13 Tips To Get Through Thanksgiving In One Piece

So Thanksgiving is fast approaching and you're hosting dinner for fourteen people (and the other five who will inevitably show up on short notice). How the heck can you be expected to serve an amazing meal for all those people, including your vegetarian nephew and your weird uncle who eats all the shrimp cocktail, while also ensuring your dining room looks amazing and making sure Auth Ruth doesn't sit anywhere near Grandpa George? 

I'm here to help! 

1. Plan ahead!

Spending some time in the weeks before the event to figure out who's coming, how much food is required, and what tasks need to get done can save you a ton of stress when the day comes. 

2. Prep ahead as much as you can.

The biggest time sink of cooking a large meal is the prep. Get a head start by spending an afternoon in the weeks prior, pre-cutting and mixing the ingredients for your most involved dishes. That way on turkey day you can just throw everything into the pots and pans without all the slicing and dicing. 

3. Make your gravy ahead of time.

What if you bring out that beautiful bird on the big day, only to discover that there aren't nearly enough drippings for a decent gravy? Don't risk a last-minute scramble. You can make and freeze gravy ahead of time by roasting up some turkey legs. 

4. Freeze fruit pies to bake later.

Pies can be prepared and frozen ahead of time — meaning on the day of, you just need to bake it. Fruit or berry pies work best. For custard pies, you will need to thaw them very slowly, or just make and freeze the crust, leaving the filling for the big day.

5. Set the table ahead of time.

If you have a formal dining room you don't use every day, you could even do this a few days ahead, covering the table with a sheet to prevent dust from collecting in the interim.

6. Have your serving and cooking dishes ready the night before.

Don't try to find that one gravy boat you use twice a year in the hour before people arrive. Collect everything the night before, label it and stack everything so those serving plates are easily accessible on the big day.

7. Brine your turkey the night before — in a cooler!

Brining a turkey not only allows you to add a ton of extra flavor, but will guarantee a juicy bird without the hassle of remembering to baste it regularly while it cooks. Using a cooler filled with ice will save you fridge space. 

8. Use a probe thermometer.

Another way to save yourself micromanaging the turkey is to invest in a probe thermometer. Set the target temp and stick the probe into the bird. When it reaches the correct internal temperature, the alarm will sound — and you're ready to eat!

9. Wash enough potatoes for an army.

You can wash most root veggies in your dishwasher, just make sure you only turn it on for a cold rinse cycle. 

10. Keep your mashed potatoes warm in a slow cooker.

This way you can get them ready before everything else, without worrying about them getting cold.

11. Encourage guests to make the clean-up easier.

Something as simple as a spare platter where they can deposit dirty utensils in one place can make the post-party clean-up so much easier for you.

12. Scheduling issues? Go buffet style!

If everyone is having trouble agreeing on a time to eat, skip the formal sit down and lay everything out for an open house buffet. People can come and eat as their schedule allows.

13. Early arrivals? Put them to work.

Don't let them just barge in and demand your attention. Instead, give them an easy job like carrying dishes out to the table as they're ready, or greeting the guests who actually arrive on time.

If you're attending someone else's dinner this year, be sure to TAGthem on this article. They'll appreciate the thoughtfulness!