No matter the occasion hosting any party or get-together requires you to be organized. But that’s easier said than done, especially if it’s your first time hosting.
I mean, where do you even start? The good news is below; we discuss just what you need to do each week leading up to the big feast so that you have the Thanksgiving you’ve been hoping for.
How To Get Organized For Thanksgiving
Regardless if it’s your first time hosting a Thanksgiving dinner or you’ve done it countless times, knowing how to get organized for that special meal can save you a lot of stress and anxiety.
The truth is just like any other holiday meal, hosting Thanksgiving is all about planning and doing as much of the prep work as you can ahead of time. This can save you from being frazzled by things like chilling wine or putting the turkey in the oven on time.
Today, we’ll be talking you through a series of checklists that you can follow starting four weeks before Thanksgiving up to the day of. This way, you can welcome your guests with a relaxed vibe and hopefully with a drink in hand. Let’s get Organized For Thanksgiving!
One Month Before Thanksgiving
Order Turkey. Don’t wait until the last minute to get your turkey especially if you’re going to buy it frozen anyway. Place your order as early as now so you can choose the right size for the crew you’ll be feeding.
Make a cooking schedule. It helps if you plan out your food preparation timeline now so you don’t scramble around the kitchen on the day itself. You can also take this time to prepare your shopping list to make sure you don’t forget anything.
You Might Also Like These: Easy DIY Thanksgiving Decorations
Three Weeks Before Thanksgiving
De-Clutter Your Kitchen. Make sure you have enough room for groceries and supplies. Clear out some space in the refrigerator, cabinets, pantry, and especially the freezer.
Prepare Your Holiday Decor. Preparing your home for the holiday means putting up decorations. You can, of course, choose to use the ones you already have or you can take the DIY route to make your home feel a little more festive.
Regardless of the path you wish to take, now’s the time to gather all the materials and supplies you need so you won’t have to struggle in the coming days.
Start Buying Non-Perishables. As early as now to get Organized For Thanksgiving, you should be heading to the store to buy items that won’t spoil easily so you don’t have to make last-minute purchases just because you ran out of nutmeg. Think crackers, spices, broth, and pumpkin puree.
Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving
Start Cooking Now. Food prepping starts 14 days before the night of your holiday meal. This is also the time to start preparing food you can store in the freezer including pie crusts, bread, rolls, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce, gravy, and stuffing ingredients.
One Week Before Thanksgiving
Start Preparing Your Home for the Holiday. At this point to get Organized For Thanksgiving, be sure to: Tidy up, dust, and vacuum rooms in your house that guests will be spending time in including the living room, dining room, kitchen, and bathroom.
You can also start clearing out closets to hang coats, hats, scarves, and other outerwear. Now is also the time to start polishing silverware and pressing table linens.
Prepare Extra Room In Your Fridge. Make sure there’s space in your fridge for leftovers or for food items that your guests might bring.
Start Thawing Your Turkey. About four days before Thanksgiving, you can start defrosting the turkey in the fridge.
Remember that thawing a turkey takes five hours per pound so keep in mind the weight of the bird you’ll be serving.
Purchase perishables. Your last shopping trip should be for items like dairy products, fruits, vegetables, and herbs.
One Day Before Thanksgiving
Start Preparing side dishes and desserts. Anything that can be left in the fridge like pies or appetizers that won’t wilt or spoil.
Popular Pie Recipes Include:
- Easy No Bake Chocolate Pie
- Southern Pecan Pie
- Easy Pecan Fudge Pie
- No Bake Chocolate Strawberry Pie
- Deep Dish Mango Pie
- Grandma’s Buttermilk Pie Recipe
Set the dining table. Arrange the chairs, decorate and create place settings, and create labels for the food you’ll be serving.
Purchase any baked goods you need
The Day of Thanksgiving
Get the Turkey Ready for Roasting. Put together the stuffing, fill the turkey, and start roasting the turkey.
Remember that it takes 13 minutes to cook a pound of unstuffed turkey at 350° F so give it enough time to cook and rest before carving.
Defrost Frozen Items You’ve Prepared Beforehand.
Chill the Wine and Other Beverages. It will also help to make sure that you have enough ice.
Prepare vegetable dishes and keep them in a warming drawer
Assemble the appetizers.
Need More Side Dishes? Than You Might Also Like These: Pinterest Thanksgiving Sides!
Finish the remaining dishes you have planned. Reheat anything that needs to be reheated, dress the salad, and set out appetizers.
Primp Up. Don’t forget to take a shower and a bit of a breather before your first guests start ringing your doorbell. Put on your Thanksgiving Day attire and splash on your favorite scent.
Carve the Turkey. Slice up and portion the turkey you’ve been resting since midday. Serve it on the table or the buffet.
Enjoy the Night. Last but not least, don’t forget to enjoy your time with the guests and show gratitude for all the blessings you’ve had all year.
Do you have any tips to share for how to get Organized For Thanksgiving? Please leave them in the comments below.
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