Isn’t Thanksgiving great? The wonderful aromas that fill the home. The dining table filled to compacity with warm, delicious food. Family gathered to share in the bountiful feast, with laughter and joy. And then there’s mom slaving away in the kitchen to make it all happen. Feet sore and frazzled brain she is ready to sit down and relax.
We love Thanksgiving, and really it wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without all the food, but someone must prepare it. Whether it’s mom, grandma, dad, or whomever does the big day’s meal- it’s a ton of work. So how do we make it easier on ourselves?
Here are some tips that I hope will help the chef in the family have an easier and more enjoyable Thanksgiving.
Plan in Advance
Whenever I have people coming over for any occasion I plan way ahead. When it comes to grocery shopping for the big day it makes sense to make sure you have all you need in advance. Unless you love long lines and crowed stores, and the possibility that the ingredient you need will be sold out. For me, all that is just added stress that I would rather do without. This time of year is supposed to be enjoyable.
Planning takes out the stressful surprises that come when making multiple dishes. My first thanksgiving as a wife I made the rookie mistake of trying to cook a frozen turkey the day of Thanksgiving. I didn’t know you have to start defrosting that massive bird days prior. I won’t go into all the details of that stressful day, suffice to say there were a few frustrated tears. If I had just planned, I would have saved myself the stress and made the day so much more enjoyable.
Write It Down
When I say plan, I mean write down every food item you wish to have and then write down cooking times. When does the turkey need to go in? How long do the mashed potatoes take? Write down each food item and then you know which dish needs to be started first and which dish needs to be last. Turkey needs to be one of the first items, mashed potatoes one of the last, and so on.
Also, as an added bonus, those helping the chef can refer to the to do list, so they know what task comes next.
Cook Food in Advance
When you take time a week in advance to write down your menu you then know which foods you can accomplish prior to Thanksgiving. It helps to know which foods you can prepare a few days in advance, so they are out of the way when you are cooking on the big day.
One of these food items are rolls. Rolls are one of those things that are great to make in advance. They must rise and be shaped which takes time. Not to mention they take up space in the oven so having them baked and finished a couple days prior is a huge stress reliefer. Bake your soft rolls a couple days prior and then warm them in the oven a few minutes before the family sits down to dinner and you still have warm delicious rolls without worrying about it on Thanksgiving.
Most of those delicious dessert pies can be made in advance as well.
If your family loves cranberries with their turkey, have it already in that special dish in the fridge waiting for when you are ready to place it on the table. Little prep adds up in the end, whatever can be done a day or two before should be done to save you the day of.
Delegate the Duties
Again, this is where planning ahead helps in meal prep. Have your family help with this big meal they will be participating in by bringing food items. It frees up your oven for other items that need to be baked. Also, it helps with the mess in the kitchen, not so many dirty dishes.
Sometimes this doesn’t always work because family may be flying in, but family members can still, and should, help in the kitchen. Anybody can mash potatoes.
Having family or friends help in the kitchen can be a wonderful opportunity for quality time. My fondest childhood memories of Thanksgiving are not just of talking and laughing seated around a table, they are also of cooking and helping in the kitchen. My mom would talk to my grandma about us kids as she stirs the gravy. Or my dad carving the turkey on the counter while the kids watch, little bodies fidgeting while asking about the wish bone. Or hearing the “clink,” sound as my grandpa walks the perimeter of the table dropping ice cubes in each glass.
Having time like this makes Thanksgiving less of just a big meal we get to have once a year, and more a time that we build relationships and memories.
I hope these tips help you enjoy your Thanksgiving without the stress. Remember to ponder about those things that you are most grateful for as you gather your loved ones.
