Thanksgiving Hacks - Part ONE
Tips & Tricks to take the stress out of hosting the holidays
Thanksgiving was always my mom’s holiday – a full turkey & ham dinner with all of the trimmings. I remember her working hard from sunrise until dinnertime to make sure everything was perfect and ready at the same time. She enjoyed it, but she was exhausted by the time the meal was ready. I’m exhausted just thinking about it.
What if I could show you a better way?
Please know that I am NOT a trained chef. My mom loved to cook, and most of my memories of her begin and end in the kitchen. My love for cooking was created with Mom, and I’ve been cooking and baking since I was given a “Betty Crocker Boys & Girls Cookbook” when I was ten. Recently, I’ve “adjusted” my approach to Thanksgiving. Here are a few of my hacks…
LET’S RELAX & HAVE SOME FUN. Is Martha Stewart coming for dinner? Of course not, so RELAX. It’s not fun for you - or anyone near you - if you’re stressed about everything being perfect. Perfection is overrated. You’re making memories here, so let’s make GOOD memories.
ASK FOR HELP. A couple of weeks in advance, assign tasks to family members – cleaning, setting the table, etc. Please do NOT just say, “clean your room” or “run the sweeper”. Give them a brief checklist, (or a chart where they can put stickers as tasks are finished) so they know exactly what you’d like to have them do in each room. Maybe they can earn a special treat or activity after the holiday as a celebration of a job well done.
IMPORTANT TO NOTE - If they DO THEIR BEST but it’s not up to your standards, just smile, say “thank you, you’ve been a big help” and WALK AWAY. Do not redo. Do not correct them or get upset. I guarantee that your guests have messier houses than yours, and they won’t notice a thing. Be sure to compliment your helpers in front of your guests for how hard they worked.
COOK AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE IN DISPOSABLE PANS. This eliminates scrubbing pots & pans when it’s time to clean up. The big box stores sell foil ½ pans (approx. 10” x 12”) in packs of 12, and they’re sturdier than the ones at the grocery store. They are perfect for casseroles, dressing, & vegetables. These pans are also great for sending leftovers home with guests.
IF YOU COOK, YOU DON’T DO THE CLEANUP. What else is there to say? I think it’s brilliant. You have been working hard to create a special day for everyone. Someone else can do the dishes while you enjoy a cup of coffee and a second piece of pie. You may direct where things should go, but you may NOT TOUCH ANYTHING. If they put things away in the wrong places, you can have a scavenger hunt after everyone goes home.
KEEP THE LITTLE ONES OUT OF HARM’S WAY. Before the big day, ask an adult or some older children to supervise smaller children in another part of the house while you’re putting the finishing touches on dinner. There’s enough danger and chaos in the kitchen without worrying about small children underfoot.
Is anyone in your family crafty? Have them set up a space (far from the kitchen) where the children can make table decorations. (NO GLITTER!!! Trust me on this!) Be sure to have them tell the children that it’s a surprise for you, so they don’t try to come & show you what they’re doing. When they’re finished, they can add their decorations to the table. This does two things – it creates a new holiday tradition, and it also keeps the kids safely out of the kitchen while also making them part of your special day.
Next up… Part TWO… “Wouldn’t you like to be a PREPPER, too? Learn what foods can be prepped days or weeks in advance. You might be surprised….