| Help ensure this year's Thanksgiving holiday is low on | | | | any grocery store on Thanksgiving day and find a |
| the stress and high on the enjoyment and | | | | turkey. Fine. But why have the stress of worrying |
| thanks-giving by using these simple tips. | | | | about this, and why take just whatever happens to |
| | | | be there. Talk to your local butcher a few weeks |
| 1. Prepare early & plan ahead. Nothing can better | | | | ahead of time. Get his advice as to the correct |
| ensure a stress-free holiday than planning early and | | | | turkey size for your number of guests. Order your |
| doing as many of the preparation steps ahead of | | | | bird from him and arrange to pick it up on |
| time. Read on for just what steps you can do before | | | | Wednesday or Thursday morning - depending on |
| the big day. | | | | schedules and whether you have room in your fridge! |
| 2. Invites your guests early, and be clear on when | | | | 8. Lighten the load through 'potluck' delegation. In our |
| they have to be at your home. There's no reason to | | | | family we lighten the load on the hosts by passing |
| not invite your guest as early as September or early | | | | around an 'on line sign up sheet' and asking some of |
| October, especially if they have to travel to get to | | | | the guests to volunteer to make some of the dishes |
| your home. And, very importantly, be sure to specify | | | | and bring them - potluck style! My sister usually brings |
| right up front when they need to arrive at your | | | | several pies she bakes the day before and my |
| home, and build a little 'buffer' in. For instance, in our | | | | Mother brings her famous string bean recipe. That's |
| family we like to serve the Turkey dinner at 5:30 or | | | | less work for me, and they like being able to |
| 6:00 pm, but we ask all guests to arrive by 4:00 pm, | | | | contribute! See the below resources for on line tools |
| the better to socialize, help and, importantly, keep | | | | to make potluck sign ups easy. |
| the stress off you. The last thing you need to worry | | | | 9. Get your gear in place. Now is the time to think |
| about as you baste the turkey is "what if Aunt | | | | through seating, tables, place settings etc. Do you |
| Martha is an hour late?" | | | | need to arrange to borrow any extra equipment? |
| 3. Accommodate your out of town guests. Plan early | | | | Make arrangements ahead of time for what you |
| and don't be shy about being directive for your | | | | need to borrow and be sure to get it 3-4 days |
| out-of-town guests. Don't leave them guessing | | | | ahead of time if possible, or arrange a posse for |
| whether they can stay with you at your house. Tell | | | | early Thursday so it just gets done and doesn't add |
| them clearly they can, or clearly tell them they can't. | | | | to the stress. I always borrow two extra folding |
| If they can't, do this graciously by saying you've | | | | tables and 8 folding chair from my church hall and |
| reserved a room at a local, affordable motel or | | | | have my brother-in-law help me pick this stuff up in a |
| B&B - do they want you to hold the reservation | | | | van on Thursday morning. This allows us to seat 20+ |
| for them or not? | | | | guests! For you it might be getting 6 extra place |
| 4. Don't overshoot, keep it simple. Remember, the | | | | settings by having some guests bring them. |
| best times and memories at Thanksgiving come from | | | | 10. Shop ahead of time. Do your final grocery |
| the time spent together, not the show-off cooking | | | | shopping 3-4 days before Thanksgiving. Whatever |
| and party hosting you might do. Show-off party | | | | you do, don't wait until Wednesday night or |
| hosting is a sure-fire recipe for stress and perhaps | | | | Thursday morning. Instead, go out the previous |
| flame out. So keep your plans and aspirations for the | | | | weekend to buy everything except the fresh fruits, |
| meal, decorations and day simple, with an accent on | | | | vegetables and the turkey. You'll feel much better on |
| making your guests comfortable, serving them | | | | Monday and Tuesday! |
| honest but simple traditional fare and letting them | | | | 11. I know this is #11, but this is more about next |
| enjoy the time with family and friends. | | | | year. When it's all over, write down your notes. Take |
| 5. Encourage sharing. Plan a few activities that will | | | | a few minutes on Friday or Saturday after |
| help people share and bond. It can be as simple as | | | | Thanksgiving and write down some notes on what |
| telling people ahead of time that during dinner | | | | went well and how to improve. Write down any |
| everyone who's willing, will have a chance to share | | | | recipe adjustments and notes as well, as well as how |
| what they are thankful for. Or perhaps have a group | | | | long it took to cook the turkey (every oven is |
| walk in a pretty local park for an hour in the | | | | different!). It can be really valuable to know what the |
| afternoon while the turkey's cooking. This will sharpen | | | | correct quantities of food are to serve so many |
| their appetites and make everything taste better! | | | | guests. Next year, knowing that putting the bird in |
| 6. Pick the right menu, and make sure you can | | | | the oven at 1 pm worked perfectly for a 5 pm |
| deliver. Plan your menu well in advance and, if there | | | | dinner will remove one more iota of stress. Then |
| are any dishes you've never made before, don't | | | | store your notes some place good - I use on line |
| make your Thanksgiving guests your guinea pigs! | | | | note & to do list software (see below) but you |
| Instead, practice your new dishes ahead of time. I | | | | can also be as simple as putting your paper notes |
| like to practice new turkey recipes in October. | | | | with the turkey pan! |
| Everyone loves turkey and doesn't get it often | | | | That's all there is to it. You see the common themes: |
| enough during the rest of the year. Invite some | | | | plan ahead, get as many tasks done as possible |
| friends over in October and cook a smaller turkey to | | | | before Thanksgiving day, share some potluck tasks |
| get your technique and recipe down. You'll go into | | | | with your guests, and keep your ambitions in rein so |
| Thanksgiving week with unparalleled confidence. | | | | the menu and plans are simple and surefire. Most |
| 7. Get the bird. Odds are, you can walk into almost | | | | important, don't forget to enjoy the stuffing! |