Thanksgiving Day is a great opportunity to reconnect with family and even some of your closest friends. Sharing stories and laughter with your loved ones is a great way to spend the holiday. What makes it even better is the glorious feast everyone will partake in. But it may not that much fun of you’re the one hosting the Thanksgiving party.
Make Plans Early
The secret to every successful party is to plan in advance. Grab a pen and paper and take a seat. First, find out how many people are coming over. Give everyone a call or send out invites if you wish. Have them confirm early so you can adjust accordingly.
If some are staying in your place, you need to know so you can prepare their rooms. You also need a definite number of guests so you can plan the Thanksgiving dinner accordingly. Don’t risk running out of food because too many people came.
Speaking of food, decide on what you will be preparing for your guests. Make a list of everything you’ll need, including ingridients, supplies, and cooking utensils. Decide which of the food items you can buy and store until the big day. Go to the grocery store at least a week before your Thanksgiving party to get what you can.
Get Some Help
Even the perfectionist in you must admit that you can’t do everything yourself. Get some of your loved ones to help out, especially in preparing the food. If you’re having a large group over, the tasks may become too overwhelming for only one person to handle.
If some of your friends ask if they could do anything, don’t hesitate to say yes. You may also need help cleaning your place, moving furniture around or setting up the decorations. Ask a friend to drop by the liquor store on their way or to pick up some pastry from the local bakery.
You can also order some of the food you’ll be serving. If you know someone who makes a mean pasta dish, ask them if you could order some for your Thanksgiving party.
Pre-Thanksgiving Dinner Preparations
Determine early what you’re serving at your Thanksgiving party. The closer it is to the actual holiday, the harder it will be to buy what you need. Chances are you’ll not be the only one scrambling to prepare for the feast. As mentioned, the best thing to do is buy what you need early. Another option is to make reservations regarding some of the food you’ll be serving. Order weeks prior so you have fewer things to worry about.
Your Thanksgiving party will be less of a success if you don’t have a turkey. While some people are skipping the tradition of serving roasted turkey, it doesn’t mean you must follow suit. Make sure you’ll have one come Thanksgiving Day. You can buy one a week prior as long as you have a large enough freezer. If you don’t have the means to store your turkey, ask if you can reserve one and get it a day or two before the big holiday.
You’ll likely start preparing the food a day prior. Plan everything out so everything will flow smoothly. Start by making a list of your last-minute grocery run. This will include the food items that spoil easy. I other words, the ones you can’t buy at least a week beforehand.
Follow a schedule regarding food preparation. Make a chronological order of the dishes you will prepare. Don’t forget to defrost your turkey at the right time.
What to Serve on Your Thanksgiving Party
We’ve already talked about the turkey. Now figure out what goes well with that. First, the stuffing. Figure out what you want to put inside your bird before roasting it.
Every household probably has their own version of the gravy. Make sure you know how to make the family favorite. Others prefer apple-cranberry dressing to go with the turkey. So that’s another thing you have to prepare.
Mashed potatoes are a popular side dish that goes well with your turkey. You can also have vegetables on the side. Green bean with shallots is a popular choice.
You can complement your turkey and sides with other meaty and hearty dishes. If you’re planning on an outdoor feast, grilling burgers, hotdogs and steaks sound like a good idea.
Drinks
Another Thanksgiving tradition is having a toast for all the things you are thankful for. You can’t have a toast without something to drink, could you? Also, make sure you have enough glasses for your guests.
Don’t limit your drink to alcoholic beverage. Some people may not want to drink, especially if they still have to drive home. If there are children around, make sure you have something for them.
Decor
The focus of your Thanksgiving party are your family, friends, and, of course, the food. It won’t hurt, however, if you add some personal touches to your party.
Start by decorating your front door. This will be among the first things your guests will see so its just right to make them feel comfy right at the bat. Since it’s still fall season, you can hang a gorgeous wreath on your door. You can also go for a Christmas-themed now since the popular holiday is pretty near.
The dining table can also use some decorations. All the wonderful food is enough to make any table look good but you can go the extra mile by making it look prettier. Flowers are always a popular decor on tables.
Have Fun
It’s common for the host of a party to be stressed out. That should not be the case. If you plan things accordingly, you’ll have little to worry about allowing you to fully enjoy your Thanksgiving party.
Remember, Thanksgiving Day is about being thankful and showing your appreciation. It’s not about stressing out and ending up not being thankful for throwing the party. Have fun. Talk to your guests. Play games. Wear a turkey hat. Most importantly, don’t forget to take a breather every now and then.
Visit The Gentleman Pirate to get more tips on hosting parties. You can also find numerous recipes you can serve on your Thanksgiving party or any other occasion for that matter. You can also check out RecipeSecrets.net if you wish to serve your favorite restaurant dishes at your Thanksgiving party.
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