My Top 20 Tips for Pulling off Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving has always been our family's holiday. Mainly because we really love food but also because we really love each other too. Preparing for and cooking the Thanksgiving meal can be overwhelming but trust me...it gets easier every year that you do it and the work is always worth the joy of eating this meal together...for me at least! So post will give you some tips on how to pull it off a little easier. These are my top 20 tips for a successful turkey day! And don't forget to plan time for the Walters' Annual Turkey Bowl!
Tip 1: Start planning your menu and grocery list a month in advance and find out who plans to be there. This sounds extreme but if you have your grocery list ready then you can start picking up things over the course of a month rather than a week which really helps with the expense.Tip 2: Invite a few people outside of your family. Thanksgiving is about being grateful for all that you have been given. We've been given an amazing family to share with others so invite people to the table. It will fill your heart with joy and will bless those you invite.
Tip 3: Buy a big turkey. Your father and I actually argue about this every year. He insists on a bird that is way bigger than we need and I argue that we don't need that much turkey. He always wins and I am always glad he did. Why? Because there are so many good things to make out of the leftover turkey! Turkey sandwiches, turkey pot pie filling, turkey tetrizzini, turkey noodle soup....all freezable for future dinners (except the sandwiches). Plus, a big and perfectly cooked turkey always makes a beautiful Thanksgiving table.
Tip 4: If you buy a frozen turkey start thawing that baby about 4-5 days before Thanksgiving. The bigger it is the longer it will need to thaw out. You want it completely thawed all the way through.
Tip 5: Spend the first few days of the week cleaning out the fridge to make room for precooked sides, pies, and leftovers.
Tip 6: Go with store bought pie crusts and store bought rolls for the big day. The store bought ones taste great and save lots of time.
Tip 7: Buy some good paper plates like the big oval Chinette plates along with some nice paper napkins and clear plastic cups. There are people who would cringe at this but I don't care. It's one day and you need all the breaks you can get. After this meal is over the last thing you want is to have a pile of dishes in the sink.
Tip 8: Double check that you have all of the salt, pepper, butter, and other spices and essentials you may need. I swear there is always something I have to run out and get that I forgot on the list!
Tip 9: Make your desserts and cranberry sauce 2 days before Thanksgiving. You can cover them with foil, label, and store in the fridge.
Tip 10: The day before Thanksgiving make as many of your sides as possible. You want to leave the day of for the cooking of the turkey and re-heating of everything else especially if you don't have a double oven. Years when I didn't have a double oven, I tried to make all my sides the day before except for the ones with shorter cooking times.
Tip 11: The day and night before Thanksgiving plan for meals that are easy, way different from Thanksgiving fare, or even out of the house. This is helpful for the cook especially! Your dad cooks frogmore stew the night before because it is all on the stovetop and it's a yummy easy meal that we all love. It gives me a nice break from cooking.
Tip 12: Plan out oven time for Thanksgiving day. You need to know exactly how much time will be needed for your turkey and leave time to warm up everything you made the day before.
Tip 13: Plan the meal for around 4pm so that you have time that day for everything you need to do and for the turkey bowl!
Tip 14: Remember, you don't have to make everything yourself. Ask others to help. My most favorite times are when Maddie and Avery are in the kitchen cook with me.
Tip 15: Your people are going to be starving by 2-4 pm depending on when you eat so plan for something for breakfast that doesn't take much effort from you. Ideas: a breakfast casserole in the crockpot if your oven is occupied, a pan of cinnamon rolls, or bagels with cream cheese and fruit.
Tip 16: Have a cooler for drinks and plenty of ice because the fridge will be full of your sides and leftovers.
Tip 17: Depending on how many people you have eating, decide if you need a kids table or extra chairs, etc. You want everyone to feel like they have a seat!
Tip 19: Take time out from the cooking and planning to just enjoy time with family. I am probably the worst at this part because I want it all to be perfect. This is why the turkey bowl is so important. It pulls me away from the kitchen and the house to just have fun with you guys. It reminds me of how thankful I am for the traditions that we have.
Tip 20: Give thanks. Eat. Enjoy.
