A Thanksgiving Checklist

The next holiday, of course, is Thanksgiving. In the past I have shared a Thanksgiving checklist (not written by me, but author unknown) that might be helpful if you are the chef/hostess, so here goes...

3 Weeks Before:
Plan your menu. Write down a list of everyone you would like to have there or that is planning on coming. Make sure you have all the cooking items you need. Check for:
- Roasting pan
(make sure the turkey will fit in it and that it all will fit in the oven)
- Gravy boat
- Bread basket
- Enough serving spoons, dishes, and bowls for
all the side dishes

2 Weeks Before:
Cook items that can be frozen. Put mixes together. For example, if you are going to do
fruit pies you can cut, peel, and make the filling and put it in the freezer.

A Week Before:
Inventory your utensils and dishes. Check for:
- Dinner Plates
- Dessert Plates

- Wine Glasses
- Clean Napkins
- Enough spoons, knives, and forks for everyone

Make sure you have tin foil and plastic wrap for leftovers. Do any deep cleaning of the house. Make a list of all the dishes you will be serving. Then go through and make sure you have all the ingredients. If you don’t have something, write it down on a shopping list. Keep the shopping list in a visible place and pick the day you’ll go to the store (avoid last-minute). Figure out how many chairs and tables you have. If you need more, you can ask family or friends that are nearby to bring some extra. Decide if you are going to do a centerpiece and gather the items needed for it.

A Day Before:
Bake desserts and other dishes that need to be refrigerated, or that are okay being reheated.
If you froze anything take it out of the freezer and put it in the fridge to thaw. Prepare yourself mentally for the cooking the next day. If you need to, write yourself a timetable of the order
things need to be done in. Clean general surfaces and vacuum the house.

Thanksgiving Day:
Make sure everyone eats breakfast. Enlist younger members of the family to set the table and
help with other tasks like arranging vegetable platters. Tell them jobs that they will have when guests start coming. For example one can be the greeter and open the door, another can take people’s coats and so on. If dinner is not quite ready when everyone is seated, go around the table and have everyone tell one thing they are thankful for.