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Thanksgiving Holiday Planner

Planning for Thanksgiving Dinner

Everything starts with a plan. The more you can spread these chores out over the days ahead of Thanksgiving, the more relaxed you will be. Gather your cookbooks, traditional recipes, guest list, and pencil and paper. Sit down in a quiet spot and: 

Plan and write down the menu. Think about including some crockpot or pressure cooker recipes, some cooked on the stovetop, and some oven recipes too, so activity isn't concentrated around just one appliance.

Plan a theme for your Thanksgiving dinner table so you can start thinking about the plates, decorations, and serving pieces you want to use. This can be as simple as a cheery primary colored table, or more elaborate, using flowers, vegetables, and decorations from your yard and garden. Make your table glow!

Read over each recipe to make sure it's complete, with good instructions, and make your grocery list from the recipe card. You may need to order some items ahead. 

Plan a cleaning schedule, and assign duties to family members other than yourself! Clean a few days ahead of time, then assign a task to each family member (Rachel vacuums, Michael dusts) to keep on top of everything so the house stays clean. 

Write down the days you plan to shop, listing the stores you need to visit for various items. 

Write out a cooking schedule and timetable. Indicate the dishes you can make ahead, those that can be frozen, those that cook in the crockpot or the microwave, and those that must be cooked at the last minute. 

Now go into your kitchen and dining room and gather all your serving dishes and cooking utensils. Think about which ones you will use for the menu and table theme you have selected. I like to stick a post-it note on each serving piece and cooking utensil, pot and pan with the name of the recipe that will be cooked in it and served on it. Check off the recipes on your menu list as you work. If there are any recipes that don't have an assigned cooking or serving dish, think about borrowing or buying some to fill in the gaps. 

Get everybody in the family involved in the preparation. Cooking is a great way to get kids interested in science, math and physics, not to mention history and tradition. Children also will be more enthusiastic about Thanksgiving if they have a part to play. 

Additional Hints and Tips:

Accept help if it's offered! I love Thanksgiving celebrations where guests bring part of the meal. The easiest meal of all (outside of going to a restaurant) is where one person hosts the gathering and cooks the turkey, stuffing and gravy, and everybody else brings a dish. Not only does this recreate the spirit and intent of the original Thanksgiving, but it's just more fun.

Really think about the dishes that everybody loves, and those that just aren't touched. Cutting back on the number of dishes you serve will also help everyone's waistlines. How many pies do you need, anyway? And even if Grandmother's creamed onions are a tradition, are they eaten and enjoyed?

On your last run to the grocery store, think about buying extra rolls, some frozen veggies, and a frozen pie or two just in case something goes wrong in the kitchen. You'll be much more relaxed knowing that you have backups available if the rolls burn or the pie is runny.

And eat a good breakfast on Thanksgiving morning! You're going to be working really hard on this meal; make sure you have the energy to pull it off and still be able to enjoy yourself. 

If Thanksgiving this year is just the two of you, roast a turkey breast on top of a simple stuffing, and serve a salad, rolls and pie. Your house will still have the flavor and aroma of Thanksgiving, with less work - and leftovers! 

Make sure to clear your refrigerator a few days ahead of Thanksgiving Day to hold all the make-ahead recipes and groceries. 

Set your table a day or two ahead of time. This is a fun and creative project - don't rush it! Enjoy using your grandmother's china or your new Fiesta Ware according to your table theme. Think about centerpieces and decorations, candles and serving pieces to make this Thanksgiving your own. Ask your kids to make place cards. 

Use disposable roasting and baking pans. Nothing spoils the Thanksgiving spirit faster than facing a huge sink of dirty dishes. On the other hand, some of the best conversations can take place while generations are washing dishes after a big holiday meal.