Heather says:
Today there are three things to do. First, if you’re hosting Thanksgiving dinner it’s time to decide: who, when, and where.
Sometimes work schedules just don’t agree with the holiday calendar sometimes family obligations override how we would like to celebrate. Don’t forget many people would enjoy a Thanksgiving gathering on the following Saturday or Sunday. This year we’ll be having our Thanksgiving dinner on Sunday.
Sit down with pen and paper and decide where and what time dinner will be served. Create a tentative guest list that notes any allergies or dietary restrictions. It’s easier to plan around a gluten or nut allergy than it is to rework a menu.
Before things get crazy look at your guest list. Do you have enough chairs and place settings? Are you serving a casual enough meal that sitting on the floor and using Chinette works? No? Party rental stores often allow chair, china, and glassware rental in lots much smaller than you’d imagine. I’ve rented as few as ten chairs in the past for parties. Reserve what you need ASAP.
Your last to-do? Find the dining room table. Hey, don’t look guilty, we all do it from time to time. Horizontal surfaces are a magnet for paperwork and odds and ends.
Clear it off today. Yep, that means getting rid of the Halloween candy, too.
Give it a good polish. If you have placed any leaves or extensions in storage, pull them out and check for spiders or other unexpected friends. If it doesn’t cause problems go ahead and install them. Otherwise, place them in a convenient location, um you may want to write that location down.
How many of you are considering hosting Thanksgiving for the first time? What intimidates you the most about the event?
I’d love to know where people store their massive turkey while it thaws. I have ample deep freeze space but very limited fridge.
Also menu planning as far as when to put what in the oven so that everything is warm at serving time?
Thankfully we have an old refrigerator in our garage. That gets utilized around the holidays. Other people use a cooler full of ice to make room in their refrigerator for the turkey.
I normally pick up my turkey from the store a day or two before and stash it in the fridge or with plenty of ice in one of those big orange drink coolers (which is also what I use to brine the turkey in)
I use an electric cooler, that works as secondary fridge space over the holidays. Love your centerpiece? ::giggle::
This year it's my turn to host Christmas, and it means a ton of family from out of town. I'm less worried about Christmas dinner than I am about what I'm going to feed them the rest of the time. My goal is to cook ahead as much as possible, so I can enjoy visiting instead of toiling away in the kitchen. Refrigerator management is always a trick, and I love the cooler suggestion. Thanks! P.S. I think your centerpiece is the only good use for candy corn.
Amy, I am 100% with you. The minions on the other hand nibbled away at it over the next few weeks.
I visisted your previous years "count down to turkey day" as I did my first (Canadian) thanksgiving for my brand new In-Laws this October!
Maybe next year I'll figure out how to have separate feeds or maybe I'll just do a newsletter, so my friends to the North can have it for their holiday, as well.
I'd love to have someone who'd be willing to let me know about any special traditions so I could make sure they were included.
I'm wanting to do a Thanksgiving the weekend after, but am not sure who would be able to come. Better get those invites out now…