How to Plan Thanksgiving Dinner

Planning Thanksgiving dinner can be a bit overwhelming, especially if it's your first year as the host. But you can easily get through this holiday without pulling your hair out if you just follow a few basic steps.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. PLAN EARLY -- Do not wait until a week before Thanksgiving to plan your meal. You should start planning at least a month in advance so you have plenty of time to get things in order.

2. MAKE YOUR GUEST LIST -- The first thing you need to do is make your guest list. How many guests you have will help determine if you should have a sit down meal, a pot luck dinner, a buffet, etc.

3. PLAN YOUR DINNER -- After you know how many guests you will be feeding you can decide on what type of dinner you will serve. If you have only a few guests you can have a sit down dinner. If you have a lot of guests you can consider a pot luck dinner to help you with the cost of the meal. If there is not a lot of room for your guests you can serve a buffet style meal. You can even ask your guests to bring their own folding chair!

4. INVITE YOUR GUESTS -- Invite everyone on your guest list either by calling them or by sending out invitations. If you will be asking your guests to bring a dish now is the time to ask. Be specific as to what you want them to bring. You do not want everyone to show up with rolls!

5. MAKE YOUR MENU -- You should make two separate menu lists. One list should include everything that is being served, including any dishes other guests are bringing. The other list should be only the foods your are serving. Write down every little thing (olives, pickles, etc.) so you do not forget to put anything on the table on Thanksgiving day.

6. BUY YOUR DECORATIONS -- Shop early for whatever decorations or party favors you need. You will be very busy when the big day comes so you do not want to be running around looking for decorations at the last minute.

7. BUY YOUR NONPARSIHABLES -- Do not wait to buy your canned goods at the last minute. You will have enough grocery shopping to do just before Thanksgiving so buy anything that will not spoil well in advance and put those items in a special place so no one eats them before the big day.

8. BUY YOUR PARISHABLES -- Several days before Thanksgiving you need to buy the rest of the food that you are serving. If you are buying a frozen turkey be sure you allow time for it to thaw. Make sure your refrigerator is not full the week before Thanksgiving because you are going to need a lot of room for all your goodies!

9. SET YOUR TABLE AND DECORATE -- Always set your table or set up your buffet area in advance and never on Thanksgiving day. This way you will have time to plan your seating arrangement and you can make sure everything is in it's place. This is also the time to put up any decorations. Try to get all the set up done at least two days before your dinner.

10. BAKE -- The day before Thanksgiving is the day you do any baking you have to do. Bake your pies or bake that cake. You can also cook certain items the day before Thanksgiving like mashed potatoes or casseroles. Make them in advance then just warm them up on Thanksgiving day!

11. COOK YOUR TURKEY -- On Thanksgiving day you will cook your turkey and let the aroma fill your home! While it's cooking you can start opening your canned goods and setting out certain foods like olives and pickles. Look at your menu so you don't forget anything!

12. WELCOME YOUR GUESTS -- When your guests arrive welcome them with open arms! Don't worry about having to be the perfect host. Just relax and enjoy yourself and if someone offers to help... let them! Be sure you thank your guests for whatever food they brought and make sure they leave with a nice plate of leftovers. Then kick back and relax! You did a great job!