Tips for Hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner Party
Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner party doesn't have to be daunting. With a little planning and preparation, the day can go off without a hitch... and the hosts can preserve their sanity.
- PLAN AHEADDo as much ahead of time as possible, from decorating to setting tables to menu planning and preparation. Chop vegetables, bake pies and prepare other desserts before the big day. Some desserts can be made well in advance and frozen, then thawed the day before your event. If the dinner is potluck, decide what will be served and contact guests to let them know what to bring.
Do all housekeeping and decorating - except last-minute tidying and maybe the addition of fresh flowers - ahead of time. Engage family members or friends to help with the last-minute tasks, if needed.
- KEEP IT SIMPLEBuffet dinners are probably easiest and can still have a formal feel. Set a nice buffet table with decorations and elegant fabric (or nice tablecloths used as drapes). Use glass, china or silver trays for serving and nicer serving utensils (like the serving spoons from your "good" flatware). Serve the meal on your best china and flatware. For a more casual event, adjust the dinnerware accordingly. The choice is uniquely yours.
Set up a beverage station ahead of time. Have coffee ready to brew during the meal (or just prior if your guests like coffee with the main course). You can set out drink-ware, sugar, lemon, spoons for stirring, and more ahead of time and add ice and cream at the last minute.
Either set your table completely the night before, with plates, flatware, and even drink-ware, if desired. Or, you can leave the plates stacked at the beginning of the buffet line, along with flatware rolled in napkins, and drink-ware at the beverage station.
Designate a separate area for desserts, and set a stack of nice dessert plates, forks and spoons at this station.
- CALL FOR HELPAsk a friend, spouse, or family member to assist you in greeting guests and serving drinks. If your dinner party is very large, you may need one person at the door, one to help with drinks, and another to assist you in the kitchen. You do not have to handle everything personally! Don't be afraid to engage the assistance of others - most likely, they will be more than glad to lend a hand.
Again, plan ahead. Think about the last-minute tasks that will need to be performed. Could someone be in charge of stirring the gravy and watching the dinner rolls while you spoon up the vegetables and mash the potatoes? Could someone else carve the turkey and slice the desserts? Figure out what needs to be done, then delegate!
- CLEAN IT ALL UP!Clean-up after a dinner party can be another big chore. Start by making sure your dishwasher is empty and ready for service. Fill your kitchen sink with hot soapy water and place any dishes that are not dishwasher safe in the sink to soak. If you have two sinks, you might want to soak plates and flatware in one, and pots and pans in another. Or, if you have an oversized cooking pot, it can be filled with hot soapy water to hold small pots and pans for soaking. Once guests have departed, washing these dishes will not take long at all.
If you are comfortable with letting guests help with clean-up, there will probably be several who will offer to help wash and dry dishes, and the whole chore will be done in short order.
Be sure you have plenty of containers, foil, and plastic wrap on hand to accommodate leftovers and get them put away quickly and safely. Make sure your refrigerator is well-organized and has empty space to hold the leftovers that require refrigeration.
If your dinner is informal, you might want to skip using "the good stuff" altogether and use paper and plastic dishes and drinkware to make clean-up even quicker and easier. Be sure to have a large trash can on hand lined with a big bag to receive all disposables.
- HAVE FUN!Getting everything done and keeping your sanity can be a challenge. Don't overdo, and don't under-plan! Keep things simple, ask for help, and stay calm. If you are stressed, you will not enjoy your party... and guests may sense this. After all, if you can't stay relaxed and have fun at your own party, what is the point of having one? Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate with friends and family, and that includes the hosts!
