• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Two Lucky Spoons

Simple, From-scratch Family Meals

  • Home
  • Recipes
    • Videos
    • Recipe Index
      • Appetizers
      • Soups
      • Side Dishes
      • Family Dinners
      • Keto
      • Dessert
    • Most Recent Posts
    • Web Stories
  • About Us

Thanksgiving: Tips and advice about cooking the big dinner

Affiliate links are provided below for your convenience. You can see my full disclosure policy here.

Spread the love

Thanksgiving is less than 3 weeks away. Can you believe it? I think I am still somewhere in the middle of August. But no matter where I am, Thanksgiving is still just a couple weeks away.

This year will be my 7th ( or is it 8th) year hosting Thanksgiving for whoever decides to show up.
In those years I have experienced it all; the turkey that refused to cook, the turkey I forgot to thaw, burnt bread, undercooked potatoes, vegetarians, tiny kitchens, and tiny dining rooms. Heck! One year I went into labor after I pulled the ham out of the oven! I came home 4 days later with 2 babies!

Yea, that one took the cake.

So, it is safe to say that when it comes to preparing Thanksgiving dinner, I am ready for anything. With that in mind, I thought I would compile a list of do’s and don’ts for those who may be cooking the big dinner for the first time. Hopefully it will help you out. And for those of you out there you are also “old hats” at Turkey Day, please feel free to throw your tips and tricks into the pot, too!

1) “A Man without a Plan, is not a Man” – ( quick! Name that movie!) Same goes for women, too. It’s a really good idea to not only plan out your entire menu, but write out the grocery list, too. You do not want to have to rush to the grocery the day before Thanksgiving because you forgot brown sugar, trust me.

Planning also means taking in to consideration things like oven space, cooking times and temperatures, dietary needs of your guests ( i.e. small kids or allergies) and logistics. Don’t plan on cooking every single dish on Thanksgiving day. It won’t work ( trust me). Plan your menu around foods that can be made in advance. Dishes like dressing, mac – n – cheese, fruit salads, pies, cakes, and even the holiday ham can ( and should!) be made at least one or two days in advance!

2) You are not Bobby Flay and you are not Sandra Lee, keep it simple. – My very first Thanksgiving, I poured over all the magazines trying to come up with a menu fit for royalty. In the end I think I did one new dish and then made everything else I was comfortable with. I didn’t worry with a “tablescape” either. I did get a new tablecloth and a nice bouquet of flowers at Kroger and that was about it. The food  and family are the star here, not the napkin rings.

3) Keep your guests in mind – If you are having people over, remember to take their tastes in to consideration. Make sure there is something for everyone. Don’t cook nothing but sushi and squid if you are having a family with small children over. Kids and sushi don’t mix. Also remember that chicken broth is not a vegetarian item!  Vegetarians everywhere will appreciate this. It is also a nice gesture to make a vegetarian their own main course. Our friend Carrie used to come to our Thanksgiving dinners before she got re-married and I would cook her her own stuffed acorn squash. I didn’t want her to feel like she couldn’t have a big fancy dinner just because she didn’t eat meat.

4)Help! Help! Help! – Take help wherever you can get it. If a guest asks you what they can do, give them a job. If they want to bring something, let them bring it. If you see a lazy man sitting on the sofa, send him out for ice. This does not have to be a one woman show, and you will be happier if it isn’t! Delegate! Delegate! Delegate!

5) Other Considerations – I asked for suggestions on Twitter and a couple friends sent these very helpful suggestions in;

Ancient Fire Wines said: Don’t underestimate how much wine to have. “Family gatherings go quicker with liquor.”

and

Quit Eating Out suggested: One of my “do’s” is getting a plan for meals for out of town guests: breakfast, lunch & dinner… not just TDay dinner.

I hope these tips are helpful to you. And remember, it’s not about what you eat but who you spend it with that makes the holiday special.

Related Posts:

  • Best Lemon Asparagus Pasta - Easy Dinner Recipe
    Best Lemon Asparagus Pasta - Easy Dinner Recipe
  • Best Jamaican Beef And Rice - Easy Dinner Recipe
    Best Jamaican Beef And Rice - Easy Dinner Recipe
  • Best Air Fryer Low Carb Tortilla Pizza - Easy Dinner Recipe
    Best Air Fryer Low Carb Tortilla Pizza - Easy Dinner Recipe

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: advice, Thanksgiving advice, Thanksgiving recipes, Uncategorized

Previous Post: « Roasted Acorn Squash
Next Post: Chicken Stock and Chicken Noodle Soup »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Heather @ Gourmet Meals for Less says

    November 6, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Okay I could hardly read what you wrote from laughing so hard at the cartoon. Is it Far Side? If not it’s the same type of humor..which I love. A little sick and demented. ;o)
    I’ve finally gotten Thanksgiving down to a science..but a little secret. The first year I cooked a turkey for my husband and I (this was many moons ago) I cooked it with the entire bag of giblets in it! No one told me that they stuffed a bag of guts back in the turkey! I have learned a lot since then..and my family is most grateful. lol
    Great post!

    Reply
    • jodiemo says

      November 6, 2010 at 10:52 pm

      It is Far Side! I so miss that comic strip. I can’t believe you cooked the bag of giblets. I guess no one mentions that you have to stick your hand inside the turkey to check for innards! 🙂

      Reply
  2. Deb Duchon says

    November 6, 2010 at 11:21 pm

    HEY THERE – Thanks so much for the tips. I am cooking Thanksgiving dinner this year for the first time in many years (long story) and I’m in a panic!! I’ll use those tips, for sure!.

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Follow Us

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • YouTube

AMAZON ASSOCIATES PROGRAM

Two Lucky Spoons is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.

Get a free eBook when you sign up!

  • Breakfasts
  • Easy Chicken Recipes
  • Desserts
  • Appetizers
  • Family Dinners
  • Side Dishes
  • Freezer Friendly Meals
  • Keto
  • Keto Family Meals
  • Kid Friendly Recipes
  • Sunday Roasts
  • Food & Fun
  • The Basics
  • Videos
  • Meal Plans


Copyright © 2023 · Two Lucky Spoons · Privacy Policy · Disclosurey Policy

This website uses cookies
This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish.Accept Reject Read More
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
Non-necessary
Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website.
SAVE & ACCEPT