Thanksgiving is one of the most wonderful times of the year, but it can also be one of the most stressful. When you invite a large gathering of family and friends over to your home in Huntsville, it can become overwhelming to take care of all the work it requires. The prep, cooking, decorating, and cleanup may leave your at your wit’s end if you are not careful. If you want to reduce your stress this Thanksgiving, follow this handy guide to make the experience go as smoothly as possible.
Don’t Overthink It
You don’t have to follow in Martha Stewart’s footsteps to make your home beautiful for Thanksgiving. All it takes is a few simple touches to make your home ready for your Thanksgiving guests. One thing you should put a lot of effort into is the Thanksgiving centerpiece. Using plants as aspects of the centerpiece is very desirable. Flowers, gourds and pumpkins are all great components to brighten up the centerpiece.
Plan a Buffet
One of the best moves you can make to reduce your stress on Thanksgiving is to serve the food buffet-style. You don’t need to go to the trouble of serving a formal dinner to make the day a success. Your guests will be perfectly happy to serve themselves from a buffet table that you set up. If you want to really ease your workload, you can use disposable plates and utensils on the buffet to make cleanup a snap.
Prepare in Advance
Don’t fall into the trap of cooking everything the day of Thanksgiving. You can cook the turkey the day before and simply carve it on the day. It will still be quite juicy. You can make all the side dishes in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Most side dishes will keep perfectly fine in the fridge for at least three days. Pies can be made well in advance and frozen. Spreading out the workload over several days will greatly reduce your stress about cooking a huge Thanksgiving feast.
Fake It, Don’t Bake It
Baking the pies is often one of the most stressful parts of cooking for Thanksgiving. Getting the crust exactly right is a skill that many home bakers really struggle with. If this includes you, then don’t fight it. There are a number of great bakeries here in Huntsville that cook up mouth-watering pies that your guests will rave over.
Clean as You Go
If you let the dishes pile up all day, it will be a nightmare to clean them. Instead, make sure to clear the dishes from the table after each course. Rinse them off and throw them in the dishwasher right away to avoid food setting in. If you clean up as the party progresses, it will allow you to avoid the stress of a huge clean-up job in the aftermath.
No Need for Stress
If you follow these tips, you can host a huge family Thanksgiving in Huntsville, AL without worrying about getting overwhelmed. It will be a lot of fun, and you will avoid having a meltdown from overwork. Take it easy and enjoy your family this Thanksgiving with these easy tips.
