ALT-1 How to have a Stress Free Family Thanksgiving Dinner
This year, if you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, make it as stress free as possible and enjoy yourself as if you were one of the guests.First focus on what this holiday is all about, getting together with family and friends and sharing a good meal. It isn't about impressing others or creating something too fancy. Keeping this in mind will help make this Thanksgiving as stress free as possible.Plan the menu early:Start by thinking of the dishes you want to serve and see if any of these can be made a head of time. Try incorporating store bought and prepared dishes too if possible. Keeping some of the main dishes homemade and some store or restaurant dishes will lighten the load and your company will still enjoy.Don't forget your family favorites though. If everyone loves your stuffing for example, make sure that is something you include. Normally when you have a dish everyone loves, it's something you are comfortable making so that shouldn't be as stressful.Cleaning up:Everyone want the home spic and span so start cleaning a week or two before, if it's really messy, and just keep up with it. If you can afford it, have a housekeeper come in the day before for a one time cleaning.Dishes:Think about using disposable dishes, there are some out there that are nicer and heavier then your typical paper utensils and plates. If this is just not acceptable to you, after all, how often do you get to use your good dishes, the week before take stock of what you have, polish the silver and set the table the day before.Food:Cook the turkey yourself. The preparation isn't that hard and nothing says Thanksgiving then the smell of the turkey roasting in the oven. Have other people coming bring a dish or desert. Just be careful about what they bring to make sure you have room in the oven if it needs cooking or reheating.Try making dishes that can be made the day or two before and just heating or baked in the oven. This way you will spend less time in the kitchen and more enjoying the company. Dishes that work well are casseroles like green bean and sweet potato. Try something new instead of mashed potatoes, you can twice bake them, preparing them the day before or even roast them with other vegetables in the crock-pot.Breads are fine from the bakery or even the refrigerated ones you bake, but remember, keep in mind all the other things that will be in the oven. Don't have too much that needs to be baked all at once or you will be worried about space and cooking time.Keep dessert simple and easy. Store bought desserts are usually fine and taste good. If you do want to bake, do it the day or two before.Keeping all this in mind will help you enjoy the holiday without too much stress, after all, it's your holiday too!
This year, if you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner, make it as stress free as possible and enjoy yourself as if you were one of the guests.
First focus on what this holiday is all about, getting together with family and friends and sharing a good meal. It isn't about impressing others or creating something too fancy. Keeping this in mind will help make this Thanksgiving as stress free as possible.
Plan the menu early:
Start by thinking of the dishes you want to serve and see if any of these can be made a head of time. Try incorporating store bought and prepared dishes too if possible. Keeping some of the main dishes homemade and some store or restaurant dishes will lighten the load and your company will still enjoy.
Don't forget your family favorites though. If everyone loves your stuffing for example, make sure that is something you include. Normally when you have a dish everyone loves, it's something you are comfortable making so that shouldn't be as stressful.
Cleaning up:
Everyone want the home spic and span so start cleaning a week or two before, if it's really messy, and just keep up with it. If you can afford it, have a housekeeper come in the day before for a one time cleaning.
Dishes:
Think about using disposable dishes, there are some out there that are nicer and heavier then your typical paper utensils and plates. If this is just not acceptable to you, after all, how often do you get to use your good dishes, the week before take stock of what you have, polish the silver and set the table the day before.
Food:
Cook the turkey yourself. The preparation isn't that hard and nothing says Thanksgiving then the smell of the turkey roasting in the oven. Have other people coming bring a dish or desert. Just be careful about what they bring to make sure you have room in the oven if it needs cooking or reheating.
Try making dishes that can be made the day or two before and just heating or baked in the oven. This way you will spend less time in the kitchen and more enjoying the company. Dishes that work well are casseroles like green bean and sweet potato. Try something new instead of mashed potatoes, you can twice bake them, preparing them the day before or even roast them with other vegetables in the crock-pot.
Breads are fine from the bakery or even the refrigerated ones you bake, but remember, keep in mind all the other things that will be in the oven. Don't have too much that needs to be baked all at once or you will be worried about space and cooking time.
Keep dessert simple and easy. Store bought desserts are usually fine and taste good. If you do want to bake, do it the day or two before.
Keeping all this in mind will help you enjoy the holiday without too much stress, after all, it's your holiday too!
