How to Enjoy a Stress Free Thanksgiving

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By Tracy Alt
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Thanksgiving

So, you're hosting Thanksgiving this year and you're worried because you want everything to be perfect. Stop worrying. Keep in mind what Thanksgiving is all about. It is a day to enjoy the company of your friends and family. It is a day meant for you to be together and be thankful, not to be stressed over small details. Here are ten ways you can avoid stress this Thanksgiving.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Step 1

Plan ahead. I can't stress this enough. If you have a lot to do to get ready for Thanksgiving Day, plan ahead and get it all done in an orderly, stress-free fashion. Make a list of everything you need to do and how far in advance you can do it. Consult your list often to make sure nothing gets forgotten.
Step 2

When planning your meal, choose dishes that can be made in advance. The more you can do ahead of time, the less you will have to do on Thanksgiving Day. You might even get the chance to step out of the kitchen and enjoy the company of your friends and family.
Step 3

Shop early. Do not leave anything until the last minute. Start buying non-perishable items now. You don't want to be caught in the supermarket the day before Thanksgiving wrestling over the last can of cream of mushroom soup for your green bean casserole.
Step 4

Involve your family. Talk to your family about your desire to have an enjoyable Thanksgiving. Explain to them that it is unfair for all of the burden to be on one person. Ask them to pitch in and help with the preparations and the clean-up as much as possible so that everyone can have a great day.
Step 5

Involve your guests. Most people do not like to show up empty-handed, but you don't want to wind up with five boxes of assorted chocolates so don't be afraid to ask for what you want. Tell your Aunt Martha how much everyone raves about her sweet potato casserole and ask her if she wouldn't mind bringing it to share.
Step 6

Forget Martha Stewart. You don't have to take a walk through the woods gathering twigs, berries, leaves and pine cones to make the perfect centerpiece for your Thanksgiving Day table. It is also unnecessary to decorate the entire house in an Autumn theme. As long as you have plates and forks your family will be able to eat - even if they do it standing in front of the television watching the football game. If you want a pretty centerpiece but don't have time to make one, go to your local florist and buy one.
Step 7

Take a tip from Sandra Lee of The Food Network and make it a semi-homemade Thanksgiving. Nobody has to know that the cranberry sauce came from a jar or the gravy wasn't homemade. Take some help from the wonderful assortment of already prepared foods that are available in your grocery store. Give yourself some time to relax on Thanksgiving instead of slaving in the kitchen while everyone else is watching football or the parade.
Step 8

Make dishes that you are comfortable preparing. A simple rule of thumb for entertaining is to know your recipes. It is never a good idea to try a recipe that you have never made before and ask your guests to be the guinea pigs. It just leaves too much room for failure and frustration. If you come across a new recipe that you really want to try this Thanksgiving, practice making it ahead of time and work out any kinks before the big day.
Step 9

Follow the rule of: It's better to have it and not need it than to need it and not have it. Always err on the side of caution when it comes to preparing to entertain a crowd. Buy more of everything than you think you will need and rest assured that you will have everything you need.
Step 10

Go with the flow. No matter how much you plan, something is bound to go wrong. Don't let it ruin your day. I remember the Thanksgiving when I didn't allow enough time for my turkey to thaw so when it came time to prepare it for the turkey fryer it was still frozen. My mother-in-law and I spent an hour in the kitchen massaging the turkey under cold running water until it was thawed enough to cook. Then came the debacle of trying to inject the flavoring which is another story entirely. In the end, we wound up eating dinner almost three hours later than planned. Good thing I had plenty of appetizers so nobody starved and we all got a good laugh out of it. No harm done. It was still a happy Thanksgiving.

Comments

cleosmom said

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on 9/7/2008 Great article! I was pleased when you said to have everyone pitch in with the cooking and the cleaning. Usually everyone thinks of eating and no one wants to help clean up. Thanksgiving should be enjoyable for EVERYONE.