Thanksgiving Tips to Make Your Day Easier

Frozen Harvest Pie 

I love Thanksgiving!  A whole day centered around being thankful for all the blessings in our lives.  Being surrounded by family and friends, as we all stuff our faces with yummy comfort food. 

I use the tips below to help me spend more time with family and friends, instead of being stuck in the kitchen, missing all of the fun.

Thanksgiving Tips to Make Your Day Easier

1. Shop Early.  Stores already have the items you need for a great Thanksgiving meal on the shelves and they are typically on sale.

2. Start cooking now.  Cook and freeze as many of the desserts and side dishes as you can.  If a dish cannot be frozen, prepare as much as you can a day or two ahead of time.

3. Use disposable pans.  There is no shame in using pans that you can cook in, then toss in the trash for easier clean up.  You can transfer the cooked food into pretty dishes for serving if you prefer.

4. Use your slow cooker.  A lot of dishes can be cooked in the slow cooker.  By using it, you will free up space on the stove top or in the oven.

Sweet Potatoes Two Ways 

5. Spread the load.  Ask your guests to bring a dish.  Be specific about what you want them to bring.  If you do not assign a dish for them to bring, you could end up with 5 trays of cut up vegetables.  

6. Set the table the night before.  Get your kids and spouse to help with this one.  Many hands make light work.

7.  Keep the kids occupied.  Cover the table with paper and have crayons on the table for the kids to get creative with.  One year, I forgot to get paper to cover the kids table with, so instead I took birthday wrapping paper and turned it over so the white backing was showing, then I taped it to the table.  It worked great!

Italian Pinwheels

8. Have appetizers ready for the early birds.  No matter how often you stress the time for people to be there, you know someone is going to show up early.  Have a few light and easy snacks to hold them over.  Fresh fruit, veggie tray, cheese and crackers, etc.

 Clean As You Go

9.  Clean as you go!  By doing this, you will have more time to spend with your guests.

10.  Have fun and remember what the day is really about!

On Friday, I will be posting a fantastic 

Thanksgiving leftover recipe called,

Cranberry Turkey Casserole.

Visit my friends blogs!

My friends are taking some time off from blogging, but they have incredible recipes in their archives!

You will love Bo and his blog,  Bo's Bowl.  Not only does he host great giveaways,  his recipes are incredible!  One visit to his blog and you will see why I faithfully follow it.

Also visit my friend Pam's blog, Pam's Midwest Kitchen Korner,  for more great recipes!  Once you read her blog, she will be your friend too!