Thanksgiving Hacks Vol. 2

We are officially in countdown mode. In just a few days we’ll be seated around tables giving thanks and gobbling up a whole lot of deliciousness! And while there is still a lot to do, we want to help you make it as stress free as possible. Our list of Turkey Day hacks should help with that, giving you more time to spend with loved ones and actually enjoy the day.

TIME-SAVING

Delegate

Your guests are going to ask if they can help — so let them! Remember what happens when you don’t ask for backup, you end up spending the entire day away from your guests and no one wants that. Your guests are never really able to relax and believe me when your guests ask if they can help, they mean it.  They are there to spend time with you. Helping hands means more time spent together and that is what the day is truly about.

Lay out your kitchen tools in advance

Take a few minutes the night before to lay out everything you will need for the meal: ingredients, pots, pans, baking dishes, measuring cups, and utensils. You will save a lot of valuable time if you don’t have to search for every little thing while you cook.

Triple-line the trash

This one is truly a keeper for any event you may have. Line your bins with three trash bags in advance. This way when you haul out full ones, an empty one is ready to use.

SMART

Keep food warm in a cooler

I know it sounds crazy but this truly works. The coolers' insulation retains heat. Line a cooler with aluminum foil and place a kitchen towel on the bottom for dishes that may be super hot. Cover dishes tightly with foil and stack according to the way you plan to serve. This is especially useful if you have more than one tray of the same side.

Use a thermos as a gravy warmer

Keep gravies and sauces warm in thermoses. It helps to free up valuable stovetop space.

Use your slow cooker

So many sides and just not enough space. You can keep your mashed potatoes, yams, or other veggies toasty in the slow cooker, freeing up your oven and stove. Turn on the “warm” setting and forget it. In fact, take a few minutes and have a few sips of eggnog before you get back to cooking.

Use square and rectangle pans in the oven

Round pans take up more space than squares or rectangles and you need all the space you can get.

DECORATIONS

Pre-set the table/buffet the night before

Whether it is a sit-down or buffet, pre-set tables and sideboards the night before; dishes, utensils, glasses, placemats, napkins, and serving utensils. It’s one less thing to think about and it also makes it easy to delegate about what goes where when people ask if they can help.

Thanksgiving centerpieces

Use pumpkins, gourds, pinecones, and leaves for your Thanksgiving centerpieces. And even better, spray paint them gold for a little extra holiday bling. A couple of large candles and you’ve created a masterpiece.

JUST BECAUSE

Easy way to create a festive smelling home

Dig into your pantry and pull out those cinnamon sticks you never use. Add apple peels, orange rinds, and whole cloves and place in boiling water. The fragrance will waft throughout the entire home and when guests arrive they will truly smell “holiday”.

 Send leftovers home in style

At the end of the night, instead of giving away Tupperware, decorate paper takeout containers to send leftovers off in cute to-go boxes.