Tips and Tricks for a Stress-Free Thanksgiving Meal
Thanksgiving 2021 is right around the corner, and for as many of us who are excited for the big day, there are just as many hosts stressing over all the details of getting such a big meal on the table to satisfy each family member. This year, reclaim the joy of the holiday – remember when the thought of Thanksgiving dinner left you drooling, anxiously awaiting the food coma, not anxious about the day itself? With these tips and tricks, you’ll be ahead of the game and ready to play football, snack on apps, and sip wine all day long with a smile on your face.
First thing’s first; make your shopping list and do your shopping ahead of time. Think about each dish and prepare it in your head from start to finish. Write down each ingredient as you go so you don’t forget the all-critical finishing touches. Heading to the grocery store today? Pick up those nonperishables and start asking the bakery for day old bread to stick in the freezer until you are ready to make your stuffing.
Speaking of stuffing, get that going the day before. Prepare it in an aluminum disposable tray and store it in a cooler overnight so it doesn’t have to take up space in your fridge. Break it out before your meal and reheat it. You can also make your cranberry sauce, appetizer trays, and other Thanksgiving side dishes a day or two ahead of time.
There is one rule for appetizers – keep it simple. There is nothing wrong with buying a premade charcuterie or veggie platter at the store. If you do want to make the platter yourself, incorporate the slicing into your meal prep the days before. Are you having cucumber in your salad tonight? Great, slice up some extra while you’re at it and put it in a Tupperware until you’re ready to make up the plate. Already have your food processor out? Add a few onions to have them diced and ready to be added to the veggie dip or anything else you may need them for the day of – you get the idea. An even easier trick, have someone else bring the apps.
Another thing that’s not worth overcomplicating – the alcohol. Sure, you could go to the trouble of making a signature cocktail, but then you’d be playing bartender all day while also trying to cook. Go for the basics with wine and beer. And if you know your guests prefer liquor, then by all means set it out with a few standard mixers but leave it to them to make their own drinks. Or better yet, delegate the role of bartender to a friend or family member upon arrival.
On that note, delegate, delegate, delegate! You have an entire house full of (mostly) competent adults – let them help you! No professional kitchen operates with just one chef; they have all the supporting roles that make the magic happen. You should too! Have the kids help with mashing potatoes, ask your jovial cousin to greet everyone at the door, and have the wine sippers chop whatever needs chopping while they stand in your kitchen. Trust us, you are not the only one who can prep green beans or set the table. And don’t stop asking for help once the food is ready. Kindly assign roles for cleanup to help ease the burden.
On the day of, use all of those dusty kitchen tools you have hidden deep in your cabinets. Break out the crockpot and use it as a warmer for your mashed potatoes. You can make them earlier on (even the night before) and free up valuable stove space. Another great warming tool is a thermos – gravy can be made earlier on and then kept in a thermos. Just pour into a gravy boat before serving.
And don’t forget about your microwave! Sweet potatoes can be prepped in a fraction of the time if started out in the microwave. You can also steam green beans as a side in about 5 minutes or soften garlic to add to your mashed potatoes. On the flip side, break out your coolers to keep food fresh and safe until you are ready to prepare it. That way you don’t have to waste time playing fridge Tetris.
Did you overcook your turkey last year? Dry turkey is probably a host’s biggest thanksgiving fear, but did you know you can revive dry turkey with chicken broth? First, slice up the bird (or better yet, delegate someone to do it). While that’s happening, heat up some chicken broth in the microwave. Once both are ready, pour the broth over the dry turkey. This will help add flavor and moisture to the meat – it’s also a good trick for slices that have cooled to room temperature. Voila, perfectly cooked turkey (even if you did get a bit distracted while rolling the croissants).
To help your cooking go smoothly, print out (or photocopy) all your recipes ahead of time. Using painter’s tape, you can tape each recipe to a kitchen cabinet where you can easily check off steps and write notes for each dish as you go. You can even tape these up in the order you want to prep them to streamline things.
Lastly, unless you really love baking, don’t make dessert. Guests are undoubtedly going to ask you what they should bring, tell them dessert! Whatever they bring will likely be more thought out and better executed than whatever pumpkin pie you hastily threw together in your spare time while simultaneously prepping for the main meal.
There is no need for you to take on every single task on Thanksgiving Day. Thanksgiving is all about being thankful for the wonderful people and gifts in your life and sharing time and a delicious meal together. Make sure you get to partake in the festivities of the day as much as everyone else. It takes a village to feed a village, so call on the support of your friends and family to share in the tasks of pulling off a delicious Thanksgiving meal.
Phoenix Mover is thankful for our amazing customers, team, and community! From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving!
