Tips for an Easier Thanksgiving

Take the stress out of your planning this year with these great tips for an easier Thanksgiving.

Plan your dinner menu in advance – The earlier you start the better. By writing down what you plan on cooking and then making your grocery list from the recipes will help you not forget needed ingredients. Buy any non-perishables that you can ahead of time so you only have to pick up your diary products, fresh produce and meats in the days before.

Organize your recipes – Make single copies of each recipe you will be making and put them in plastic notebook sleeves. Then you can put them in the order you want to cook them. When you are making the recipe, tape the recipe to the cabinet above where you are working so you can glance up at it more easily than having it on the counter.

Do a big refrigerator cleanout – If you have loads of older condiments, etc. that haven’t been used, now would be a good time to purge those and make room for your dinner ingredients and leftovers. Make sure you have plenty of storage containers for leftovers.

Cook in advance – Prepare any recipes that you can a couple of days before Thanksgiving. Many of your vegetables side dishes, sauces, pie/desserts, salad dressings and appetizers can be made early and refrigerated. Chop onions and other veggies and put them in Ziploc bags. You can also set the table the night before.

Use disposable dinnerware and products to serve – If you really want to make cleanup super fast and get to the couch rubbing your belly quicker, serve your meal and desserts on Chinet® Cut Crystal® disposable products. The clear design and elegant swirl pattern perfectly match any theme or décor. They are sturdy, superior quality and are BPA Free.

Pump up the music – Keep the moods festive and the cooking and cleaning up happier with some upbeat music. Set up a Bluetooth speaker with quiet music playing during dinner and ramp it up afterwards during cleaning.