A large part of a relaxed Thanksgiving at home with family and friends is careful planning and smart organization. Here are some of my following tips and suggestions to help you with this. If by chance you are travelling this year, well, that is another story!
Organize Yourself
1) Get haircuts, manicures, pedicures, in advance of Thanksgiving.
2) Take in your dry cleaning, tailoring, well in advance.
3) Shop in advance for any necessary wardrobe details.
4) Make sure you have tables and adequate seating for your Thanksgiving crowd.
5) Have your home and garden in order.
6) Polish your silver, copper, and pull out your favorite soup tureen, if using.
Organize Your Thanksgiving Menu
1) Plan your menu. Find your recipes. Check for food allergies. Plan your menu timeline.
2) Check your pantry for ingredients to have on hand. You don’t want to be running last minute to the store for pumpkin pie spice, apple cider, vanilla extract, etc.
3) Delegate menu dishes. Take family and friends up on helping with the cooking and baking, by bringing one of their favorite sides or desserts.
4) Make it ahead, as much as you can! We all know Ina Garten has written a very popular cookbook, Make It Ahead, that details out recipes for making ahead, even Roast Turkey & Gravy, and other delicious recipes.
5) Look back on previous Thanksgiving menus for a refresher. I keep a journal of my dinner party, cooking class, special events, and holiday menus as a reference. Make your traditional dishes, but try a few new ones too.
Create Your Table
1) Set your table a few days in advance, using your preferred tablecloths, napkins, dinnerware, candles, and glassware. Maybe you will want to use your best china and silver, maybe you will want to mix and match vintage finds with character. There are no set rules, only that you love what you create for your table.
2) Keep table decorations low and beautiful for easy conversation and communication with everyone. Think natural centerpieces from the garden such as rosemary sprigs, pyracantha berries, pomegranates, and small pumpkins.
3) Dining by candlelight is magical. Reserve scented candles and votives for perhaps the foyer and powder room. Let your guests enjoy wafting scents of their feast cooking and baking.
4) Allow enough space at the table for each guest, so they don’t feel crowded and cramped.
5) Create a special kids table, young adults, grandchildren, or cousins table. A special table creates a special ambience.
The Art of Seating a Table
1) Consider making fun place cards for your table, especially if you are having more than six people. It is worth creating a good seating plan.
2) Separate couples and partners. Seat extroverts next to introverts. Seat people next to people they have never met before for interesting conversation.
3) As host or hostess, make sure you have easy access to the kitchen from the table.
Make Your Thanksgiving Day Special and Fun!
1) Invite family, friends that are family, new friends, and strays. Invite them into your kitchen to nibble on appetizers, and help with last minute details.
2) Except for photo taking or FaceTiming long distance loved ones, ask everyone to leave their phones, electronics, etc. by the door. Concentrate on engaging conversations. If you do have long distance loved ones to contact on Thanksgiving, designate a special time to call, so as not to be interrupted as you are sitting down at the table.
3) Plan a Thanksgiving playlist that sets the mood, and carries the day effortlessly. There are many, many playlists to choose from on Pandora, Amazon Music, iHeart. Traditional Thanksgiving Music, Thanksgiving for Kids, George Winston Autumn, Thanksgiving Piano Music, Thanksgiving Country, Swingin’ Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving Classic Music. Better yet, if you have musical family and friends, encourage them to play a little for everyone throughout the day/evening.
4) Set up a self-serve bar with Champagne, Cocktails, Wine, Sparkling Water, and maybe a Holiday Punch.
5) Plan your day as a marathon, rather than a sprint. Allow time for socializing and mingling. Spread your menu over several courses such as salad, main course and sides, cheese plate, and finally desserts. It is a shame to spend hours in the kitchen, to have Thanksgiving meal finished in twenty minutes. Pause, and pace.
6) Take a break before desserts for a walk on the beach, walking the dog, walking in the woods, catching the sunset, or enjoying a cozy fire. Live in the moment the whole day.
7) Pull out the family albums of years past to look at. Encourage everyone to share stories and fun times.
8) Be ready with games such as Scrabble, Monopoly, Yahtzee, Scrimmage, Charade, or cards for everyone to enjoy! Later in the evening, maybe there is a traditional family movie you always watch together, or share a special movie together.
9) Designate a special someone in advance, to say grace and a blessing for Thanksgiving. It can be someone who does it beautifully each year, or someone new each year. It could be even multiple people too!
10) Maybe you have a special volunteer clean-up crew who would like to help you out, by clearing the table, doing the dishes, and making “take it home” packages. Sure, take them up on that!
11) Ask everyone to wear a hat for fun!
