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The holidays can be stressful, but they don’t have to be. You can actually streamline Thanksgiving organization and get more organized than every before. There is a lot to do this time of year. There are a lot of schedules, people, recipes, and more to juggle. At times, it can be overwhelming.
Get organized! Write everything down. Make a plan that you can stick with. You can print out some fun and festive printables like the ones under this paragraph or you can use Adobe Acrobat Reader as an app for your phone and digitally keep up with everything that needs to be done. Just download a simple pdf printable into Adobe Acrobat Reader on your phone, and you can keep track of schedules, lists, menu, etc. all at your fingertips. Best of all… it is only $1.89.
A good plan starts with a guest list. Start with invitations to friends and family. Find out who will be able to come and how many people they will be bringing. Then make special dietary restriction notes as needed. Diabetics, vegans, people with allergies, and more will need to have special considerations when planning the menu.
Next, plan your menu. Doing this early in the process ensures that you will have time to thaw the turkey, look up recipes, and determine the best time to start cooking each food so they all are ready to be served at the same time. Don’t be afraid to print out more than one menu page so that you can brainstorm, change your mind, and finally come to decision.
Are you going to decorate for the holidays? Some people like to decorate early in November so their decorations have already been up for a while. Others may be scrambling at the last minute. Make a plan and stick to it.
You’ve already planned your menu. Now, you can pull your recipes whether they are your own, mine, or from the internet. As you pull your recipes, write down a grocery list so you have everything you could need. It’s not just groceries. Will you need disposable plates or napkins? Maybe a centerpiece? Write it all down. What dishes or utensils will you use?
Grocery shopping is the next step. Make sure that you buy your frozen turkey early enough to properly thaw it if you are cooking turkey. A frozen turkey needs to thaw in the refrigerator for at least one day for every 4 lbs. A 12-lb turkey would need about 3 days to thaw. Don’t try to cook a frozen bird. Be wise and plan ahead. Grocery shopping earlier also means that you could run back to the store if absolutely necessary.
Once again, don’t forget to thaw your turkey or anything else that may need thawing. This is a good place to mention multi-step recipes that may require more than one day to cook. Some foods may need to be marinaded in advance. Cool whip should go in the fridge. Gelatins need time to set. Plan in advance so you know what foods need to be started when.
Cooking doesn’t have to be the most difficult part. Use Instant pots or slow cookers for stress-free cooking. Use store-bought dough or even entire desserts or side items to save time and stress. Splurge a little! Buy something you normally wouldn’t.
You can also take a tip from my mom who finds Thanksgiving cooking least stressful when everyone pitches in. Cousin Nick makes the turkey. Aunt Pat makes the rice side dish. Her daughter brings a charcuterie board. Everyone contributes, and no one is stressed.
Wow! You’ve been working hard, but all this hard work is bound to pay off with a delicious and successful Thanksgiving meal shared with the people you love most. Have a Happy Thanksgiving.