Tricks to Make Thanksgiving Dinner Easier Than Ever

If you’ve hosted a Thanksgiving dinner before, you know it’s no easy feat. It can feel like a marathon of cooking and an endless pile of dishes. These simple tips make preparing for turkey day a breeze. In fact, it will be a lot of fun!

Get Ahead

Side dishes like potatoes, pies, and bread rolls can be made hours before, or even the night before the main dish. Make a list of everything that needs to be done and plan out what can be made one or two days in advance. If cooking in advance isn’t an option, prep what needs to be made. Chop the vegetables, toast the nuts, cook the rice and more in advance, so the day-of can be a quick assembly rather than hours of prep.

Collaborate on Cooking

If the whole family gets involved, assign one dish to each member or guest to keep your to-do list a little shorter. Assign someone to wine, salad, bread, and other simple things. Don’t feel bad asking for help. It’s never a bad thing to end up with an extra pie, or ice cream to go with it. Just be sure to ask in advance so nobody feels overwhelmed with last-minute requests.

Set the Table Early

Cooking takes up most of your time on Thanksgiving day. But, table-making is a fun and important part of the day. Iron the tablecloth, fold the napkins, and polish the silver the night before so it’s one less thing on your to-do list day-of.  If you have a large party coming, set up a kids table in advance. Place some crafts and games on the table instead of decoration, to keep the kiddos entertained before food is ready.

Designate a Dishwasher

Washing the dishes throughout the day can shave an hour off clean-up time when the festivities come to an end. Designate one or more people to be dishwashers and run a load in the dishwasher every couple of hours. This will also free up spatulas and pans you may need later in the day, and keeps the kitchen feeling under control.

The holidays are so much fun with family, friends, and lots of good food. Taking time and the proper steps to prepare for large events will go a long way in how they turn out. If you’re a year-round entertainer, Shoreline townhomes are perfect for you with an open concept and space for everyone. To see one of our townhomes in person, reach out to us at https://shorelineparkcity.com/