Like I said before, Halloween is over and Thanksgiving is fast approaching. They don’t all this season, The Holiday Season for nothin’. Halloween leads into Thanksgiving that leads into Christmas that leads into New Years. I’m not telling you anything you don’t know, so let’s get on with it ‘eh?
Thanksgiving dinner is probably one of the most stressful parts of the season. Preparing a dinner for 20 is no easy feat on a normal day, but there are high expectations that come with Thanksgiving. Everything has to be as Grandma made it- made from scratch and delicious- and if there’s not enough food, there’s no running out to the store to buy extra.
The Kitchn has given us 10 things to do before Thanksgiving to help your day run a little smoother.
Prepare Your Kitchen for Thanksgiving
- Check your cooking and serving gear: Think through the things that you’re going to make on Thanksgiving. Do you need a roasting pan, potato ricer, or more pie dishes? (Check out this list of tools that are often needed on Thanksgiving.) On the serving side, do you have enough platters, bowls, and serving spoons? If you don’t have everything you need, try to borrow them. Also, make sure everything you need is clean. Dusty serving-ware can be a last-minute hitch.
- Check your dishes, flatware, and glassware: If you’re hosting the dinner, check your dishes and silverware. Do you have enough? (Don’t forget about the dessert!) Again, borrowing is a good option here. Ask a guest to bring a stack of plates or forks, and make sure they’re returned washed and gleaming. Glasses are another item it’s easy to overlook. You need enough glasses for wine, but also for water and any other beverages you would like to serve. Again, make sure everything is clean.
- Make a plan for the table: Decide on how you want to decorate the table (if at all) and gather anything you need. Do you have candles to fit the candlesticks?What will hold the flowers you bought? Do you want to use a tablecloth? Find it now, and make sure it’s clean. You really don’t want to be looking for a tablecloth on Thanksgiving morning!
- Clean out the fridge and freezer: I like to do this as early as practically possible — usually about a week before Thanksgiving. You’re going to have a lot of ingredients, and probably dishes you made ahead. Get your fridge and freezer ship-shape. This is a good opportunity to eat up leftovers and clean out the freezer.
- Rearrange oven racks: This is a last-minute item, but good to think about. Most ovens need a little rearrangement to fit a big turkey. What’s the best arrangement of oven racks? Can you strategize to fit the turkey and a row or two of casserole dishes? Move your oven racks and check as you go to make sure your pie and casserole dishes fit. Do it the night before, not when you’re trying to get the bird into the oven.
Food to Make Ahead for Thanksgiving
- Rolls: Rolls can be made weeks ahead and frozen after baking, then warmed gently in foil just before eating.
- Cranberry sauce: Cranberry sauce can be made a week ahead and refrigerated, or several weeks ahead and frozen. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
- Turkey stock and gravy – I like to make a batch of turkey stock using wings and legs weeks ahead of the dinner, then use it to make a batch of backup gravy. Homemade turkey stock is also essential for good bread dressing, in my opinion. (But then, I’m obsessed with turkey stock.) Freeze any gravy or extra stock.
- Appetizers: Choose pre-dinner nibbles you can make ahead. For our menu, we suggest making gougères a few weeks ahead and freezing them. (You can bake them straight from the freezer.) You could also make a batch of roasted nuts and store them in an airtight container.
- Bread Stuffing/Dressing – I make my bread dressing one to two days ahead of time and refrigerate it unbaked. I bake it at the last minute before serving.
I hope these tips help make your Thanksgiving a little less stressful and a whole lot more enjoyable!
Happy Holidays Ya’ll!
The Tub Connection
http://www.thetubconnection.com/
http://www.thetubconnection.com/tubs.html
http://www.thetubconnection.com/bathroom-vanities.html
Leave a Reply