Planning a Great and Stress-Free Thanksgiving Dinner Party
1. Plan your turkey at least one week before.
Get the turkey ordered, or pick it up from the grocery store. The longer you wait, the harder it is going to be to find a good turkey. If you wait until the last minute, you may not have a turkey at all.
2. Plan the menu
If you're planning for a special diet, like a keto friendly dinner, it is going to be a little different than a traditional Thanksgiving dinner. You will need to do some research and planning, and think about dishes that will still have the same comforting feeling while staying within the guidelines of a keto diet.
3. Do your shopping early
You don’t want to wait until the last minute to shop for Thanksgiving. The stores will be crazy, and you may not find what you are looking for. Buy the non-perishables a week or two in advance, and buy the fresh food about two days before.
4. Do anything that you can ahead of time
Bake the desserts one or two days early and leave them covered at room temperature. Chop vegetables the day before, and make any side dishes that you can the day before. Some dishes can be served at room temperature while others can be reheated.
Also, make sure the table is ready the day before. This includes adding a leaf, chairs, or centerpieces.
5. Buy containers that can be thrown away
When your guests are leaving send them with leftovers. This makes clean up easier for you, and your guests will leave with a full belly plus a plate to look forward to later. Plan ahead and buy some kind of container that can be thrown away. You can buy something at the dollar store that can just be covered with saran wrap or foil.
6. Put together simple snacks and drinks away from the food prep area
Instead of having the kitchen area crowded with guests while you are trying to prepare the last minute things, have snacks and drinks in the living or dining area. This saves you from having to work around everyone, and you will get everything ready so much quicker.
7. Have a simple breakfast
Cooking breakfast on Thanksgiving morning is just a hassle. It takes precious time, dirties dishes, and will just stress you out. Make sure when you are planning ahead you remember to pick up muffins or donuts instead.