Are you nervous about hosting your first Thanksgiving feast? You may feel overwhelmed, but luckily, there are numerous hacks that will help you breeze through turkey day in style. Impress your guests with these 5 tips for hosting the perfect Thanksgiving feast:
1. Prep Your Sides Ahead of Time
One of the most stressful parts of a Thanksgiving feast is timing your meal appropriately. Take the guesswork and headache out of this process by cooking your sides up to 2 days beforehand. Any of your favorite casseroles like green bean or sweet potato will hold up in the refrigerator well. Bake your pies the day before, and cross dessert off your list too.
2. Plan Your Menu with Recipes You’ve Mastered
The last thing you need on Thanksgiving is to experiment with new creations. Staples like mashed potatoes, pumpkin pie, and cranberry sauce are major crowd pleasers. Plus, if you know your way around these meals, you know exactly what to expect and how to deliver full flavor. If you have not mastered any Thanksgiving favorites, do a practice run. Your friends and family will thank you.
3. Create Cocktails and Mocktails
One way to keep your guests entertained while you prepare your Thanksgiving feast is to offer them tasty drinks. Create a cocktail or two for the adults (like sangria), and offer an alternative for children. Drinks that feature apple cider and cranberry juice will please guests of all ages and taste palettes.
4. Cut Corners When Possible
Believe it or not, it’s completely okay to incorporate ready-made ingredients into your menu. Many guests will never know if you use prepared pie crusts, dressings/stuffings, and casseroles. If they do notice, they will recognize how amazing you are for putting together such a wonderful feast.
5. Keep Children Entertained
Children are not shy when it comes to boredom. Help them forget about the wait by creating some crafty projects. Set up coloring stations, or have them build turkey crafts with felt or pipe cleaners. If you need a hand in the kitchen, ask them to assemble fun and easy desserts.
Now that you’ve read these tips, take a deep breath and relax. Remember, the holidays represent joy and delicious meals. As long as you have a game plan in place, you’ll nail the perfect Thanksgiving feast.
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