Thanksgiving Tips and Trickslist it: A week before make a check list of what you will be serving. Then create a shopping list of all your needs. Shop in advance.
no mess: I love to use cooking bags for cooking the turkey, they are a “no brainer” way to cook a moist turkey and the clean up is a snap.
Too many cooks in the kitchen: The meal is ready and you need space to dish it out! Keep guests occupied out of the kitchen, make some funny trivia cards or have a camera on hand and designate a guest to take a few pre-dinner pictures.
tight spaces: Carve the turkey in the kitchen and platter the meat with an additional side dish like stuffing.
small dishes: I like to use individual ramekins for making mini sweet potato casseroles (one for each guest). I make them the day before and just re-heat on Thanksgiving day. The ramekins can be placed right on to a guest’s plate and you won’t need any additional serving dishes on the table or space on a buffet table.
enlist help: Ask friends or family to bring extra side dishes.
no buffet no problem: You can create a buffet out of almost any piece of furniture. Just drape the furniture with festive fabric of a tablecloth and use protective trivets – and you got yourself a buffet.
cook early: Make as many dishes ahead of time as possible – like cranberry relish, sweet potato casserole rolls, salad & pies.
oven safe: Try to use serving dishes that are oven safe. You can prepare meals in advance and reheat in the serving dish.
pies: If you are not going to bake pies… just pick a few up at your local bakery. Just remember – you might need to pre order.
no table?: Don’t worry if you don’t have a traditional dining table, A low coffee table can be doctored up with a few floor cushions and a table runner. You can pick up folding tables and chairs at any discount store. If you don’t want to buy - most cities have rental shops that will rent additional chairs for $3-$5 each.
The meal is devoured, the dishes are stacked mile high and you have a house filled with family - what to do? Here are a few fun ideas and activities that everyone can do together.
What to do on Thanksgiving Day !
Take a family walk.
Have a family photo swap.
Compete in a scavenger hunt.
Watch football.
Play games - Apples to Apples is really fun!
Have a family dance off.
Have the kids make a youtube video of your family.
Have a family Wii or Guitar Hero competition.
Play flag football.
What to do the Day After Thanksgiving
Tour an art or history museum.
Go on a fall leaf hunt.
Go to the movies.
Ice skate.
Have a family bowling game.
Make mini scrapbooks.
Make salt dough ornaments with the kids.
Have a wrapping paper swap or craft session.
Have a family member who knits give lessons.
And, of course....SHOP!
Salt Dough Ornaments
1 cup of fine salt
4 cup of flour (add a tiny more for softer dough)
1 1/2 cup of water (may add more)
FolkArt acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Paper clips
Clear varnish
Make the dough: In a large bowl, combine the salt and the flour. Make a well in the salt/flour mixture and add the water. Knead until smooth and shape into a ball. When not in use, wrap in plastic or store in an airtight container.
Ornaments: Form the dough into holiday shapes. (cookies cutters are great tools for this craft) Press a paper clip into the back of the ornament to create a hanger. bake at 150-200 until firm (around 2 hours) Cool. Paint with FolkArt paints and seal with a clear varnish.
Great list. TFS!
ReplyDeleteHave a wonderful Thanksgiving with your family in Florida and soak up all the warmth you can!
Great ideas and love the orange with the cloves!! Super!
ReplyDeleteI am looking for this kind of post that I can get some tips for the coming thanks giving. I can see that all of those tips and trick are easy to follow. I know that I can do those things.
ReplyDeleteI`d like to make the salt dough, is that 1/2 cup of water? 2 cups of water?
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