- Are you like me and host your family Thanksgiving Dinner? It is a pleasure for me and one of the few days a year that I cook 😀
It’s a big undertaking. How do you handle the task?
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It’s In The Planning
- For me, it’s in the planning. I am a very detail oriented person and a huge list maker. Usually, I scribble the Thanksgiving dinner menu, cook times and cooking schedule on some scrap paper. Since I started making printables (which I am loving, by the way) I decided to make a nice looking planning packet.
We host the dinner for usually at least 12 people. Fortunately, we have a large kitchen and dining room and two dining room tables. We put the tables in an “L” shape so that we could all talk to each other. 😀
Although we also have a couple sets of china dishes, we use heavy duty paper plates. I know that is not environmentally friendly, but it’s probably no worse than the amount of water that would be needed to wash the dishes 12 people use.
Making The List
Although my planning packet includes a guest list, we don’t need it as our guests are family. But I created it since I know some people have more extensive dinners.
In our family, we meet at our house and I do most of the cooking, but everyone brings drinks, desserts or side dishes.
We have picky eaters. Some like turkey, some prefer ham. So, of course, I make both (yes, they are spoiled). This is where the cooking temperature and cook time are important. Plus, I buy frozen pies (pecan is my favorite 😀 ). The pies also may cook at a different temperature.
So, my list will include the temps and cook time, and that information can be put on the timeline schedule.
Need help planning Thanksgiving dinner? Check out this planner! #Thanksgiving #Planner #ThanksgivingIdeas Share on XMore Than Food
Hosting Thanksgiving dinners involves more than food. Products such as tablecloths and decorations are needed. Paper or cheap plastic tablecloths make cleanup so much easier. We have several children in the group and believe me, disposable is the way to go.
Last year I also made printable name cards for napkin rings. The download is available here.
Probably one of my hardest Thanksgiving dinner hosting tasks is getting the house cleaned. (I have a list for cleaning also 🙂 )There are just two of us at home, but we somehow generate a lot of dust and messes! Our three dogs may have a little part in this. However, I am kinda OCD about anyone coming over when the house is a mess. So, housecleaning is also on my to-do list.
The Planner
The free downloadable planner contains the menu plan, guest list, shopping list, things to do 14 days before Thanksgiving, things to do 7 days before, things to do 2 days before, things to do Thanksgiving, and a timeline page. The “things to do” pages have some activities suggested and then there is also a copy with just blank lines.
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I’m just having a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that thanksgiving is next month. Lol
I totally understand! Seems it was just Memorial Day. 🙂
If only I had seen this before Canadian Thanksgiving! I love your decorating. It’s so much fun to get fancy for holidays.
Thank you Sarah!