Hosting Thanksgiving for your family and friends is more than getting together for a holiday meal on a big day. Thanksgiving came about as a way of being thankful and blessed to celebrate the new harvest, but today has transformed into expressing the love and appreciation we have for those we care about while also being thankful for the mouthwatering and beautiful looking thanksgiving dinner.
Creating that memorable experience for your guests will take preparation and work. Especially if it’s your first time hosting your first thanksgiving, you will need to give yourself enough time to do all of your grocery shopping, prepare the Thanksgiving menu for your dinner party, and prepare your house with entertainments and comforts to accept and be inviting for your guests. Creating a to do list and a guest list will help you stay focused on everything you need to get done. The last thing you want to do is to be unprepared so you’re not left scrambling with last minute grocery store runs and other unfinished business. Being on top of your tasks will help create a stress free environment for you to enjoy making Thanksgiving. That is why the most important advice is to simply be prepared. Let’s have a look at some other great tips that will enhance your home and host the best thanksgiving day ever!
Thanksgiving Meal
The Thanksgiving turkey is the centerpiece of your Thanksgiving table, and your Thanksgiving table will be the centerpiece of the entire Thanksgiving weekend. This holiday is deeply rooted and expressed with food, and that’s where it begins.
Getting your Thanksgiving table in order surely can be the most stressful part of getting your house ready for Thanksgiving. Most of us will get caught up in the daunting task of making everything from scratch and slaving away in the kitchen. Between all the turkey entrees, side dishes, sauces, appetizers, and of course desserts like pumpkin pie, you will have to be selective on which old and new recipes to use to create your Thanksgiving Menu.
Choosing your menu should be heavily weighted towards Thanksgiving classics along with the food you love most. But, you should also factor in what kitchen equipment you have (i.e. mixer, slow cooker, etc.) and the amount of time you have available to prepare and cook everything. Additionally, you are probably not the only one in the family or guests with amazing cooking skills. Don’t be shy of asking if any of your family members or guests would like to showcase their famous dishes at your Thanksgiving get together. Everyone loves potluck and also encourages confidence and conversation while together at the Thanksgiving table. You can always elect to get store bought foods. This really depends on what equipment you have. Sometimes it’s easier to buy the turkey prepared, sometimes it’s better to focus on cooking the turkey yourself and buying your side dishes and appetizers already prepared. Finding the balance that best fits your schedule and tools is the key.
Most people prefer to cook the turkey themselves which adds to the experience of “turkey day”, but many people don’t have the time to cook the 800 side dishes that is always expected on Thanksgiving. So instead of using all of your pots and pans on your range to make all the sides and apps while making a huge mess in the process, use an
which will cook your food faster and healthier. Air fried foods has amazing texture and flavor while also saving you a lot of time and stress with simple cleanup. Air fryers are the best for cooking Thanksgiving veggies like green beans, brussels sprouts, sweet potato, and pumpkin. Air fryers can also be a terrific alternative for cooking your desserts such as pumpkin pie and cinnamon cookies. There is very little that air fryers cannot cook well and is a master at preheating foods. The benefits of an air fryer for thanksgiving are great and will offer you a lot more throughout the year too.
Another magnificent stress and time saver is an ice maker. The bottom line is that you will be using ice like crazy. Ice is a must for beverages but during holidays when you are cooking vast amounts of food, often times you will run out of freezer storage space and will need to compensate your refrigerator with bags of ice, or will need ice to keep desserts or specific dishes cold, and also in case of an emergency where ice will be needed. Especially if you are planning to host many guests, you will need a ton of ice. This is an easy and inexpensive item that can help make your party seamless, not to mention the other uses you can have for an ice maker throughout the rest of the year.
Thanksgiving Hospitality
Being one of the major holidays to receive guests, this is the time to break out your best homewares. Remember that your table settings will be the centerpiece of Thanksgiving. That means you should use your best tablecloth, silverware, and platters. Do articulate each place setting with a fancy folded napkin and wine glass which colors can also represent fall and any potential flowers, plants, and environment of the table and room. There are so many dishes on Thanksgiving that you may not have fancy serving dishes for everything, but should at least prioritize thanksgiving classics such as mashed potatoes and cranberry sauce to be served from your best. You can also elevate the experience by using printable place cards for each guests place at the table. Consider doing cute things to show your appreciation for your guests like a small snack bag and well packed travel sized toiletries in a thanksgiving themed gift left on their guest room linens.
Entertainment
Between Thanksgiving and then Christmas, this is the time for get togethers. That means entertaining guests. Often times your family members will be staying the holiday weekend so you will need to make sure they stay entertained. Owning a nice high end TV that many people can watch comfortably on is a simple concept, but worth mentioning for thanksgiving weekend. There will be parades, sports, and other holiday specials that many families enjoy watching together. Many families even make it a tradition.
Another key item that will help you tremendously is a Bluetooth wireless speaker. This gives you the ability to enhance your environments ambiance with holiday tunes as well as amplify any sound from your TV if you don’t already have a home audio system. These devices are also great for listening to your favorite music or podcasts while preparing and cooking all of your thanksgiving foods.
Lastly, consider adding activities to your thanksgiving weekend itinerary. These are the moments in which memories are created. These memories can last a lifetime. Think about what activities your family, friends, and guests may enjoy to compliment the amazing Thanksgiving dinner you just hosted. This can range anywhere from an outdoor game of family football to an indoor game on the couch of charades. Whatever you decide, people love to have fun, eat food, and companionship. Enjoy each others company and love and have a blessed holiday season.
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