Thanksgiving Prep Guide Part II

Today I’m sharing the second installment of my Thanksgiving prep guide. Check out last week’s guide here, and then read on to see all the things you can do today, tomorrow, and this weekend to make sure you’re not scrambling next week!

• Finalize Your Recipes When it comes to Thanksgiving there are so many options but it’s best to finalize everything that you’re cooking at least one week out- especially when it comes to the main staples. Set aside an hour or so to review all your resources at once- cookbooks, blogs, magazines- and then decided what you’re going to make. I recommend limiting yourself to just that hour so the process doesn’t go on forever!
• Figure Out Who’s Doing What Once you know what you want to make- finalize what friends and family are bringing. Send a group email to all those who have offered to bring something and tell them what you need! Some folks will have their own things they want to contribute, but most people really appreciate direction. Don’t forget to include things like wine and other beverages, too. Also, be sure to include a deadline for response in case you end up having to pick up anything additional on your end.
• Make Your List & Hit the Store at an Off Time Once you’ve solidified what you’re making and what your guests are bringing, make your grocery list. I  recommend breaking it into two parts- the items you can buy 5-6 days out, and the ones that have to be picked up 2-3 days out. Then, if you can, hit the store at an off time (ie when the stores aren’t crazed)- a weekend evening, in the middle of the day on a weekday, and so on.
• Map Out Your Cook & Prep Timeline The best way to avoid feeling completely stressed out on the day of Thanksgiving is to make a prep timeline that maps out everything you need to for the big day, what needs to get done each day leading up the event, and who’s doing what (hello children, house guests and spouses). This applies to both prepping your home and the actual cooking part. So much of the cook process can be done ahead- and if you’re not sure about a dish- leave a comment or email me and I’ll help you figure it out! Be as detailed as possible when it comes to mapping things out- down to ironing cloth napkins for the table, or curating a play list for the party.