Last Minute Checklist for Hosting Thanksgiving
Been so busy that Thanksgiving fell off the radar? No worries my friend, I’m here to help with this last minute checklist for hosting Thanksgiving.
- The most important thing (if you do NOTHING else) is plan the food – your guests must eat. Hopefully you’ve already delegated a few dishes – Aunt Sue’s bringing her “famous mac n’ cheese”, and Grandma’s making the one and only Pumpkin Pie. If you thought, by some mix of magic and a time freeze vortex, that you would have time to make everything from scratch, I – with the power invested in me by no one – RELEASE you of these expectations! Now – call at least two guests and ask one if they can bring a pie of their choice and ask the other to bring dinner rolls (call another guest for another pie if you’re expecting more than 8 or just slice that first pie in slivers).
- A special tip from my GG – while you’re planning the rest of the meal, set the table (as in today on Tuesday). Lay out everything – from placemats to silverware to wine glasses and water cups. You still have a day to make tweaks or add write-in place cards from Target. While a beautiful centerpiece with hand-painted gourds makes for great Instagram photos, let’s pretend we can’t all be Martha Stewart and be happy with a bouquet of flowers from the grocery store (they even have some already in vases!)
- On to the food!
Appetizer – veggies and dip
Main Course – most are expecting a turkey so it will be hard to avoid the bird. Luckily, The Food Network has The World’s Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey Recipe here.
Side Dishes – a starch like Mashed Potatoes is probably the easiest. I’d go gold potatoes as they are the creamiest and skip the peeling, just wash. You can also pass on the mashing altogether and just roast red potatoes in olive oil and rosemary, one of my easy go-to’s. A green – green beans with almonds is easy and tasty or crispy Brussels sprouts with sea salt is my favorite (either recipe just needs olive oil, salt and pepper). Stuffing and gravy are usually expected (to be perfectly honest though, I could pass on both.) However, to keep guests satisfied Campbell’s Kitchen has an easy stuffing recipe and go for a make-ahead gravy recipe like this. If you have guests staying the night you could add Christmas candy and popcorn as a late night snack – and done! If you’re that worried about the dessert and rolls, please buy already made. Remember, I released you from expectations so please, DO NOT BAKE. I repeat, DO NOT BAKE. Last, but certainly not least, are adult beverages. While I do love an Old Fashioned on the holidays, don’t stress if you don’t have a fully stocked bar. Wine is the simplest to serve – I’d go with an Oregon Pinot Noir and a California Chardonnay for dinner and a Washington Riesling for dessert. - Cleaning – floors and bathrooms – leave the rest! If you have time for a Swiffer (or a bored teenager who needs a job), by all means, otherwise don’t sweat it! Remember, they won’t notice your windows have been recently washed down while sleeping off food comas.
- Add some EASY fun to the mix – get out some gift wrap paper that you already have and layout two 5’ tall columns against a flat wall. Ta-da! – you have an Instagram background! Then ask each middle/high schooler coming to bring a prop – like a fun hat, sunglasses or Halloween mask. Another fun, easy activity – a touch football game! All you need is a football and the LOSERS have to do the dishes (see what I did there for you, I just got your dishes washed!)
That’s it! If you do these five things as your last-minute checklist for hosting Thanksgiving, your guests will have happy tummies and you, my friend, have just earned yourself a nice, quiet bubble bath. Cheers!
Relax –Enjoy the Holiday with this Last Minute Checklist for Hosting Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving from Organized Life Design!