Have a Successful Thanksgiving by Planning in Advance.

Thanksgiving is a wonderful time to celebrate with family and friends, but it can also be a stressful time to cook a big feast. If you want to enjoy the holiday without feeling overwhelmed, here are some tips on how to prepare for Thanksgiving in advance.

Plan Your Menu

The first step to a successful Thanksgiving is plan, plan, plan. What will be your centerpiece? What dishes will you want to use? How many people are coming? What will everyone be drinking? What dietary restrictions or preferences will you need to accommodate for? What will you ask your guests to bring? (Do yourself a favor and ask for guests to bring a dish.) What will you be making and what recipes will you be using? Oh, and don't forget the Containers for leftovers.

Once you have your menu, make a shopping list of all the ingredients you need. Try to buy all your non-perishable goods the week or two before such as spices, baking supplies and canned goods. You could also place an order for a turkey from your local butcher a week or two in advance and schedule to pick it up a few days before the holiday.

Prep Your Dishes

Save yourself a headache and make most of your Thanksgiving dishes in advance. Not only will this relieve you some stress and save you some time, but it will give you oven space for the big day. Here are some examples of what you can do ahead of time:

Turkey: If you want a flavorful and juicy turkey, brining is a must! You can Brine a turkey a few days before Thanksgiving. On the big day, you remove the Turkey from the brine and pat dry. Fill the Turkey with aromatics such as celery, onions, apples, and herbs. Roast in oven and let sit for at least 30 min. before carving.

Gravy: You can make your gravy ahead of time using chicken or turkey stock. You can even make your own stock by simmering turkey wings, necks, and aromatics in a pot or Instant Pot. Freeze your stock and gravy until the day before Thanksgiving, then thaw them in the refrigerator. On Thanksgiving day, you can add drippings from the turkey, gravy master and some potato water. Simmer until thickened.

Stuffing: You can toast your bread cubes and cook your aromatics, such as onions, celery, and herbs, the day before. Store them separately in zip lock bags or containers in your refrigerator. Combine them on the big day with eggs and some stock, then bake.

Casseroles: All casseroles can be assembled the day before. Whether it's green bean, or sweet potato casserole, assemble and refrigerate. The day of, just simply pop in the oven and bake until it's bubbling and golden.

Pies: Two options here. Either make your crust and filling the day before and refrigerate or you can bake your pies the day before and let completely cool. Most pies are actually better when they are fully set and room temperature (in my opinion). If you prefer your pies warm, you can reheat in the oven for a few minutes before serving.

Bread: Prepare your dough the day before. You will impress your guests with this recipe.

Make a Schedule

The final step to a stress-free Thanksgiving is to make a schedule. Write down what time you need to start and finish each dish, and how long they will need to cook or reheat in the oven. You can also set reminders on your phone or ask "Alexa" to set reminders for you. The Amazon Echo Dot is my go-to for multi-tasking...handsfree.

Don't forget to factor in time to set the table, carve the turkey and enjoy some appetizers and drinks with your guests. You can also enlist some help from your family or friends to assist with cooking, serving, or cleaning.

With proper planning and preparation, you can have a delicious and relaxing Thanksgiving.

Happy holidays!

-Peasy