Tips for a Successful Thanksgiving Party!

With Thanksgiving approaching quickly, you may be finalizing your dinner menu and preparing your grocery list. Below are some tips to help you throw a smooth and seamless Thanksgiving dinner party!

1. Make sure you give your turkey enough time to thaw. Depending on the size of your turkey, you’ll want to make sure you take it out of the freezer early, but not too early. As a rule of thumb, expect about 5 pounds to defrost every 24 hours. For example, if you have a 10 pound turkey, you’ll want to give it at least 2 days to thaw out.
2. Prepping little details before hand can help you when things start to get crazy in the kitchen! Unload your dishwasher in the morning so you can load as you go when the dishes start to pile up. Turn your furnace down several degrees before you start cooking, your home will heat up fast when you turn your oven on and your guests begin to arrive.
3. Consider buying some premade store bought items or seeing if guests can bring any side dishes to lighten your load. If you’re making a full Thanksgiving meal, your time or kitchen space may not allow you to make everything homemade. Decide what items you’d like to make from scratch, and what items you can buy frozen or premade. Your guests may even want to chip in and bring side dishes from home!
4. Time everything correctly while you’re cooking. When you’re making your list of what you will serve, be sure to take into consideration how much time it will take for everything to cook. You wouldn’t want to start making your mashed potatoes before putting the turkey in the oven! Consider making some items in a Crock-Pot, that way it will stay warm all day.

Thanksgiving is a great time to spend time with friends and family, and reflect on all that you are grateful for. Whether you are hosting your own Thanksgiving or just attending, we hope that you have a wonderful holiday season!