Can you believe it’s time to shift into holiday planning already? Seriously, where did the time go?!
Thanksgiving is only 4 weeks away, and if you plan on hosting this year, it is time to start checking things off of your to-do list.
In an effort to stay organized, I decided to break up the holiday chores by week. That way, I know exactly what I need to do, and it doesn’t all seem overwhelming.
3 Weeks Before
Plan your menu. Decide which recipes you plan to make and make sure you can pull them all off {i.e. make sure you have the oven space and time}. Also, make sure you have everything you need to make the dinner. The first time I hosted a Thanksgiving, I had to go out and buy a roasting pan, baster, meat thermometer, etc.
Make a giant master grocery list. This will give you time to watch for sales, etc., if you find great deals on items on your list, go ahead and pick them up over the next few weeks. Any items that don’t go on sale, you can get the weekend before Thanksgiving.
Write down a list of all of the recipe preps you can do ahead of time.
If you order a free-range turkey, now is the time to reserve your bird. Send out invites, make phone calls, email, etc. your guest list. You will want to give everyone plenty of time to R.S.V.P. so you don’t waste money on unnecessary food.
Pull out your holiday decor {if you have some} and set it up.
2 Weeks Before
If you go potluck style, make sure to assign what your guests will bring now, so that you don’t include it in your planning.
It’s also a good time to go over your table settings. Do you have enough? Did some of your linens get ruined last year? Replace these all now, when stress level is low. If you do a centerpiece on your table, now is a great time to make it/buy it {unless it’s fresh flowers, of course}. The days right before the big show are always chaotic, might as well check what you can off the list now.
{Thanksgiving Turkey Cookies}
The Weekend Before
Time to do the grocery shopping. If you buy a frozen turkey, it’s best just to stick it in the fridge now so it will thaw by Thursday. You may have to make a final trip to the grocery store a little later in the week, because if you are like me, you will inevitably forget something, but at least the bulk of the shopping will be done.
Now is a good time to clean the house too. If you are planning on overnight guests, this might be a bit more work–make sure you have enough clean towels, etc.
Tuesday
You can make anything that can be chilled in the fridge today {think: cranberry sauce}. This will make the actual day of much less hectic.
Wednesday
By making Wednesday a full day, you will be able to actually enjoy your guests on Thursday. Start with a last minute dash to the grocery store. Grab anything you might have forgotten. You can also pick up fresh flowers if you are using them for your centerpiece.
Wash and chop onions, celery, etc. You can store them in the fridge until you need them tomorrow. You can even assemble your stuffing and store it in the fridge until tomorrow.
Bake pies and desserts. For pies {like apple}, best served warm, just warm them right before serving.
You can also make the dinner rolls today. Wrap them in foil tomorrow and rewarm them in the oven, if you’d like.
Set the table Wednesday night after dinner. I always make the kiddos eat at the bar on Thursday morning. That way, Thursday, all I have to do is cook and present the bird Martha Stewart style to my guests {on a big platter, wearing a dress and a smile–ha!}
If you serve wine with dinner, make sure to chill white wine over night.
Thanksgiving Day
First off, Happy Thanksgiving. Second, pour yourself a glass of bourbon, you may need it–in about 5 hours your house will be full of family, friends, and chaos. Kidding! Obviously you’re happy to have them!
Put in the turkey. While it is roasting, prep and make any side dishes.
About 30 minutes before guests arrive, set out hors d’oeuvres if you made them.
When the bird is done, let it rest while you make the gravy–which should be your final step before calling everyone to eat.
Right before you sit down to eat, pop in any desserts that may need to be warmed.
Sit down and enjoy the fact that you have great food and people to share it with.
~Mavis
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Comments
Great ideas , Mavis. I know someone who has an Excel spread ... by steph
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