- 1). Send out fun invites. If you've never done invitations before, do so now. It adds a little formality to the occasion. Make handmade invites, with specific directions for specific guests. If Aunt Marge makes a mean pumpkin pie, drop a hint. If Uncle Joe is a great entertainer, tell him you expect card tricks pre-dinner. This gets everyone involved and excited about an event that happens every year and can easily get stale.
- 2). Try new foods. Even though you've always had turkey, that doesn't mean you can't try something different. Try turkey with a twist, with some fresh seasoning, or try something completely different as a side or meat alternative. Try a regional dish, such as venison, lobster or clams or a regional side, such as turnip casserole, popularized in Maine. You can implement these additions in smaller servings or doses so you don't rock the boat too much.
- 3). Prepare it together. Instead of one person slaving in the kitchen, ask each guest to pitch in on some portion of the meal preparation. For example, ask Grandma to bring candles and potpourri and help set the table, or ask sis to bring marshmallows and brown sugar and she can top the yams. A lot of memories are simply about doing something together as a family, which may be rare when miles separate you and your loved ones.
- 4). Dig up old family recipes. Encourage older guests to resurrect recipes from bygone days. That will get them talking about memories from childhood, which will then become the memories of future generations. Often foods are associated with pleasant memories, so a dish can be a great conversation starter.
- 5). Create an out-of-the-box place setting. Turn everyone's place at the table into a fun game. For example, have family members "vie" for a place at the head of the table by asking trivia questions about other family members to test how well they know each other. Or let everyone "guess" their place at the table, in a similar way, by asking trivia questions associated with family members.
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