Don’t be intimidated by the thought of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Here are some useful tips to help you host a stress-free holiday meal:
If possible, cook the turkey ahead of time and allow it to thoroughly cool before carving. You can store it in your refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to prepare the meal. If you don’t have the time to cook it ahead, buy a pre-cooked turkey and heat it according to the package directions.
Prepare as much food as possible ahead of time and store it in your refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to serve. This includes making the side dishes, such as mashed potatoes, gravy, and vegetables.
Prepare most of your desserts beforehand so you’ll only need to bake the pies at the last minute.
If you’re worried about keeping your oven space clear for preparing hot dishes, cook some of the side dishes ahead of time and reheat them when it’s time to serve. For example, make mashed potatoes or green bean casserole up to 2 days in advance; freeze uncooked casserole until needed, then bake as usual.
If you have a large group to serve, consider using disposable serving utensils Buy paper plates and utensils in solid colors so they don’t clash with your tablecloth or placemats.
Inform guests of any dietary restrictions or preferences ahead of time so they can plan accordingly.
Feeding a crowd? Consider hiring professional help to prepare and serve the meal, or ask friends or family members if they’d be interested in helping out.
If you’re hosting at your home, make sure it’s clean and ready to entertain before guests arrive. You may want to remove personal items that don’t go along with the holiday spirit, such as children’s toys or your favorite chair. You may also want to remove fragile items or other items that are easily breakable.
The host of the dinner gets to be stressed free with these tips!