Planning a Thanksgiving dinner requires time and effort especially if you want to the dinner to be as traditional as possible.
With a little foresight and work before hand you can make the planning a breeze.
Begin planning the dinner as early as you can.
Start by deciding what you want to serve at the table.
Next, pick out the recipes depending on whether you want to stick to traditional recipes or experiment with any new dishes or variations to the traditional ones.
In some families, some dishes are must-haves so you may not want to tamper with those.
Cut out those dishes that you know no one ever touches.
Try to have a mix of crockpot recipes, oven recipes or those you can make on the stove top.
This way you won't be waiting endlessly to finish cooking one dish before you can start on another.
Make sure each recipe has complete instructions.
Pick out a theme or a central color around which to plan out the dinner.
You can match your crockery as per your theme.
Make a list of the groceries you will need by looking at the recipes you have chosen.
You should also order the turkey or any other items that you need to procure in advance.
Make another list of when you will shop for what and where you will buy the particular item.
Go through the serving dishes and check whether you have enough to serve all the dishes that you have planned.
Do this well in advance so you have the time to buy them if required.
Have a few back-up items like a frozen pie, extra bread rolls etc ready in case you run out of food or if a dish does not turn out right.
Clear out your refrigerator a few days in advance so that you have enough space to hold all the dishes that you plan to make.
If possible, set your table a day earlier.
This will help you tweak anything that's out of place and add a few creative touches.
If you don't want a pile of dishes after the dinner, use disposable pans to roast or bake in.
If a dish is not turning out right, use all the help you can get.
Call up a food help line although you may find them quite busy around that time.
Get all the family members involved in some activity or the other and share in the spirit of Thanksgiving.
With a little foresight and work before hand you can make the planning a breeze.
Begin planning the dinner as early as you can.
Start by deciding what you want to serve at the table.
Next, pick out the recipes depending on whether you want to stick to traditional recipes or experiment with any new dishes or variations to the traditional ones.
In some families, some dishes are must-haves so you may not want to tamper with those.
Cut out those dishes that you know no one ever touches.
Try to have a mix of crockpot recipes, oven recipes or those you can make on the stove top.
This way you won't be waiting endlessly to finish cooking one dish before you can start on another.
Make sure each recipe has complete instructions.
Pick out a theme or a central color around which to plan out the dinner.
You can match your crockery as per your theme.
Make a list of the groceries you will need by looking at the recipes you have chosen.
You should also order the turkey or any other items that you need to procure in advance.
Make another list of when you will shop for what and where you will buy the particular item.
Go through the serving dishes and check whether you have enough to serve all the dishes that you have planned.
Do this well in advance so you have the time to buy them if required.
Have a few back-up items like a frozen pie, extra bread rolls etc ready in case you run out of food or if a dish does not turn out right.
Clear out your refrigerator a few days in advance so that you have enough space to hold all the dishes that you plan to make.
If possible, set your table a day earlier.
This will help you tweak anything that's out of place and add a few creative touches.
If you don't want a pile of dishes after the dinner, use disposable pans to roast or bake in.
If a dish is not turning out right, use all the help you can get.
Call up a food help line although you may find them quite busy around that time.
Get all the family members involved in some activity or the other and share in the spirit of Thanksgiving.