Hosting one of the biggest holidays of the year can be a challenge, but with these tips, you’ll avoid the biggest Thanksgiving mistakes out there. Here are the top five things NOT to do when preparing for Turkey Day.
Not enough food
Thanksgiving is all about eating, and not having enough to eat is pretty much the worst thing that can happen! Your guests will be wanting to pig out AND take home leftovers, so you should plan accordingly. For turkey, plan about one pound per guest. Two rolls and one potato per person is a good rule of thumb, and 4 ounces of other side dishes should cover everyone. For dessert, plan on everyone having two slices of pie.
Doing it all day-of
Don’t be running around like a turkey on Thanksgiving! Plenty of the prep work and baking can be done ahead of time, so take advantage of that to reduce the workload on the big day. You can even set the table the night before (assuming you don’t need the space to do prep work). Speaking of being prepared, make sure to plan out your grocery trips ahead of time. Do a grocery trip a few weeks before to get any nonperishable items, and then do a second trip a few days before Thanksgiving for the fresh meat and produce.
Running out of oven room
The space in the oven is in high demand on Thanksgiving Day. The turkey is roasted, casseroles are crisping up and pie crusts are baking. Even if you do some of the cooking ahead of time, there will still be a lot of demand for the space in the oven. Try looking for recipes that use other appliances in your kitchen, like the slow cooker or the electric pressure cooker. For the food that has to be cooked in the oven, be sure to keep an eye on the clock so you know you won’t run out of time.
Doing the same old, same old
Classic Thanksgiving dishes like green bean casserole and pumpkin pie are classics for a reason: they’re delicious! But if you take the chance to experiment a little bit and put a twist on these favorite dishes, you could discover a new favorite. Try these garlic butter smashed sweet potatoes or this pumpkin pie cheesecake for a fun way to shake it up.
Not asking for help
Thanksgiving is a family holiday, so get the family to help! Whether you invite them into your kitchen or you ask them to bring a dessert, having your guests help you out is a sure-fire way to reduce the stress on you. Plus, your guests will love the chance to contribute to the biggest and best meal of the year!
Feeling prepared to tackle the big day? Be sure to stop by our store to stock up on all your Thanksgiving Day needs.
