Hello dear Sugar Pies! Can you even believe that Thanksgiving day is next week? Well, I wanted to share with y’all some last minute tips to relieve any stress and to help make your Thanksgiving wonderful! One of the bests tips is to do as much as you can in advance so that the day of Thanksgiving you’ll be able to truly enjoy the blessings and joys of this special holiday! Here we go!
1. Clean out your freezer and the fridge to make room for storing your turkey, and prepared side dishes and desserts.
2. Make all of your side dishes a day in advance so that on Thanksgiving day all you’ll need to do is bake them.
3. If you’re like me and love leftovers think about making a little more than you’ll need so you can have more the next day! My mom’s stuffing is my absolute favorite in all the land so I’ll be making a double batch! Be sure to plan ahead for those yummy leftovers! Have plenty of tin foil and containers on hand to store those extra goodies in and to send home with your guests.
4. If you’re intimidated by making the gravy consider making it a day or two ahead of time. Here’s a great video by Chef Tyler Florence showing you step by step how to do just that!
5. If you’re making pies make your crusts a few days ahead to freeze. Line your metal pans with the dough then crimp the edges. Place in your freezer until firm (about an hour) then put them in plastic baggies and then back into the freezer until baking day. The day before Thanksgiving fill the frozen pie shell and bake your pies. You’ll be so glad you made your crusts ahead of time! For my pie crust recipe click here!
No time or energy to make pies? My Butter Crunch Pumpkin Bars are easy-peasy and will give you that pumpkin pie goodness you’ll love! Here’s the link to the recipe!
6. If you’re serving Thanksgiving dinner buffet style keep your mashed potatoes and even your gravy in warm slow cookers to keep them hot.
7. Be sure to have a meat thermometer ready before roasting your turkey. Here’s a handy turkey cooking chart! Print it out and tape it on the inside of your kitchen cupboard door.
8. When it’s time to pass around the pumpkin pie add even more happy to your Thanksgiving by playing the Thankful Game! This is how you play it: start with one person at one end of the table, they share one thing they are thankful for… “I’m thankful for my family” …then the next person repeats what the first person says and adds to it… “I’m thankful for my family and pumpkin pie…”. Then the next person continues to repeat what each person has said before them and adds their own sentiment. Obviously the last person has it the hardest as they try to remember and repeat what everyone has said…which makes it so fun and funny!
9. Have more games on hand for even more fun. Our family loves Balderdash and Apples to Apples! When we have a large gathering to play Balderdash we don’t use the game-board. We just pass out the included paper along with pencils and follow the instructions. It’s so fun and hilarious!
10. Savor the blessings!- Psalm 94:19 says “In the multitude of my anxious thoughts within me, Your comforts cheer and delight my soul!” Oh dear sister, in the hustle and bustle of all your preparations be sure to step back for a moment and treasure the bountiful blessings that we so often take for granted or don’t even think about. Breathe in the delicious aroma of the Thanksgiving turkey roasting in the oven, cherish the warmth of the crackling fire or the comforting and familiar ticking of the clock at grandma’s house. The children, bright-eyed and so excited to see company coming…voices ringing “It’s so good to see you! Come on in!”.
When you get to see those faces that you love really look at them. Cherish them. Treasure them in your heart. These are all blessings of God’s comforts that “cheer and delight” our soul. The words, spoken with excitement, “Time to eat!” Hands held around the table, grace being said and that first bite of mom’s savory stuffing brings such comfort, cheer and delight. Savor this Thanksgiving with gratefulness, joy and love.
“Being thankful is more than just being glad you have something,
it’s giving God the glory and the praise for it.” – Aunt Ruthie
Happy Thanksgiving sweethearts!
Aunt Ruthie
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