stuffing, canned broth, canned vegetables, and the like. I think I can manage that!
8. Clean and then do dessert. My mom has always done this, and it makes a lot of sense to me. Once we're done with dinner, I like to clean up a bit so I can relax knowing things are in order. If you're hosting, don't hesitate to ask others if they could pitch in. Ask a couple others to prep the desserts or get the coffee going. Having a load of dishes running while dessert is being served means less work for you later.
9. Consider doing something as a family. Why not ask each guest to bring a favorite board game to share? Or how about watching some favorite holiday movies together? How about taking a brisk walk around the neighborhood and burn off that turkey dinner? One year I found an online forum where a bunch of people had shared what they were thankful for, and I spent some time sharing what they'd written with my family. I also recently shared that you can download a free eBook of Thanksgiving crafts here. If you have a bunch of little ones coming over, why not have one of these fun crafts prepped and set up?
10. Send leftovers home with your guests! At the end of the evening, have each guest assemble a dinner plate to take home and cover with foil. That way everyone has a little leftover love to look forward to the next day!
How about you? What are some of your secrets to hosting a better party? How about traditions you look forward to with your family each year?
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My MIL is a better cook than I am. And I am a better housekeeper than she is. I provide a festive home, she brings the meal- and I feel spoiled.