My Favorite Thanksgiving Checklists

I cannot believe that Turkey Day is right around the corner!!! To help myself get prepared for hosting Thanksgiving, I like to utilize multiple checklists. Here are my top ones:

​Meal Planner: Start with planning out your meal.  Of course, you will have your holiday favorites, but maybe you’d like to try a new dish or have a themed cocktail. Listing what you’d like to serve will help you “assign” dishes to family and friends who would like to help out and bring something. Speaking of family and friends, it will also help to keep a Guest List of who will be coming and when. Some people may choose to come for just appetizers or dessert, so it will be helpful to know who is coming with what and when. Another piece to planning the meal is oven time and space along with freezer/fridge space. Thinking this out now will keep anxiety down then!
 
Shopping List: Having thought out and planned the meal, you can start your shopping list. As you add needed ingredients to your list, take time to check your spices and get rid of anything that is expired. Expired spices won’t bring harm, but they will not bring the maximum flavor to the meal either. With the busy cooking & baking season upon us, you will thank yourself later for taking a few minutes now to get your pantry organized and stocked with fresh staples.

Server-Ware List: Next, make a list of what you will use to serve each dish in. Some server-ware is only used during the holidays, and may need to be cleaned and polished. Doing this now will save you the headache later. This is also a good time to go thru and discard/replace any chipped dinnerware. Many retailers run “tabletop sales” now knowing that holiday entertaining is upon us😊
 
Needed Items to Borrow or Buy: Once you know who is coming and when, think about seating and how you plan on serving the meal.  You may need to rent/borrow extra tables and chairs. List out what’s needed, and who will lend you what. Also, map out your “traffic flow”. The kitchen is usually the hub, but on this busy cooking day, that can become an issue, especially in smaller spaces. Designate a person to help you keep guests out of your work zone. Set the main appetizers and bar in a place that allows good traffic flow, with smaller bowls of snackable items set throughout your home. Have some chairs set in “conversation style” to encourage people to sit in them (keeping them out of your way!). Ensure there is enough comfortable seating with good views of the TV to watch the game!
 
If you search Pinterest or the web, you will find numerous printable planners and checklists for every occasion. Or, you could use a good 'ole regular notebook. Anyway you choose to get organized, you will be THANKING yourself this THANKSGIVING by putting in a little time now for planning!
I wish you and your families a happy holiday season!
 
Your answer for organizing,
Ali