It’s hard to believe Thanksgiving is around the corner! Worry not, my turkey loving friends! I have the perfect Thanksgiving timeline & tips that will help you pull off a crowd pleasing and stress-free Thanksgiving!
Every year, I write a post about Thanksgiving Prep. It seems to be a very stressful holiday because of all the cooking & baking that comes with it. It’s actually one of my favorite holidays, simply because it’s a time to be with friends and family and soak up all of the blessings in our lives. Even if life isn’t going your way, or you find yourself in a low season (we all have those from time to time), counting our blessings is the easiest way to shift our perspective!
In this post I will share my favorite recipes and also give you some tools to pull off the perfect Thanksgiving!
2 Weeks In Advance:
1.Nail down the menu and make an ingredient/grocery list.
2.Assign dishes to other guests. Pro-tip: I like to assign things that have to be baked to save on my oven space. That way, the guest brings them already cooked and I only potentially need to warm the dish up (a veggie, a casserole, a drink, a dessert).
3.Plan an easy app that only needs assembling (charcuterie is my go-to)
4.Plan a festive cocktail that you can whip up the night before and keep in the fridge.
Set the Mood:
I’m BIG on ambiance. When guests come in, I like to have some instrumental Christmas music playing, have a drink and apps out for them to snack on. That way, as soon as they walk in the door, they feel welcomed and comfortable. Have a clear and designated space for jackets (assign this job to hubby or a kid).
The Timeline:
The Menu:
This is the moment we’ve been waiting for! I have a pretty consistent menu for Thanksgiving. This is NOT the time to test new recipes on people. I’ve hosted Thanksgiving for nine years now, and I know what works. So, here is my menu:
Cran-Apple Relish (easy one to assign out)
Sausage Stuffing (Everyone’s fav dish. I PROMISE!! These Chestnuts are the secret ingredient)
Buttermilk Biscuits (omit cheese)
Greens (I’m not a green bean casserole girl, so I usually assign out roasted brussels, green beans, or broccoli rabe)
Salad (something simple and fresh with a lemon vinaigrette to combat all the heavy food)
Mashed Potatoes (I use milk and not heavy cream. This POTATO RICER will change your life. These can be made ahead in the morning and warmed over a double boiler when ready to serve)
Sweet Potatoes (I usually assign this out. Some sort of sweet potato casserole with marshmallows is my fav)
Dessert & Coffee (a harvest, apple, or pumpkin pie are some of my favs)
Cinnamon Butter (I make this for biscuits — 1.5 sticks salted butter, 1 tsp cinnamon, 1/4 brown sugar, MIX)
Well, friends…. there you have it! The perfect, stress-free Thanksgiving! If reading this post has you sweating, take a breath and simplify. Assign out every dish if you have to. The bottom line is, create a space that is warm and inviting. Now, pour yourself a glass of wine (or coffee if you’re reading this in the morning), pump up the christmas classics, and get to planning!
xoxo Emily
