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Your Guide to Stress-Free Thanksgiving Prep
We break down shopping, cleaning and cooking into manageable bites so you can actually enjoy yourself
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
Hosting Thanksgiving at your house this year? With so many details to coordinate, guests to host and dishes to cook, having a plan will save headaches and pave the way for a beautiful feast you can really feel grateful for. This breakdown of just what to do and when, from the early preparations to Thanksgiving day, can help.
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| One Month Ahead
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• Clear space in the pantry, checking levels of staple ingredients as you go.
• Clean the coat closet — move extra coats into another space temporarily if you need to, so guests can use the main hall closet on the big day.
• Figure out now if you will need to rent, borrow or buy anything — extra chairs, serving platters, silverware etc.
• Clean the coat closet — move extra coats into another space temporarily if you need to, so guests can use the main hall closet on the big day.
• Figure out now if you will need to rent, borrow or buy anything — extra chairs, serving platters, silverware etc.
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| Two to Three Weeks Ahead
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• Shop for all the items on your nonperishables list, but don't unpack them. Instead leave them neatly packed in their bags and tuck them away in a closet or cupboard. This saves you time putting everything away now — and helps on turkey day when you don't have to go rummaging around for, say, the canned pumpkin.
• A few extras you may want to think about including: paper takeout containers for handing out leftovers, crayons and butcher paper for the kids' table and wineglass charms or removable stickers for glasses.
• A few extras you may want to think about including: paper takeout containers for handing out leftovers, crayons and butcher paper for the kids' table and wineglass charms or removable stickers for glasses.
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If you still need extra chairs, platters or coffee cups and haven't yet bought or borrowed them, now is the time. Ikea is fabulous for budget-friendly staples (like the cute folding chair shown here), but a local party rental business is a good option, too.
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The Weekend Before
• Give your house an all-over cleaning. Don't waste your time with hidden areas and deep clutter — focus on the entryway, bathrooms, dining room and living room.
• Tidy up the front porch, check porch lighting and add a few fresh potted plants or a wreath on the door.
• Clean out the fridge and freezer.
• If you're buying a frozen turkey, pick it up now and begin thawing it in fridge.
• Shop for and begin cooking dishes that can be made ahead and frozen, like pie dough.
• Give your house an all-over cleaning. Don't waste your time with hidden areas and deep clutter — focus on the entryway, bathrooms, dining room and living room.
• Tidy up the front porch, check porch lighting and add a few fresh potted plants or a wreath on the door.
• Clean out the fridge and freezer.
• If you're buying a frozen turkey, pick it up now and begin thawing it in fridge.
• Shop for and begin cooking dishes that can be made ahead and frozen, like pie dough.
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• Review the menu and gather all necessary serving pieces and trivets in one spot; use sticky notes to label each platter with the dish it will hold.
• Polish any silver you'll be using.
• If you want to be superorganized, print copies of all your Thanksgiving recipes and put them in a presentation binder with clear plastic sleeves. After the big day, you can add notes and shopping lists, and next year you'll be ready to go!
• Polish any silver you'll be using.
• If you want to be superorganized, print copies of all your Thanksgiving recipes and put them in a presentation binder with clear plastic sleeves. After the big day, you can add notes and shopping lists, and next year you'll be ready to go!
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| Thanksgiving Week
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The Night Before
• Set the table if you're serving family style or set up the buffet.
• Put labeled serving dishes and implements on trivets on the table or buffet.
• Tidy up around the house.
• Prep any dishes you can to ease the workload for the next day.
• Put anything you made in advance and froze in the fridge to thaw.
• Set the table if you're serving family style or set up the buffet.
• Put labeled serving dishes and implements on trivets on the table or buffet.
• Tidy up around the house.
• Prep any dishes you can to ease the workload for the next day.
• Put anything you made in advance and froze in the fridge to thaw.
by decordemon
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• Set up the kids' table.
• Arrange flowers.
• Put out place cards.
• Arrange flowers.
• Put out place cards.
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| On Thanksgiving Day
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More: How to Make a Traditional Fall Bouquet How to Make Beautifully Untamed Floral Arrangements |
Comments
olldbobbi I already do a lot of these, I make sure I have enough serving bowls/platters and do the sticky notes thing, and I keep my holiday specific foods in one place so I don't have to go rummaging. I never thought of the binder with holiday specific recipes, that's genius!
7 months ago · Like
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jpoltron The burlap and twine around the lit candle is an accident waiting to happen.
7 months ago · Like
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tcufrog My favorite clean up tool is the set of two restaurant busing tubs I bought at Sams Club years ago. After large parties or holiday dinners I scrape the leftover food off of the dishes and then place them in the tubs with hot soapy water. While I nap or recover from the event the dishes are soaking and will be much easier to clean once I am able to. Since my sink isn't full I have space in which to scrub them before putting them in the dishwasher. Unfortunately my dishwasher doesn't remove caked on food.
7 months ago · Like
· 4
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myfanwyb I have to echo the previous comment..please do not use natural materials around candles. This could be a tragic end to a holiday. I think Houzz or the author should consider replacing that one photo.
7 months ago · Like
· 7
7
Ideabook updated on Nov. 8, 2012.
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