Keeping It Together on Thanksgiving Day

Having people over Thanksgiving Day?  Feeling a bit overwhelmed by agreeing to host the family this year?  If you spend just a little extra time today and tomorrow, you’ll be ready to relax and enjoy your company.

Today, the Tuesday before Thanksgiving is the ideal day to make sure you have all ingredients on hand (and if you don’t have a menu yet, well, don’t despair-- just hurry and get that order in at the gourmet grocery!).  It’s the day to make sure that those food assignments you parceled out last week are, indeed, going to show up.  It’s the day to pull out the right number of dishes, serving pieces, and linens – if you are missing anything, there’s still time to borrow a place setting from your sister.  It’s the day to make that pumpkin cheesecake and roast the chestnuts for the stuffing.  Prepare those dishes that can be made a few days ahead.  And, today is the day to make sure the house is clean.  If it’s not, just do a quick pick-up, wipe-down, and vacuum.  It’ll do.  Oh, and if the turkey isn’t defrosting yet, you better head to the store to buy a fresh bird.

The day before Thanksgiving is the day to set your table and, if you are serving buffet-style, set up the sideboard.  Arrange serving dishes how you will want them set for dinner.  Then, take the serving spoon (or tongs or fork…) for that dish, label its purpose with a tiny piece of masking tape on the back, and lay the spoon down where the dish will be.  All organized, and no scrambling at dinnertime when the peas have no spoon.  The day before is also the ideal day to finish as much food prep as possible, so come morning it’s just a matter of roasting the turkey, tossing the salad, and heating up the mashed potato casserole.  If you planned well and passed out food assignments covering everything but the turkey, take a few minutes and create a Thanksgiving soundtrack for dinner, including favorites from each family member.  Then play Guess Who Loves This Song during dinner.

Just remember, Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy each other’s company, to take the time to be grateful for all we are given.  The only thing needed for a perfect Thanksgiving is a grateful heart and people to share the Thanksgiving spirit with.  Those burned orange rolls will be the hilarious story next year.  No shame in that.