November 26, 2014
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving Day. Although many readers may spend the holiday with family and friends who will be preparing the traditional dinner, some of you may be doing the cooking yourselves. So if this is your first Thanksgiving in charge of the big meal, do yourself a favor with the annual OK WASSUP! TOP 5 Thanksgiving Dinner Tips:
– PLAN YOUR MENU AND THEME
Think about your menu in advance and write down the things you want to serve your guests, bearing in mind those dishes that cannot be changed and those that can be “brought up a notch,” as chef Emeril Lagasse always says. If you haven’t already purchased all your ingredients, hurry NOW to the store, as many necessary items will be sold out. Break with tradition when you can, but dare not to when you can’t. Plan a theme for your dinner table and think about which plates, decorations, and serving pieces will enhance your theme. It can be simple or complex, or it can involve heirloom china and crystal or disposable plates and flatware. It can incorporate flowers and vegetables from your garden or even fun decorations from the kids. But remember the vegetarians and vegans who may be in attendance. Oh, and remember to have fun!
– PLAN YOUR COOKING SCHEDULE
Carefully plan and write out a cooking schedule and timetable well in advance. Indicate those dishes that can be made ahead of time, those that can be frozen, those that will require the crockpot or microwave and those that must be cooked at the last minute. Also, know in advance which dishes/beverages your guests may be bringing, as well as which family members or friends will be helpers prior to the meal and in the after meal clean-up.
– DON’T LIMIT YOURSELF TO JUST THE OVEN
Crockpot or pressure cooker recipes prepared on the stove top and in conjunction with the oven is the best way to go for such a big meal. Find out more about other methods of preparing turkey, including brining, deep-frying, grilling, or even store prepared. That way, cooking won’t be limited to just one appliance. Utilizing an alternate cooking source for the main course always decreases time spent in the kitchen. Also, hot plates can come in quite handy during the serving process.
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– PREPARE MUCH OF THE MEAL THE DAY BEFORE
Peel those sweet potatoes the night before, thaw and clean that turkey and place it in the roaster and then back in the fridge. Also, save time and energy when making a big meal by measuring everything out before you start cooking. This is a great time-saver and will save you from pulling your hair out in frustration from last minute snafu’s.
– REMEMBER THE GOOD STUFF
A variety of desserts, a steaming hot pot of coffee, several liqueurs, wines and adult beverages, even a few Alka-Seltzer may be a necessary but fitting end to a very lovely day. Some disposable Tupperware, aluminum foil and paper plates may also come in handy for guests wanting to take some of the delectables home with them.
Oh, and just in case you don’t have any special plans for Thanksgiving, it’s not too late to volunteer at a church or local soup kitchen to feed the needy.
