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Thanksgiving
Thanksgiving is only just around the corner and if you're hosting, you're probably already figuring out your guest list and planning your menus. Unless you're accustomed to feeding a large crowd on a regular basis (which most of us are not), then the prospect of hosting Thanksgiving, along with the encroaching holidays can be enough to send our stress levels soaring. The Cooking Fairy, Joanna Wallis, a personal chef in Greenwich, CT, shares some easy to follow tips that will allow you to enjoy the holiday as much as your guests.
1) DELEGATE -- Thanksgiving is all about family, friends and togetherness and people will expect to pitch in. Don't be afraid to ask friends/family to bring food, and be specific. It's perfectly okay to request a particular dish and crucial to mention quantities. Bear in mind, you won't need as much food as you think. Guests tend to fill their plate across the table, taking smaller portions of each dish. "A good rule of thumb is to prepare portions for 75% of the people you are hosting.
2) PREPARE IN ADVANCE -- The beauty of a traditional Thanksgiving table is that most of the side dishes and desserts can be prepared in advance. Design a menu that embraces this concept -- mashed sweet potatoes and potatoes can even be frozen way ahead of time. Desserts can be prepared the day before. Once you have your menu thought out, then devise a strategy for the 3-4 days before Thanksgiving as to which dishes you are going to cook when.
3) OUTSOURCE -- If you or your family members aren't great in the kitchen, or you're just apprehensive about feeding large numbers, then don't be afraid to outsource the task of preparing either part or all of your meal. Many local diners and caterers offer Thanksgiving pre-prepared options. And heck, if pumpkin pie isn't your thing, then find a baker that makes a great one.
4) PLAN YOUR TIMING -- This sounds simple, but if you make a written, timed plan for cooking your dishes, you're less likely to forget something. Don't forget to think about how much oven space you have and what might go cold fast once it's been taken away from the heat.
5) PICK YOUR TEAMS -- As with the best executed business plans, it all comes down to surrounding yourself with a good team. Pick individuals that will get dishes to the table, carve the bird and make sure that small children get served. Most importantly, pick a team for clean up too. Be sure to assign specific responsibilities such as clearing the table, loading the dishwasher, wrapping and storing leftovers and soaking and washing big pots. Remind them that even clean up can bring the family together!
Joanna Wallis is a busy mom of 3 who started cooking over 20 years ago. Her culinary knowledge is self-taught and spans a variety of different cuisines and styles. Her love of food was the inspiration for The Cooking Fairy which started out as a glimmer of shiny magic over three years ago. Joanna works as a personal chef for a wide range of clientele and she loves bringing families together with healthy, delicious, and fresh meals prepared just for them.
For more information on The Cooking Fairy, visit http://thefairycook.com/
