There are plenty of small steps you can take to reduce holiday stress. Here are 10 tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving from K-State Research and Extension:
1. Arm yourself with a plan: Sit down and make a guest list. From the number of guests, plan your menu. Then you can create a complete shopping list and decide if you’re doing all of the cooking or if others will be bringing dishes. Take inventory of your dinnerware, kitchen tools and gadgets, spices and other staples in your pantry, and don’t forget to count chairs!
2. Shop early: Grocery stores get more packed the longer you wait, plus you run the risk of some of your needs being sold out. Try to do your shopping early morning or late evening at least one week before the big day.
3. Make-ahead magic: Plenty of side dishes, desserts, and breads can be made ahead of time. This frees up your counter space and your to-do list. If you do have to make several dishes on Thanksgiving, try to distribute them evenly between the stovetop, the oven, and the microwave.
4. Perform a test run: If you’re making a side dish for the first time or using ingredients that you aren’t familiar with, try them out beforehand so you’ll be prepared for success on Thanksgiving Day. Ditto if you’re using new equipment, like a new electric roaster or a brand new oven.
5. Shrink the menu: With the size of the feast on most of our tables, it really isn’t necessary to load your guests up on dips, snacks, or appetizers. A platter of cut fresh vegetables should hold early-arrivals until mealtime.
6. Set the table in advance: Set the table a day or two in advance to save holiday time for cooking duties. Cover with an extra tablecloth or a sheet to keep away dust, then remove the covering and add glassware on Thanksgiving morning.
7. Turkey duty: The Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of the meal, but it doesn’t have to create a lot of stress. Just remember the most important thing: don’t forget to defrost the bird! Thawing in the refrigerator is the best method, but will take longer– allow about 24 hours for each 5 pounds of frozen turkey. You can also submerge the turkey in cold water to speed thawing. Your family may like to serve the whole bird a la Norman Rockwell, but cooking and carving the turkey the day before can save a lot of stress (and oven space.) Place the cooked turkey in shallow pans, add broth or drippings to keep it moist, refrigerate overnight and reheat in the oven or an electric roaster for serving.
8. Quick fixes: Purchasing store-bought desserts and adding your own flair is a great timesaver. Defrost a frozen pumpkin pie, top with streusel, and bake. Or simmer cranberries in orange juice and sugar just until they pop and spoon over purchased pound cake.
9. Love those leftovers: Make sure you have refrigerator/freezer containers in a variety of sizes to deal with leftovers quickly and safely. Remember, leftovers should be headed to the refrigerator or freezer within two hours after serving. You may want to prepare send-home plates for those who live alone or family members who couldn’t attend due to work or travel schedules. Make sure you have sturdy disposable plates on hand, cover well and chill until time to share.
10. Don’t sweat it: The true secret to being a gracious host or hostess (and keeping your own sanity) is to not let small problems ruin the day. If one of your side dishes burns, simply toss it out and enjoy the bounty you have left. If the turkey burns, order take-out. And don’t forget to laugh.
Linda K. Beech is Ellis County Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences.