Thanksgiving Tips

[kittykatstrong]

I am hosting thanksgiving dinner this year for the first time for about 15 people. I am worried that it will not go well. I just need some tips on what you do to make the day go smooth.

One that I have thought of is planning what you will cook and making sure you have enough pans and serving dishes.

What are your tips?

[madhen]

I don't do T-Day, but I do Christmas dinner every year. One thing I have learned is to not over-engineer. Do a couple of dishes only, keep them simple, and don't worry about having a "perfect" table.

For the main course, USE A MEAT THERMOMETER! Saves any guessing. And don't skip on letting the meat rest. Not only will it be juicier, but it gives guests time to ooh and ah and salivate in anticipation. Remember that your main course, be it meat or veg, is your showcase. Put your effort there. Season it well, cook it just right, and everything else will fall into place.

If you are relaxed, your guests will be relaxed. If you are uptight and worried about everything being perfect, your guests will be uptight and will notice the flaws in your presentation. My Christmas dinner is typically just prime rib, homemade Yorkshire puddings, white rice (hey, we're Asian), and corn (from a can). But the rib is kick-a$$, and my family talks about it all year in anticipation.

Be sure to throw out some light munchies (raw veg dishes are good) for beforehand. I usually do a relatively light dessert, as people are stuffed from dinner.

Have fun! Learn from your first experience and build on that! No one expects a perfect dinner!!

[Momof3girls]

I do everything I can ahead of time. I always have the table set the day and make the pies.
I also take guests up on their offers to bring a dish. It saves work for me and people get a chance to shine with a speciality.

[rowdy35]

set it up as a buffet if you can. Life will be easier. use chafing dishes or crockpots to keep the food warm. Set up a bar for everyone to serve themselves pop, juice, beer, wine etc. You can do a coffee station / dessert station to. Use tables or counters or whatever you have to set the food up. Make a basket of silverware wrapped up in napkins, put your plates out, just like you were in a hotel at a conference or meeting.

I do lots of parties and events as a job so I'm pretty good at hosting parties. If you want a plated sit down dinner it is more work but there are tips on doing that too. Set your table in advance with your centerpiece and trivets (hot plates). You can use place cards to determine who is sitting where and you can put kids at a separate table from adults if you want to.

My personal choice is to do a pot luck and find out what everyone is bringing in advance. See if they will sign up for a generic item, such as dessert, beverage, side dish, appetizer, etc.

[rainbowgc]

I agree, do as much as you can a head of time and relax!

[nancycg56]

I do everything I possibly can the day before.

*I clean the turkey and get all the ingredients ready to go so all I have to do is put it in the oven.
*Hunt down my turkey grabbers and carving knife and fork
*I make all the pies
*I make the mashed potatoes and put in the fridge
*I make all the side dishes ahead that I can
*I do all the veggie chopping and put in ziplocks so all I have to do is add to stuffing, etc.
*I get canned goods (broth, etc.) out of the cupboard
*I set the table and get Thanksgiving dishes out, washed, and table set with serving dishes and silverware
*Get extra chairs out and at the table

So, I am busy the day before but not so much the day of.

Good luck and HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!

[nvmommyx6]

I do Thanksgiving and Christmas at my home every year, about 12-16 people!
I do my dinner rolls ahead and freeze them till that morning, I do the pies ahead and refrigerate them, I do the appetizers ahead and refrigerate them, I always, always clean as I go!!
I have a separate turkey roasting oven the turkey goes in, the ham goes into the Crockpot all day, your green bean casserole can be done ahead and refrigerated as well, just don't put the French onions on till right before you put it in the oven!
So, really all your doing right then is the stuffing and the gravy (if it is home made)! Slice and dice any veggies before that day so they are all done and ready to use!
Don't let yourself stress out, have your things (utensils, dishes, mixing bowls, measuring cups) ready to go and Breath, and you will be fine as frog's hair!!
And remember this one really important thing......enjoy yourself!
Mommy

[madhen]

I... and the gravy (if it is home made)!

And shame on you if it is not!!

[sunshine]

I agree-- make ahead as much as possible! I cook the turkey in our roaster, leaving the oven free for rolls, sweet potatoes, dressing, etc.

Gravy, mashed potatoes, veggies, go in crockpots. . . .


