With Thanksgiving just around the corner, there can be a lot to think about. Thanksgiving is a great time for family to come together and enjoy a splendid meal. Creating a perfect thanksgiving meal can be challenging with so much cooking and baking to do!
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Although cooking the Turkey may seem like the most important part of Thanksgiving, desserts and side dishes can be equally important! Not only that, but prepping the kitchen and dinner table to make sure the meal is served just as planned.
In this blog post, we hope to help you organize your mind a little bit by giving you a check-list of essentials you will want to consider for the holiday.
Plan your menu
Pick your favorite Turkey recipe and then plan the side dishes around it. Popular side dishes range from mashed potatoes and stuffing to green bean casserole and Brussel sprouts. Choose the dishes that you know everyone will like and enjoy.
Create a shopping list
Once you have a good idea of who will be coming, you can take a look at each recipe to decide how much of each dish you’ll need. By figuring this out before you go shopping, you won’t be pondering too much at the grocery store. Start by going through each recipe and figuring out the items you already have and the ones you still need. If other guests are bringing dishes, make sure they’re in the loop about how many people are coming and even any allergies that others may have. Finally, write all the ingredients you’ll need down on a piece of paper so you can stay organized while you shop.
Decide on Decor
Serving utensils, kitchen essentials, and decor are all important to consider so you can serve the food as flawlessly as you’ll make it! If you need to buy new cutlery or utensils it may be a great time to purchase bamboo kitchen products which are also good for the environment.
You can also think about if you’ll purchase flowers or a fall-themed centerpiece to make the table look nice. Other cute decors could include candles, family photos, or new wine glasses.
Make or freeze pie dough
One of the best parts about Thanksgiving dinner is the dessert! With Fall being the perfect time for pie, why not try it out? If you decide to make the pie yourself, make a couple of batches of the dough before-hand and freeze it so you don’t have to worry about it later! If you’re contemplating what type of pie to make you can take a look at our delicious Granny Smith Apple Pie recipe as a delicious option.
Freeze rolls
Find some bread rolls that can freeze easily and don’t worry about them again until Thanksgiving Day when you defrost them.
Shop for non-perishables ahead of time
It may be a great idea to avoid crowds and get a chunk of your shopping done early. You can split up your list by perishables and non-perishables. Non-perishables you will want to consider are flour, sugar, and canned cranberries. Don’t forget cleaning supplies like bamboo paper towels!
Pick up your Turkey
If you’ve ordered a Turkey, don’t forget to pick it up! You can prepare to defrost it once it’s in your hands
Buy Pershible Ingredients up to 3 days before
Fresh vegetables, seafood, or bread should all be purchased at this time. It is also a great idea to double-check for any last-minute items you may have forgotten about before!
Bake or prep any necessary side dishes the day before
If there are any dishes like pie or stuffing that can be made the day before, you should focus on that! Make any sides that will reheat well so you can worry about the Turkey on Thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving Day
Preheat your oven in the morning and get that Turkey going! If you have stayed organized thus far, you won’t have to stress on Thanksgiving day and enjoy your company.
The Day After– Use your leftovers
You can store leftovers in your refrigerator for up to 4 days. Bring extra items to work for lunch the next day or save some pie for some much-needed late night dessert!