How I planned and executed a stress-free Thanksgiving!
Our family has started rotating where Thanksgiving is hosted. I decided to host this year. Our apartment hasn’t ever been big enough since moving to Madison. But, our current apartment has a clubhouse we can reserve. So I reserved it right away! I wanted to ensure it was a stress-free Thanksgiving.
Since then I was planning, making lists, and doing research! I freaking love to cook, so I was so excited! But, man was I nervous! As I haven’t cooked for that many people before!
Have you hosted and things went wrong or you were so stressed out? I am going to share how I kept it as stress-free as possible. Thanksgiving went off without a hitch, and there was only time I had the “Get out of my kitchen”! I call that a success!
What did I do to ensure it was stress-free?
1. Made a Menu
- Turkey
- Bread
- Gluten-Free Stuffing
- Corn Pudding – a MUST in our family!
- Mashed Potatoes
- Roasted Veggies (I always need something healthier!)
- Pies – Apple & Pumpkin
- Homemade Whipped Cream
- Cheese & Meat Platter for Snacking
- No Can Gluten-Free Green Bean Casserole
2. Gave Everyone Something to Make & Bring
This helped me ensure I wasn’t making EVERYTHING! It kept down what I was actually making!
3. Make a Facebook Event
This is where I invited everyone, posted our address and Airbnb links they could stay in.
This majorly helped keep down the millions of texts I would have gotten or had to send! Also, kept the list of what people had to bring in one spot! So much more organized!
4. Once I had the final menu done & I knew what I was making I, make my grocery lists!
Have you noticed a theme? I like lists and like to be a little overly organized!
This helped me plan what I would get from Imperfect Produce! Our all-time favorite place to get our produce! Save me so much time at the store, and money on the Gluten-Free Stuffing!
5. Planning the days leading up to Thanksgiving.
Wednesday – Order my Imperfect Produce! Got my gluten-free pie crust from Hyvee! Starting cleaning the apartment!
Thursday – Finalize the grocery list!
Friday – Go grocery shopping! Best to do this ASAP as the turkeys were sold out just 2 days later!
Saturday – Monday I was working on finalizing my Black Friday Specials for Natural Intuition Photography!
Tuesday – Take the turkey out of the freezer and put it in a cooler to thaw! (wouldn’t fit in our fridge)
Wednesday – I made the pies, organized everything. I made sure I had enough plates, cups and so forth.
THANKSGIVING THURSDAY – Woke up at 7 am to get the turkey in the oven by 8 am! We were eating around 1230! When the turkey was done at 1130 I put in the green bean casserole and started the stuffing!
Everything was ready and over in the clubhouse by 1230!
