Monday, November 18, 2013

10 Helpful Thanksgiving Tips

Hello Everyone This is Brad Hammarlund with Exit Homevets Realty in Killeen TX. I work with people looking to sale their homes and also with people who are looking for homes for sale in Killeen TX, homes for sale in Copperas Cove TX, homes for sale in Harker Heights TX.

These 10 helpful Thanksgiving tips will help you have a less stressful holiday. If it is your turn to host the family feast, using these suggestions will help you enjoy the holiday meal along with your guests.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #1
Get Organized
One reason people get stressed over the holidays is because there is a lot to do and it can be very overwhelming. If you break down the larger jobs into smaller tasks, you will be able to accomplish more than you think.
You will need to plan your menu a few weeks in advance. Once you know what you are serving, then you will need to make your shopping list. If you are a sale shopper, take advantage of all the great deals that take place in the supermarket during this time of year. Oftentimes, you will get a free turkey just for doing your regular food shopping prior to the Thanksgiving holiday.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #2
Delegate the Cooking
Just because you are hosting a holiday it doesn’t mean that you have to do all of the meal preparation. One of the most helpful Thanksgiving tips is to let your guests bring some of the food. Most people want to help and bring something for dinner. They are thankful that the holiday is not in their house!
Depending on how many people are invited, assign guests to bring appetizers and desserts. This way, you will only have to deal with the main course and side dishes.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #3
Take Care of the Turkey
If you wait until Thanksgiving morning to prepare the turkey, it is probably too late. Depending on the size of the bird, you will need at least two days to defrost the turkey in the refrigerator.
Make sure you have a large enough roasting pan. One of my favorite ways to prepare turkey is to use a Reynolds Oven Bags. They come in different sizes, including one large enough for a 20 pound bird. Reynolds Oven Bags also shorten the amount of time your turkey needs to cook in the oven.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #4
Use Paper Plates and Plastic Utensils
For many people, this helpful Thanksgiving tip may seem to be wasteful and not “green“. For many, holidays mean using your good china and silverware. However, many women work outside the home. They want to host the holiday but not be chained to the kitchen cleaning up endless piles of dishes. Depending upon your family, how much help you actually get in the kitchen can vary.
By using paper plates and plastic, which are easy Thanksgiving table decorations, you are saving a lot of cleanup time, as well as not dealing with feelings of resentment. This helpful Thanksgiving tip can actually save relationships.
If using paper does not go over well with your family, then at least use paper and plastic for dessert.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #5
Use Aluminum Pans for Serving
This helpful Thanksgiving tip goes along the same lines as the fourth tip. There is nothing worse than a sink full of dishes that need to be soaked overnight. That means even your helpful guests will be unable to assist you in the kitchen with clean up. By using foil pans that are bought cheaply in the Dollar store, doing the dishes is as simple as tossing the pans.
If you have some sentimental serving pieces that you want to use, make sure you cook something in it that can clean up easily. Or cook in the foil pans and put the food in your special dishes. For every holiday, I always use the serving platters from each of my grandmother’s china, as well as the turkey platter my father gave to me.
Be sure to wash these special pieces before Thanksgiving Day. My Nana used to write what each serving piece was for a little slips of paper and place it on top of it. Today we can use Post-it notes.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #6
Make Sure You Have Enough Seating
No matter how big or small your home is, every guest needs a place to sit at the table to eat the Thanksgiving feast. If you do not have enough chairs and table space for everyone, you’ll need to borrow from family, a friend or a neighbor. Family members who live nearby can bring tables and chairs before Thanksgiving, or you can pick it up. You do not want to wait until Thanksgiving morning to set the tables (see tip #9).
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #7
Do Your Prep Work the Night Before
In order to have a stress-free Thanksgiving meal, you should do all of your prep work the night before. Any chopping, dicing, or slicing can easily be done ahead of time. Many side dishes can be made in advance, covered, and stored in the refrigerator until you need to cook it.
If you’re having a large amount of people then you may want to take the day off from work, or at least half the day. Your children can also help you with food preparation.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #8
Clean Only the Rooms You Will Be Using
There is no reason to go into a cleaning frenzy just because people will be visiting. If you are having 20 people over for Thanksgiving, imagine the mess you will have to clean when they all leave.
Clean only important areas of your home that will be used. Bathrooms should be scrubbed clean and dusted, and fresh towels should be put out. End tables and coffee tables should be dusted and floors should be swept and vacuumed. Any clutter should stored out of sight. The kitchen should be cleaned up from your prep work and clean dishtowels and sponges should be ready for guests to use at the end of the meal.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #9
Set the Table in Advance
On Thanksgiving morning, there is nothing more relaxing then having the house ready for company. By setting the table on Wednesday night, all you have to do is put your turkey and other food in the oven and wait for it to cook.
Helpful Thanksgiving Tip #10
Enjoy Yourself
Thanksgiving is a time to think about everything in your life for which you are grateful. The people who you invited, your family and your friends, are what makes this holiday special. Make sure you keep everything simple.
Using these helpful Thanksgiving tips will make this day more meaningful and relax
Homes for sale in the Killeen  Fort Hood Area: Brad Hammarlund, Realtor, with Exit Homevets Realty in Killeen TX, Our main service area is Nolanville TX, Harker Heights TX, Killeen TX, Copperas Cove TX, Kempner TX, and Lampasas TX. At Exit Homevets Realty We are Real Estate Expert Advisers And Marketing Innovators. I am here to assist you with all of your real estate needs. Feel free to call or text anytime: (254) 291-0630

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