16 Nov 2023
entertaining

How I Prepare for Thanksgiving + Favorite Recipes

How to Prepare for Thanksgiving

I thought it might be helpful to write out some of the steps I use at our home to share how to prepare for Thanksgiving and get ready for hosting our family and friends.  We host Thanksgiving quite often at our house and often times it is 20-25 adults plus around 8-10 kids.  I have learned a few tricks along the way and one of the most important is not being afraid to ask for help. :). I have linked to old posts through the years to help with recipe ideas and tablescape inspiration, so I hope you find this helpful.  I also love hearing from all of you; so if I have missed something good, please leave a note in the comments for me.

Plan Ahead

  • Get a head count as soon as you can.  Decide if you need to borrow or rent extra tables and chairs for your meal.
  • Delegate a dish to each person if possible and find out what they plan on cooking.
  • Make sure you have the turkey and any other meats accounted for.  Write down the sides each person will bring.
  • Decide on what time you plan to eat your Thanksgiving meal. Some people eat at noon and others like myself don’t get our meal until closer to 3:3o or 4pm.  So decide early and let your guests know.
  • If you have a large group, plan your table setting ahead of time.  I use a free service called Canva to do this.
  • Once you know the menu, use Canva or a service like Fernandino Paper Co. to type up a menu and print out place cards if you would like.  I always think this adds a really nice touch.  Plus I always love looking back on each year and see what dishes we cooked!
  • Decide if you want flowers for you special occasion and don’t wait until the last minute to place your order.  Floral shops book up early.  If you want flowers from your local grocery (I love Fresh Market flowers), make sure to snag them before they are gone.
  • If you look online, there are printable out there that can help you organize your food list, so you can make sure everything comes out hot.  Write down the temperature that each item needs to be cooked on and for how long it needs to cook , so you can reference one sheet throughout the day and time your meal out.
  • Shop for all your alcohol ahead of time and make your grocery list early.  Certain things sell out quickly at the grocery.  I feel like my Jimmy Dean Sage Sausage can be hard to find the closer it gets to Thanksgiving day, so I always try to grab that early.  I also use a shortcut for my cornbread dressing and LOVE the Fresh Markets cornbread, so I will call ahead and have them hold me a tray to pick up.
  • Don’t forget to plan your outfit ahead of time so that you aren’t stressing for something to wear on the day of Thanksgiving.  Here are some outfit inspiration ideas.

Prepare the Table

If you are having a sit down dinner, make sure you have everything you need for your table and enough of each item.  I love to pull out all of my Thanksgiving decor and any left over items I have from years past and start coming up with a game plan for this years table.  Pick your theme of colors and see what all you already own and what you may need to go purchase for your table.  If you are eating inside, don’t be afraid to go ahead and set your table way ahead of time.  Unfortunately, we often eat outdoors which means I can’t set up until the day of.  That takes quite a bit more preparation, so just be sure you know exactly what you are going to use for your table.

This is a super old post, but this had some cute ideas for setting the thanksgiving table at home.  I made homemade dinner menus and name cards for each guest.  So have some fun with it and even let the kids help too!e

Here are some tablescapes we have done in years past to help give you some inspiration.

Thanksgiving Tablescape Ideas

Don’t forget the Kids Table

I love setting up a special table for the kids too!! The best thing to do for them is make sure they have a placemat or tablecloth that they can color on and keep them entertained while the adults are eating.  I have had luck with collecting cute Thanksgiving plates from Potterybarn Kids and then I pick up paper placemats or tablecloths from local stores or on Amazon.  I love this one.

What To Cook

Try to plan your food out early.  I always love seeing what other families make for their Thanksgiving meal.  I know my husband grew up with a few dishes that they ate everything Thanksgiving that we never had.  For example, they always had squash casserole and broccoli and rice casserole and those were new to me when I had my first Thanksgiving with them.  So consider what dishes are your favorites that you want to include, but also what others may enjoy or expect at their Thanksgiving meal.

Appetizers

I am always a fan of appetizers and love to have a few things out for my guest to nibble on before the big meal.  Again, it doesn’t have to be a lot; but a few items to graze on while the meal is being prepared.  This can also depend on what time you eat your Thanksgiving meal and since we don’t eat until a bit later, we like to have appetizers out with our cocktail hour.  Here are a few of my favorites.

Entrees & Sides

I will be the first to admit that I always outsource the turkey (and ham) if I host.   It is too nerve-racking for me when I have to get everything else together.  One of my favorite things to do is order from Heavenly Baked Ham online and they will deliver it right to your home (and I don’t have to fight the crowds)!  If you have someone that will do your turkey on a grill for you and free up oven space or have the opportunity to pick up a fried turkey, these are all amazing options!!! Here are some of my favorite side dishes that you can make for sides.  Also, never feel bad if you have to order sides from a local restaurant to keep your life easier.

Dessert

Again, don’t be scared to outsource these items because there are a lot of great places to buy these items from! If you are not a baker, let someone else do it.

Cocktails

I always love to have one signature cocktail for the day to go along with wine and anything else you may serve for the day.  If you can make a pitcher ahead of time, this is perfect to have out to let your guest help themselves.

Tips & Tricks

  • Don’t forget a can of cranberries for that one person at the table that has to have them!
  • Make sure you have some turkey gravy handy if you didn’t bake your own turkey.
  • Buy plenty of extra dinner rolls because everyone want to use them to make sandwiches the next day with leftovers.
  • Try to make a breakfast casserole or something easy to put in the oven on Thanksgiving morning a day ahead of time. This one is super easy and one of our favorites.
  • As I mentioned above, I love ordering a ham directly to my house from Honey Baked Ham ahead of time. It makes it so easy on Thanksgiving day and it makes the best leftovers.
  • Take a few minutes before Thanksgiving week and clean out your refrigerator and freezer the best you can, so you can make room for all your food for the big day.  You will thank yourself later.
  • Stock up on some to-go storage containers before the big day so you can send your company home with some of the leftovers.  These are great ones.
  • Have the kids organize a game of football the day of while you are still working in the kitchen.  It’s always fun to even watch the adults jump in.
  • Don’t be afraid to play a little game at the dinner table or put some type of table topic on the table.  My kids start this sometimes and it’s pretty cute.
  • Don’t miss out on the opportunity to snag your family photos and large group photos with grandparents and grandchildren, etc.  Try to snag them while it is still light outside.
  • Try to relax and enjoy yourself.  Remember how much time goes into preparing this meal.  When you sit down to actually eat the meal, take your time and savor the moment.  Engage in conversation and enjoy your time with family and friends.

Prepare Your Home for Overnight Guests

This is the time of year that many of us will be welcoming guests into our home.  I love prepping my guest room with a few special touches to make my guest feel right at home when they arrive.  A small tray like the one below with a friendly note, a few towels folded up, some water bottles, a bite of chocolate, a phone charger and your home wifi password makes for a very special arrival.  I also always love to place a vase of fresh flowers next to their bedside if possible. You can read my post below on all my tips for making your guest room feel like a luxury hotel stay.

Phew, this turned out to be a pretty long post; but I hope it was helpful.  I love hearing about other peoples traditions and tips for making the big day fun.  If you have something, please leave it in the comments for me.  Thanksgiving is a week away…there is still plenty of time to prepare!

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