Thanksgiving Hacks Vol. 1
Turkey day is almost here and many of us will be celebrating with friends and family for the first time in many, many months. Let’s keep stress to a minimum. Our first segment of 2021 Thanksgiving Hacks is all about prep with a few things that will help you hold onto sanity and actually enjoy the day!
TIME-SAVING
Print Out Thanksgiving Recipes and Tape Them at Eye Level on Kitchen Cabinets
This may be my favorite hack of the season. Thank me with pie! You can definitely use your phone or laptop to view your recipes, but the sleep mode is very annoying. And cookbooks on countertops on Turkey Day!! Been there, done that, and over it. Instead of spreading your recipes out over your countertops, tape them all up on your cabinets with paper tape. They won’t get lost under ingredients or spilled on. The recipes are in plain sight and you can zip through them quickly without pausing. It is also a great way for you to build out your grocery list.
Skip the lines at the market and have groceries delivered
We live in the present and there isn’t any reason to wander around crowded grocery store lanes and stand in long lines anymore. You may want to hand-pick fruits, veggies, and flowers but everything else can be ordered online and delivered straight to your door. Eliminate the hassle where you can.
SMART
Ditch the Tupperware
Structured storage containers will take up valuable space in your fridge and freezer. This year opt to store food in plastic baggies to save precious fridge real estate. You can dispose of the bags once you’ve used the contents and eliminate yet another vessel to wash. Saving space and time with this one.
Don’t Test-Drive Brand New Recipes at Parties
"Don’t let Thanksgiving be the first time you make a recipe.”. Seems obvious, but we have all done it. One year there was a stuffing and gravy catastrophe that still makes me cringe and shudder. If you are determined to include a new side dish you must do a trial run a few weeks in advance. Avoid the waste of time, money, and attention that a bad recipe brings.
DECORATING
Cover the Kids’ Thanksgiving Table with Kraft Paper and Set Out Crayons
Thanksgiving is one of the biggest celebrations we have with family and friends. Let’s face it though, the kids’ table can be a hotbed of madness if not carefully controlled. Covering their table with Kraft paper as a Thanksgiving tablecloth, and setting out crayons is an easy way to keep them entertained before and during the meal. Stenciling on fun characters when setting up that night before can add to the fun. You can do the same with a Kraft paper set-up for the adults’ table and ask them to write or draw what they’re thankful for this year.
To cut down on dishes, use paper goods at the kids’ table
Another great way to cut down on the aftermath clean-up is to use festive paper goods at the kids’ table. Rather than adding to the huge amount of dishes you will have to tackle, everything on the table can be tossed in the trash at the end of the event.
JUST BECAUSE
BYOD [Bring Your Own Dessert]
After you send out your invitations, the first thing your guests will ask is “What can I bring?”. Best answer: Dessert! This way your guests can contribute something and more importantly not breeze through the door with their arms swinging. Plus, even though everyone will be stuffed to the gills, who doesn’t love a dessert buffet? I would suggest letting guests know they should bring desserts that are already prepared and don't require any cooking. Let them know your kitchen is fully occupied on Turkey Day.
