Hosting Thanksgiving is an honor and a gift—it’s an opportunity to partake in the best possible way, putting your own spin on Thanksgiving traditions and facilitating a lovely day for the people you hold dear. The key to a successful Thanksgiving holiday is to take a deep breath, make a list and remember: you don’t have to do it all!

We pulled together our most helpful tips, sure to be useful to even the most seasoned of hosts. Let’s do this!

  1. Make it a team effort!
    Being the host doesn’t mean that you need to take care of it all. By virtue of hosting you are already providing the space and leading the charge. Don’t be afraid to design a day that allows you to enjoy yourself and kick back too! Step up and delegate: pick the dishes that interest you most and assign the rest to friends and family. Consider making a shareable online document in order to keep everyone on the same page.As for the house itself, you likely have plenty on your plate: preparing guest rooms, fetching family from the airport and coordinating various timetables and schedules. Why not schedule a deep clean and eliminate that from your task list completely? Contact us now so that you have one less thing to worry about!
  1. Work ahead and reap the benefits
    Give some thought to timing and prepare as in advance as you can. Quick wins include cranberry sauce, toasting nuts, making bread crumbs, baking pies and assembling casseroles. Be sure to think about oven space as well, considering the number of items that require oven time–in addition to the turkey of course! This will likely inform which items make the cut in the early planning stages too.
  2. Speaking of turkey…
    What if you made the turkey ahead of time? I know this may sound a bit scandalous, but think of all of the stress and fretting and valuable oven space that the turkey occupies! Many people swear by cooking the bird the day before, lining a crock pot with tin foil and keeping the carved pieces warm and juicy. This approach would certainly alleviate some of the pressure and allow you to enjoy your guests that much more!
  3. Set it and forget it
    Of course food isn’t the only component to the day that requires time, thought and prep. If you have the space, you should consider setting your table the day before. Pull out your serving dishes and utensils, table cloth and linens, vessels and platters. You can even place notes for seating and assign utensils for specific dishes. This may seem ridiculous now, but by working through these details the day before you are freeing up valuable headspace, allowing yourself to enjoy your day that much more!Oh and if you have cats, consider tossing a sheet over the table to keep those curious kitties away!
  4. Don’t stress over appetizers
    Thanksgiving is all about the main meal so don’t get too crazy over appetizers—you’ll have plenty to keep you busy on Thanksgiving Day! In fact, there is nothing wrong with opting for some store-bought snacks. Think cheese plates and crackers, veggie platters and dip. Better yet—assign this task to one of your guests!

 

Thanksgiving is a time for family, friendship, appreciation and reflection. It’s important to remember that the process of creating and participating in the day is often more memorable than the act of sitting and enjoying the anticipated meal itself.  Give yourself the gift of preparing ahead and make space to enjoy those around you. You have much to be thankful for!