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Planning Thanksgiving Dinner - Tips To Make Your Holiday Easy
Planning Thanksgiving dinner and preparing it can be very stressful,
especially if you have a large family or are expecting a number
of guests. In order to make Thanksgiving more enjoyable for yourself
as well as your guests, some advance planning and preparation will
work wonders.
Try these favorite Thanksgiving Dinner Recipes for your celebration. |
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Use these tips to make your holiday a stress-free, memorable occasion:
10 Days before Thanksgiving
A week to 10 days before Thanksgiving, make your guest list. If
there are any friends or family members you have not yet contacted,
do so now to give them and yourself plenty of time to prepare. If
any of your guests will be bringing a special dish, add it to your
menu.
If you will be cooking turkey, decide upon fresh, frozen, or smoked.
Make sure you have room in your refrigerator and oven. You should
plan on one to one 1/2 pounds per person and even a bit larger if
you want plenty of leftovers.
Deciding upon your final menu should be completed at least a week
before the big day. Consider the number of people you will be entertaining
and if you have children on your guest list, try to plan a couple
of special dishes or treats especially for them.
The Week of Thanksgiving
The week of Thanksgiving is the time to stock up on necessary items
from the grocery store. You can make certain items in advance such
as bread or rolls and freeze them until Thanksgiving morning. Also
make sure you have supplies such a napkins, cups, etc.
The Days before Thanksgiving
A couple of days prior to Thanksgiving you can prepare a few items
in advance to save time on the big day.
Things like cranberry sauce or relish can be stored in your refrigerator
for a few days. You may want to cut up onions, celery, and any like
items and store them in plastic ware to save time on Thanksgiving
morning.
Make sure you have everything on your shopping list in your kitchen
at least 2-3 days before Thanksgiving morning.
If you have children, involve them in the planning. They can help
organize games for the younger guests, assist with decorations,
and can even help out in the kitchen if you desire.
If you have purchased a frozen turkey, take it out of the freezer
and place it in the refrigerator 3 days prior to cooking to give
it plenty of time to thaw. If you will need to iron linens, etc.,
do so a couple of days before Thanksgiving to cut down on the amount
of work you will have to do the night before the big day.
Thanksgiving Morning
On Thanksgiving morning, make sure you have your thawed turkey
stuffed (if necessary) and ready to place in the oven. Side dishes
should be ready to cook or place in your oven and it would be a
good idea to have desserts prepared the night before to save time
and frustration on Thanksgiving Day. Any items you have frozen should
be taken out of the freezer the night before so they can be heated
easily.
With some advance planning and preparation, Thanksgiving can be
a stress-free (almost) occasion and you will have plenty of time
to enjoy the company of friends and family.
By Angela Tyler
About the Author: Visit http://www.HomeOrganizationHelp.com for tips to help battle clutter and disorganization. And, if you
like to spend as little time in the kitchen as possible, visit http://www.FreeQuickRecipes.com -- for Mothers, and others. Source: www.isnare.com
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