Planning Thanksgiving!

There's a chill in the air, football season is in full swing and Halloween has passed. This means Thanksgiving is right around the corner! In the next few weeks you'll likely prep the house for holiday guests or make travel arrangements to visit your loved ones. If you're hosting Thanksgiving, we're here to help prep and plan for a wonderful holiday.

First you'll want to confirm your headcount for the holiday. This is crucial to hosting a successful holiday as you'll want to be sure there is enough food, drink, and seating available for all. That's right, seating! Skip the panic of rushing next door to a neighbor to borrow folding chairs for surplus guests. Be prepared and have all of your bases covered. It's a great idea to plan for a few extras to attend, you never know when kooky uncle Leonard will show up, even after declining his official invite.

Once you've confirmed your headcount, you can plan the menu. Some choose to plan the Thanksgiving menu based on seasonal produce available, others gather grocery advertisements and search for the cheapest possible way to host dinner (no judgement here, holidays are expensive!).

Hors-d'oeuvres are an excellent way to start off the holiday. Guests will be able to try a small sampling of delicious treats while they mingle and catch up with everyone. Platters of crostini, cheeses, and meats are always popular. Sliders, cheese balls and hot dips are a hit with any crowd. Enough about hors-d'oeuvres, let's talk turkey. 

You'll want to have a main entree - for the majority that is a delicious turkey, or the ever-popular Tofurky for vegetarian friends. 

You'll want to have sides and lots of them. Research shows that sides are the star of the show at Thanksgiving. Most people are not excited by turkey, no matter how you prepare it. You should still put effort into the turkey, but save the pizzaz for the those side dishes! Wondering how much turkey? Various experts recommend 1.25 pounds of turkey per guest. The twelve most popular sides according to The Daily Meal are glazed carrots, candied yams, creamed spinach, creamed corn, sweet potato casserole, green bean casserole, Brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, rolls, macaroni and cheese, stuffing and..... drum roll, please....

Mashed potatoes! Mashed potatoes are the most popular side dish at Thanksgiving! 

It wouldn't be Thanksgiving without a slice of creamy pumpkin pie. Other popular desserts include various pies such as apple, cherry, and pecan pies. Cheesecake, cream puffs and cupcakes are also popular!

Stay tuned for more tips on preparing for Thanksgiving!

← Previous Post Next Post →