Here are some suggestions and tips that I use to keep things together so I can enjoy the holidays.
Keep organized with Checklists
• Make a timetable. Include time to shop, prepare foods, set the table and decorate.
• Post a refrigerator calendar for an at-a-glance reminder of key steps leading up to the big day. CLICK HERE for a great site that can help you with your Thanksgiving timetable so you are not running around crazy.
• Shop ahead of time. Buy everything you can except the perishables. Be sure to pick these up the day before, or the day of the party to conserve fridge space.
Realize that it’s OK Not to Make Everything from Scratch
• Don’t do all the cooking. A dash through the supermarket can be really helpful. Grab a bag of salad, fresh bread and dessert from the bakery. There’s even jarred turkey gravy. Once everything is served on your own dishes, it will all look and taste like homemade, without all the stress.
• If guests offer to bring something, let them. A contribution of bread or rolls, a side dish or a favorite dessert is one less thing you have to worry about.
But if You Do Like to Make Everything from Scratch, Start Early
• If you do the cooking yourself, plan to do as much as possible ahead of time, to avoid that last minute rush.
• Enlist the kids to wash vegetables, roll out pie dough and set the table. Keep them busy with craft ideas that make great decorations for the holiday table.
Plan an Interesting Menu
• Plan your menu early. Choose foods and recipes that complement each other with color, texture and flavor and add variety by serving some hot dishes and cold ones.
• Select your recipes and read them ahead of time. Check your cupboards for supplies and make a shopping list. Shop early for the staples and non-perishables, and a day or two ahead for the perishables and last-minute additions.
Serve Buffet or Sit-Down
• For a family-style or sit-down meal, assign one person to help you clear and serve. Set up a sideboard or table for the large platters and dishes to avoid a cluttered table.
• To serve dinner buffet style, stack large dinner plates at the start of the buffet table and put the silverware and napkins at the end. This way your hands are free to fill up the plates. Be sure to have plenty of seats planned for laptop dining, and have someone pass a tray of drinks so guests do not have to juggle plates and glasses.
• Formal or family-style meals are traditional, but they also require a lot more space. If your table is tight, a buffet may be a good alternative.
Set Aside Some Time for Yourself
• Before guests arrive, take some time for a quick nap, bubble bath or to enjoy a favorite magazine. Just 20 minutes can mean the difference between looking frantic and feeling fabulous.
By Shannan
