thanksgiving tips – In Good Taste

9 Essentials to Know When Hosting Thanksgiving for the First Time

Maris Callahan — Fri, 01 Nov 2019 04:49:06 +0000

If you are hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year, you’re probably wondering where to start. Hosting Thanksgiving for the first time is a big milestone whether you’re hosting three people or 30, especially if you’re taking over hosting duties from a family member who has established some long-standing traditions. The first time I cooked Thanksgiving dinner was for a “Friendsgiving” in college. It was also the first time I had ever dared venture into the body cavity of a turkey, and it certainly wasn’t the last. As much fun as it can be to cook the big meal, it’s also a daunting task. We asked readers for their best advice on hosting Thanksgiving for the first time and by keeping these tips and ideas in mind, you’ll be able to get the details out of the way so that you can enjoy the big day — and maybe even squeeze in a little time for a shower, too. Make a menu plan When you’re trying to pull off the orchestrated affair, planning ahead is key. When you’re planning your menu, go beyond bookmarking recipes and delegating side dishes. Make a special note of how long each dish takes to […]

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Planning Your First Thanksgiving Dinner Menu

Maris Callahan — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 15:04:30 +0000

So, you’re planning your first Thanksgiving dinner. You need an amazing Thanksgiving dinner menu. The meal of all meals, the marathon of holiday dinners. If you’re a beginner cook or if you don’t have a lot of experience cooking large meals, preparing a Thanksgiving dinner is no doubt, a daunting task. If you’re new to the game of cooking for crowds in the double-digits (and aren’t we all at some point?) follow some simple planning tips and look to the menu ideas below to dazzle your dinner guests and welcome the holiday season with gusto. Prep Ahead Plan your menu at least five days before Thanksgiving. Once you know what you’re going to serve, pull all your recipes together in one place – either an Excel spreadsheet or print them out. From there, you can identify what else you need and fill in menu gaps accordingly. Make a shopping list of everything you need to minimize trips to the store for “one more thing.” Stock your pantry with essentials – you won’t want to run out of chicken stock, butter, olive oil, salt or pepper on the big day and most stores close early, if they’re open at all. Plan to serve a […]

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