|
|
Planning Thanksgiving Dinner - Tips To Make Your Holiday Easy
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.
If you will be cooking turkey, decide upon fresh, frozen, or
smoked. Make sure you have room in your refrigerator and oven.
You should plan on one to one 1/2 pounds per person and even a
bit larger if you want plenty of leftovers.
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:
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 Days before Thanksgiving:
A couple of days prior to Thanksgiving you can prepare a few
items in advance to save time on the big day.
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.
Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your
kitchen at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.
If you have children, involve them in the planning. They can
help organize games for the younger guests, assist with
decorations, and can even help out in the kitchen if you desire.
If you have purchased a frozen turkey, take it out of the
freezer and place it in the refrigerator 3 days prior to cooking
to give it plenty of time to thaw. If you will need to iron
linens, etc., do so a couple of days before Thanksgiving to cut
down on the amount of work you will have to do the night before
the big day.
Thanksgiving Morning:
On Thanksgiving morning, make sure you have your thawed turkey
stuffed (if necessary) and ready to place in the oven. Side
dishes should be ready to cook or place in your oven and it
would be a good idea to have desserts prepared the night before
to save time and frustration on Thanksgiving Day. Any items you
have frozen should be taken out of the freezer the night before
so they can be heated easily.
With some advance planning and preparation, Thanksgiving
can be a stress-free (almost) occasion and you will have plenty
of time to enjoy the company of friends and family.
About The Author:
Visit http://www.HomeOrganizationHelp.com
for tips to help battle clutter and disorganization. And,
if you like to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible,
visit http://www.FreeQuickRecipes.com
-- for Mothers, and others.
Copyright Angela Tyler - http://www.FreeQuickRecipes.com
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 2006
A Fun Zone- All Rights Reserved.
|