Thanksgiving Week Survival Guide
Whether you’re hosting Thanksgiving for the first time or you’re a seasoned professional clad with a personalized apron, preparing a holiday meal can be stressful. Between cooking a turkey, side dishes and desserts to perfection, as well as making sure everyone’s dietary restrictions are accounted for, whipping up a Thanksgiving feast is not an easy task! But with my Thanksgiving Week Survival Guide, I guarantee you can set yourself up for a seamless holiday gathering.
Make a Game Plan. Thanksgiving Day is not the time to delegate tasks, discuss the menu or wander around aimlessly at the grocery store. In the days leading up to Thanksgiving, you should plan the menu out, have all the recipes available, prepare a shopping list, and assign dishes, so that not you don’t end up with three green bean casseroles! As I type this out, I cannot help but laugh as I think of my mother. She is not a planner when it comes to cooking, so my sister-in-law has assisted in coordinating the logistics and putting a rough game plan together. And I always clear out my fridge ahead of Thanksgiving, leaving two shelves available for any dishes that need refrigerating that day. Planning ahead can be helpful in making sure everyone is able to relax and get lost in conversation with those you love.
Prep One-To-Two Nights Before. Preparing the cranberry sauce, or chopping up fruits and vegetables and storing them in the refrigerator is a surefire way to cut down on your time in the kitchen when the day arrives. Storing items in a glass container allows you to see what you already have. I would not recommend preparing salads ahead of time because the greens will wilt when drizzled with dressing.
Consider A Convection Oven. If you have the budget for it and are frequently hosting in your home, consider using a Breville Convection Toaster Oven. I’ve found this countertop oven to be helpful during the holidays, allowing me to quickly roast veggies and bake pies while the turkey is in the oven.
Prepare Your Gravy In Advance. The best gravy is made from leftover turkey drippings, so it is understandably one of the last things most of us prepare. This Thanksgiving, take a page from Mark Bittman and roast a couple of turkey legs ahead of time for your classic turkey gravy. For my vegan and vegetarian readers, a savory alternative to turkey gravy is vegan gravy, made with dark miso paste, onion, garlic, and lots of mushrooms!
Finally, Don’t Skip Meals To Prep For The Big Dinner! While it is tempting to skip meals in order to make room for a feast, eating breakfast will start your metabolism for the day, helping you burn calories from the inevitable mashed potato-casserole-turkey-dessert binge you’ll partake in later in the day. Eat a light breakfast of grain and fruit when you wake up and enjoy a simple and healthy lunch, such as my kale and white bean stew.
And remember, everything revolves around potatoes. Turkey is second to this. Happy Thanksgiving!