It's almost here. Soon we will be gathering around the table with anywhere from a few to a room full of family and friends to take time to appreciate each other and all we have in our lives. It is a time to be grateful and to recognize all the goodness around us. But sometimes, the stress of trying to make everything perfect, to make sure everyone enjoys the day, to make sure the food is delicious gets the best of us. The following are twenty tips to make your Thanksgiving Day stress-free. As always, use those tips that are relative to your situation and ignore those that are not. And most of all, have fun and enjoy the company of your family and friends.
Remember: it is just a meal. If you have hosted Thanksgiving dinner before, you are an old pro. You know that even if the turkey is dry, everyone comes again next year anyway. If the potatoes are lumpy, your guests return next Thanksgiving. There are not any life and death decisions when making your Thanksgiving dinner. Remember, a meal is remembered for the feeling it brings, from sharing time, stories and laughs with those around you.
Make a plan. Sit down this week, if you haven't already done so and make a plan. How many guests do you expect? Are there any food allergies you need to be aware of? What is on the menu? Where is everyone going to sit? Planning out the details of your dinner can help you feel more in control and less panicky.
Make a grocery list. Heading off to the grocery store can be a fiasco without a list in hand. Even if this is your tenth time cooking Thanksgiving dinner, if you are anything like me, you'll come home without at least one important ingredient. Take the time to write out everything you need, check your cabinets to see what you already have and go to the store prepared to come home with everything on your list.
Shop ahead of time. By the weekend before Thanksgiving, grocery stores are busy. With each passing day, they get busier. Instead of being frustrated by long lines and wasting time, shop at off-peak hours or shop early. If you don't have time, take a lunch hour to shop for all the non-perishables on your list so you only have to pick up items that need refrigeration later. The more you get done early, the less rushed you will feel later.
Think about what you can make ahead of time. Are there foods on your menu, such as side-dishes or desserts that can be made the weekend before Thanksgiving and kept in your refrigerator? Free up some time to spend with friends and family on Thanksgiving Day rather than spending the time in the kitchen making every thing at the last minute.
Test new dishes out on your family. You saw a fantastic recipe you want to try out for Thanksgiving dinner but you've never made it before. Take the time to test the recipe before serving it at the Thanksgiving meal. Find out what your family thinks. Be prepared for whether it is great or just ho-hum. You'll save yourself from being disappointed if it doesn't turn out the way you are imagining it.
