Woman's Info Articles

If memories of last year's Thanksgiving include stacks of buffet plates, last-minute jaunts to the store for fresh rosemary or that burnt pumpkin pie, you may want to think about trying to de-stress your holiday this year. There are plenty of small steps you can take, from making lists to shopping early, that will make things go much smoother. Take the time to plan your Thanksgiving meal thoroughly and well ahead of time, and you'll reap huge rewards at the dinner table.

The true secret to being a gracious host or hostess (and keeping your own sanity) is to not let small problems ruin the day. If one of your side dishes burns, simply toss it out and enjoy the bounty you do have. If the turkey burns, order take-out. As you dry the last of the pots and pans that served so well in preparing your feast, you can enjoy the satisfaction that comes from a job well done, and the knowledge that next year, it will be someone else's turn.

10 Thanksgiving Timesavers

1. Make desserts the day before Thanksgiving. It's so hard to bake everything at the same time because everything seems to bake at different temperatures. Having your pies already made will give you more time to work on preparing the turkey, vegetables, etc.

2. Peel potatoes the day before Thanksgiving. Peel the potatoes, place them in a bowl of water, and then put them in the refrigerator. This way, they won't oxidize and turn brown. When you are ready to cook your potatoes, simply drain off the water and cook them like normal.

3. Make cornbread for homemade dressing the day before Thanksgiving. Bake the cornbread the day before and then all you have to do is mix up the ingredients and bake the dressing.

4. Cut up vegetables the day before Thanksgiving.
Whether you need vegetables for homemade dressing or you're putting out a vegetable platter, this is an easy preparation tip that will make your Thanksgiving more enjoyable.

5. Thaw turkey well ahead of time. Nothing is worse than going to fix your turkey on Thanksgiving and it's still partially frozen.

6. Purchase rolls rather than making them from scratch. You can buy rolls that will be just as good as homemade. There are rolls in the freezer section that you thaw and then let rise or crescent rolls found in the dairy section next to the biscuits.

7. Buy desserts from a local bakery. If you think making desserts from scratch will drive you over the edge this Thanksgiving, use this easy preparation tip. Go to a local bakery and choose desserts that you can pass off as homemade.

8. Have someone else do the little things. Whether it's buying precut vegetables from the produce section or buying pre-made mashed potatoes, this is an easy preparation tip that just makes sense.

9. Share the responsibility. This Thanksgiving ask your friends and family to bring different dishes and then all you have to do is cook the turkey. This is an easy preparation tip that will truly allow you to have an enjoyable Thanksgiving.

10. Order a Thanksgiving dinner from the store. You can get wonderful Thanksgiving dinners from your local grocery store. If you aren't comfortable with having the whole dinner catered, only buy the items you dread making the most.

In this season of gratitude, we give special thanks for your friendship and support. Best wishes for a joyous Thanksgiving holiday.