Planning Thanksgiving dinner…don't panic!

by Hope Gunter

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Thanksgiving is a time to celebrate our joys with friends and family. Unfortunately, if you are the person designated to cooking the holiday dinner, the joys can turn into complete and total fear. I'll never forget the first time I made Thanksgiving dinner for twenty family members and friends. I waited until the last minute to start and the dinner ended in a complete disaster. In the years following that failure, I have learned that preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is easy…if you plan ahead.
Eventually the day arrives when you are selected to prepare the Thanksgiving dinner. Don't panic. With a few hours of planning, your dinner can be a complete success. The key to pulling off a successful Thanksgiving dinner is to be sure no detail is left undone.

The first step is to decide who will attend. Knowing the number of people you will be hosting is imperative in the planning process. Someone will fail to RSVP, so always plan on an extra two to three people. Always try to give yourself at least two weeks before the event to get your final count. This time frame is important in determining table and chairs requirements or if you need to order the table and chairs from your local rental service.

If you decide to order table and chairs, always order at least one week in advance. Attending to this small step will give you the piece of mind that at least you will be able to seat everyone comfortably. At the same time, decide whether you have the linen to complete the table setting you are looking for. If you don't, consider renting linens at the same time as the tables. Most rental services offer discounts on the linen if you order the linens at the same time you order the table and chairs.

Once you have your final head count and have made your decisions on the table and chairs, the next step will be to decide your menu. I believe that the menu is where your success will be ensured. Take your time and consider all your guests. Be sure to be aware if someone is allergic to a specific meat or spice. Also, you probably know what your family's traditions are, so plan accordingly. If your family's tradition includes turkey and ham, try to keep to tradition as tradition makes everything go smoother. You can also add side dishes to enhance the meal and try to start new traditions.
Most Thanksgiving holiday meals include the traditional turkey, ham and prime rib. If you are having a large dinner party, I would suggest making all three. Preparing three different main dishes can be difficult, but as I mentioned above, planning is everything. Remember, if you have a small oven, you can always cook the ham a day in advance, roast the turkey on Thanksgiving Day and save the prime rib for the barbeque grill while the turkey is cooking.

The next step in meal planning is planning the side dishes. Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Stuffing, Yams, Green Bean Casserole, Chili Casserole, Ambrosia, Dinner Rolls, Cranberry Sauce, Deviled Eggs and an olive tray are our traditional dishes. Many of these dishes can be prepared in advance so you have time to enjoy your guests.

The final planning stage of the dinner will be dessert. Thanksgiving Day just isn't the same without the pies and desserts. My daughters are usually the ones in charge of dessert. Not only does relying on my daughters relieve some of the pressure on me, but they learn to prepare in advance also. I always make sure they have a game plan and if they are falling behind, we have been known to visit Costco. Costco has excellent selections of pie at this time of the year.

Now that you have your menu planned, start your grocery list. Don't leave any detail out. Start with your meats and poultry and be sure to list every ingredient in each of your side dishes, desserts, and beverages. Don't forget the basic stuff like butter to roast the bird and flour to make the gravy. Small details like that are easy to miss but will make your day fall apart. By making your grocery list in this way, you won't leave any details out.

Before leaving to do your grocery shopping, be sure your refrigerator has been completely cleaned out. Be sure that no leftovers, almost empty containers or unneeded condiments are left in the refrigerator. You will need all the room you can get. I also suggest getting an ice chest to leave in the house for the beverages. The ice chest will help keep your refrigerator cold if everyone isn't opening it to get out beverages.

I suggest grocery shopping no later than four days before the big event. If you wait longer, you will be taking a chance that the grocery store will be out of an ingredient that is necessary for your meal. While at the grocery store, be sure to pick up a small pumpkin, some Indian corn and squash.
The day before Thanksgiving, peel and chop your potatoes and place the potatoes in a Ziploc bag in water. This process will save time on Thanksgiving Day and keep your potatoes from getting brown.

You can also prepare the Green Bean and Chili Casseroles as well as the Deviled eggs and olive trays the day before. I have found that the flavor actually improves overnight in the refrigerator. Remember if you have children, they also enjoy helping out. They can help peel, chop and put together trays. With your children's help, the holiday will be a memorable one. Not only does the children's help take some of the work off of you, but also your children will enjoy the attention they will receive when you let everyone know what a big help they were.

The morning of Thanksgiving Day will dawn but don't let the panic set in. Try to stay calm. You have been planning this day for weeks and I am confident that all will go great. The first thing you want to do is start your stuffing and prepare your turkey. It is imperative you do this the morning you will be cooking the bird. Unfortunately, turkey has a high risk of food poisoning if not prepared correctly. If you are unsure how to handle this task safely, try checking into a cookbook like Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook that offers great selections or visit the website for complete turkey instructions and www.foodgeeks.com/seasonal/1199-thanksgiving.phtml for some great recipes and a check off list to help out.

While your turkey is cooking, the next step will be decorating the table that will lend to the ambiance of the day. I suggest table and napkin linens with a fall theme. Use pumpkins, squash and Indian corn for your centerpiece. These inexpensive items, combined with some fresh flowers and ribbon, will create a centerpiece that will be talked about for years. Set your table at the same time, so when your guests arrive your table will be beautiful.

As your day progresses, watch the clock and be sure to start your side dishes as the time requires and don't forget to baste your turkey! By the time you serve your delicious meal, you will be calm, cool and collected.

If you have children attending, plan ahead for games and activities that will help keep them happy. Try to keep the spirit of Thanksgiving when planning your activities. Making turkeys out of construction paper is always a hit. Remember, happy children make happy holidays.

Of all the planning involved in preparing the perfect Thanksgiving dinner, I assure you that your day will be a complete success if you follow these simple suggestions. I believe the most important part of this holiday is to remember that no matter what happens, these are your friends and family and they will love you, no matter what!