Oh - and have others bring their favorite side dishes -- cuts down the work/expense for you, and they are sure to have their favorite foods.

[Edna_E]

I think different groups of people have different expectations about T-giving, and so I usually try to find out where the common ground is and if there are any dishes that anyone feels strongly attached to. Also, whether there are any dietary restrictions that need to be accomodated. Since I am inclined to get up by 5:00am anyway, cooking ahead is not an issue to me, I actually like to spend all day in and out of the kitchen, but preparing a schedule of what gets cooked when (some things can be re-heated well and some can't and some things are best if they've had a long time for flavors to meld) is invaluable and lets me relax and know that I'm not going to be trying to cram things in the oven together that either don't fit or that need different temperatures. I also like to have seating and place settings figured out in advance, so I sometimes set the tables the night before with tablecloths, napkins, silverware, glasses, centerpieces, salt and pepper shakers, and (if I decide to use them) place cards. I usually serve buffet style, so the plates are better kept at the buffet. I also make sure that I have serving utensils (somehow I often end up having to search for additional serving spoons, and a quick trip to Wal-Mart on Wednesday night is SOOOO much less stressful).

Now, all of that said, if it is an informal group who get along well together and are not attached to tradition and like to do things together - I'd also be quite capable of having grilled salmon and a big salad and a trifle and doing jigsaw puzzles or playing games.

[georgiamom]

I use to do this I learned to have a few do the vegetables and I would do the meat and deserts. One would bring the ice, plates, tables and folding chairs. We delegated. It worked great. If you work as a team it goes a lot better and everyone enjoys themselves better. Dont forget its football and parade day so everyone needs downtime. Use paper plates and disposable cups. I use dixie and we mark the cups so everyone know which belongs to who and we use it all day long till night and then we throw it away after it's all over. Then everyone takes home leftovers and I didn;t a have to fill up my frig with everything. Worked great and I am sure your will to. One person shouldnt be overloaded. If possible do what we did one year we all pitched in and ordered a ham and had it smoked instead of a turkey. You could get a smoked turkey too if you wanted. Places will do it for you and you can get different sizes. Then all you have to do is veges and desert. Sometime shortcuts is better and you get to spend quality time with family thats what more important that money to me sometime.

[HandyMom]

I would tell everyone to bring their own drinks of choice and have plastic cups on hand and ice for them. I see nothing wrong with eating on sturdy disposable plates if you don't have a dishwasher OR enlist help with cleanup. Crockpots and warming plates are great to keep things warm and I would borrow or have as many as possible.

Whatever you do, make sure you get to bed early and get some sleep! Don't stay up half the night worrying about a dinner! If you feel you are going to be behind, call up someone to come earlier to help you.

[FrugalWitch]

I agree with doing as much as possible in advance and having everyone bring a dish. There's nothing wrong with a holiday potluck and it certainly saves the host family some serious money.

[Jessi4805]

I do as much as possible a day or two before. Like chopping everything and put it in baggies/containers. Each pot pan or serving dish is labeled with sticky note or scrap of paper what it is for. I made a list with each item and approximately how long it needs to cook and what temp, (if it's using the oven.) That helps me make sure the food will be warm when served, and if anyone wants to help there is no guessing what dish/pot to use.

I only make cookies and pumpkin bread. Both are made 1-2 days before. This year I may actually try freezing cookie dough ahead of time so I just need to thaw and bake once it gets closer. If anyone else expects other deserts, they're free to bring what they want.

After dinner I help as far as clearing the table and getting the food put away. Mom and MIL do the dishes.

[ladytoysdream]

This will be our 3rd yr doing Thanksgiving at our house. About 15 to 20 people.

We do the meat, this year will be a turkey, maybe a fresh one, not sure yet.
We have done ham in the past due to hubby having a chicken/turkey allergy but he seems to be getting past that finally after 5 yrs.
We also do the potatoes, and gravy. I probably will do some pumpkin bread.
Then other members of the family bring the veggie dishes, rolls, pies, etc.
They seem to fill in the blanks quite well.
My one sister in law is bringing a hubbard squash she grew in her garden. I was planning on doing that dish myself but can scratch that off the list

The only thing I really stress about is getting the house real clean. I seem to go overboard because of hubby's expectations.

Christmas meal is at his parents house, thank goodness