Countdown to Turkey Day 2013: Let’s Get Started

Countdown to Turkey Day 2013, The Thi... Countdown to Turkey Day 2013: Have Yo...

Countdown to Turkey Day 2013: Let’s Get Started

Heather says

Thanksgiving is my absolute favorite time of the year. It’s no secret that I love food and I love to cook for others and Thanksgiving Dinner is the Superbowl of company dinners. It’s a chance to gather with friends and family and indulge in the traditional and the exceptional.

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Are you planning on hosting your first Thanksgiving dinner? Are you a seasoned pro, but ready to take some of the headache out of hosting Thanksgiving? Well, you’re in luck, it’s time for this year’s Countdown to Turkey Day. (Psst, it’d be awesome if you’d share this series with your friends or family who may be hosting for the first time, too.)

Don’t sweat it, you have plenty of time to plan your Thanksgiving menus and do your Thanksgiving shopping. After all, Thanksgiving is only three weeks away.

Did you see that? Three weeks. Oh boy! This year Thanksgiving falls on November 28, which would usually mean we have a little more time than previous years to get our act together, but 2013 was not a kind year.

1. Decide – When and Where

Sit down with pen and paper and decide where and what time dinner will be served. Create a tentative guest list that notes any allergies or dietary restrictions. It’s easier to plan around a gluten or nut allergy than it is to rework a menu.

Heather – My house, day of, potential for a gluten allergy.

2. Figure Out – Seating and Serving

Before things get crazy look at your guest list. Do you have enough chairs and place settings? Are you serving a casual enough meal that sitting on the floor and using Chinette works? No? Party rental stores often allow chair, china, and glassware rental in lots much smaller than you’d imagine. I’ve rented as few as ten chairs in the past for parties. Reserve what you need ASAP.

Heather – the kids can deal with the Chinette and picnic style, there are potentially 6 under 10, the rest of us can have chairs and be seated if not around the same, table, but adjacent tables.

3. Find the dining room table.

We know what happens, laundry, homework, and life love to find the table. This year’s table is a lot like last, just with a different background. I swear I will mail that cookbook.

Clean Laundry

Let’s get this year’s conversation rolling.

Will you be cooking and or hosting Thanksgiving this year? Have you hosted Thanksgiving dinner before? Are you trying it for the first time? What are you looking forward to and what are you dreading about the holiday? How many people will there be?