CINDERELLA’S STRESS FREE THANKSGIVING PLANNING GUIDE

Did you win the honor of hosting Thanksgiving this year?  Yahoooo!  Well, we put together a planning guide together that will guarantee no stress, no worries, just a multitude of holiday spirit, laughter among family and a whole lot of delicious food.

2 WEEKS AHEAD

-Make your guest list of family and friends.

-Send your invitation and ask everyone what your guests plan to bring.

-Decide on your table decorations:  napkins, candles, and tablecloth.  I like fall décor using pumpkins, berries and fall leaves.

-Finalize your menu.

-Hit the grocery store for all your non-perishable items.

-Decide if you will be serving a fresh or frozen turkey.  A couple turkey tips will help make your decision.  If you’re buying a frozen turkey, get it now and keep it in the freezer.  Buying a fresh bird?  Put your order in now with your local butcher.

1 WEEK AHEAD

-Thaw the turkey.  Make sure there is room to thaw in the refrigerator.  Make sure you put it in a large pan to catch any juice that may escape as it thaws. 

-Make sure you clear space in the refrigerator for all the leftovers after the dinner. 

3-5 DAYS AHEAD

-Shop for all your perishable items.  You can save time when cooking if you group all your items according to the recipe in the pantry and refrigerator.

-If you don’t have a bar set up a beverage area that is central to the kitchen or dining room.  This area will house all the glasses, cocktail napkins, ice bucket, bottle and wine openers and a recycling container.

-Set the table if you have a separate dining area.

2 DAYS AHEAD

-Make all your desserts.  Remember, people typically like to sample a couple of desserts so make sure you have enough for everyone.

-Get the family involved and clean the house and pick up the yard.

1 DAY AHEAD

-Prepare all your side dishes that can be made 24 hours ahead of time.  This can be cranberries or potato casseroles.  You can cut all the ingredients for salads (but don’t toss with dressing) and your stuffing.

-Purchase all your last minute items like rolls, ice, lettuce, etc.

-Decide how much time you will need to cook your turkey.  Roasting will take 12-15 minutes per pound at 325 degrees.  Plan to have the turkey done approximately one hour before dinner so it can cool, which makes carving easier.  If you have a question about your bird, call the folks at Butterball (800-288-8372).

-Set out all the serving dishes and utensils

THANKSGIVING DAY

MORNING:

-Make the stuffing.

-Cook the potatoes.

-Stuff the turkey and get it roasting.

-Make any vegetables you haven’t yet prepared.

-Whip the cream for all the delicious desserts.

AFTERNOON:

-Finish the gravy

-Reheat the potatoes that were cooked in the morning

-Transfer the turkey to the platter

-Serve, sit down and dig in!

THE DAY AFTER

Eat leftovers and take a nap!

The most important thing is don't sweat it: The true secret to being a gracious host or hostess (and keeping your own sanity) is to not let small problems ruin the day. If one of your side dishes burns, simply toss it out and enjoy the rest of the meal. If the turkey burns, order take-out. And don't forget to laugh.

Happy Thanksgiving from Cinderella Carpet One!

Finalizing Your Thanksgiving Preparations

Are you finalizing your plans for this year’s Thanksgiving celebration?  Perhaps you’re hosting this year and aren’t exactly sure how to begin the preparation.  Here are a few helpful tips from Cinderella Carpet One in Salinas and San Luis Obispo for all of you Thanksgiving hosts out there to keep the holiday stress-free and smooth sailing.

Remember, you don’t have to do it all.  Let your guests bring their favorite side dish that way, you don’t have to slave away in the It’s nice to have guests share and enjoy their traditional dish at your table – just like the Pilgrims!

Decorations: Make it fun for everyone—have some craft time with the kids where they can create the decorations.  You could do the classic Turkey by tracing their hands and then have them decorate the turkey.  Create a festive atmosphere with these cute Thanksgiving decorations.

Be prepared and plan ahead. Start cooking dishes or prepping them the day before.  This will make Thursday go by much more smoothly and it allows you more freedom to mingle with family and friends.

•Menu in hand, think about what order you need to cook what dish on Thanksgiving Day. Can you make your pies the day before? Your bread? Think it out & if it helps you, write down a "cooking schedule."

•Bake your pies on Wednesday. If you prepared and froze your pie crusts, take them out of the freezer and thaw them first. Cover & refrigerate the finished pies.

•Set the table on Wednesday, if you haven't already. You can cover it with a clean sheet to protect it from dust.

•Make your salad; cut up veggies for a relish tray if you haven't already. If you're making any gelatin molds, make them a day ahead and refrigerate.

•Check your grocery list one last time to make sure you aren't missing anything. Stores are usually closed all or most of the day on Thanksgiving.

Things to do after Thanksgiving Dinner. There’s nothing wrong with just sitting around and talking.  Some may find, though, that the more restless of their relatives may need some activities to get them talking and sharing and opening up. 

•Reinvent “game day”.  Post dinner; fight the tryptophan sleep urge with a round of old-school parlor pursuits – from charades to Old Maid.

•Go for a walk. I know simple, but sometimes we forget the simple things. Is there a child or spouse you have not spent much time with lately in all the flurry of activity? Invite them along and talk about the dinner or the day or even swap Christmas lists or wishes.

•Pick a movie to go see in the theater. This is a great way to unwind after a long week, and face it; the cook probably needs some time off her/his feet!

•Play touch football. I think this activity is even more fun for those of us who are not usually coordinated or sporty. Anyone can toss a football a couple of feet and run and there is little danger of injury if you stick to the “touch not tackle” rule.

It’s Thanksgiving, so enjoy the day with your loved ones because whatever you do, will be time well spent!  Happy Thanksgiving from all of us at Cinderella Carpet One.