How to Celebrate Thanksgiving

Parts:Preparing for the MealHaving an Amazing Thanksgiving
Celebrated annually in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November, the holiday of Thanksgiving was first observed in 1621 and continues to be an American tradition today. Thanksgiving means many things to different people but for most, the holiday of Thanksgiving is synonymous with festive meals, parades, football, family and friends, and, of course, turkey. For many, it's also about spending time together, catching up and enjoying one another's company. The Thanksgiving holiday is a reminder to give thanks for the good things, people and providential events in our lives. If you want to know how to celebrate Thanksgiving in style, just follow these steps.

1

Select the menu in advance. The traditional menu of roasted turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, several types of vegetables such as sweet potatoes and squash, cranberry sauce, different pies, and a bread is fairly standard for most families and groups of celebrators. Here are some things you'll need to do to get ready for that meal:

1. Write down a grocery list of items needed for the meal. Check the pantry to see what you don't have and prepare a list for the items you'll need. Then, visit the local farmers' market, butcher, the supermarket, and the bakery. It helps to divide the list into these different items to avoid confusion.
2. Shop for the Thanksgiving meal in advance. Pre-order the turkey and any other items that might sell out quickly before the holiday. If you can freeze items in advance, buy them early to help reduce the frustration of last-minute grocery shopping. Baked goods are best bought fresh on the day of if possible, but if not, you can bake them yourself at home.
3. You should also call your guests to confirm that they'll be coming. When you talk to them, see if they want to contribute anything to the meal. This will take some of the burden off of you.

Select your recipes. Knowing in advance what you'll cook ensures that you can shop for the ingredients and know the timing required for each item in the lead-up to Thanksgiving and on the day itself. For menu and recipe ideas, here are some suggestions to start with:

1. The turkey: Cook a turkey, stuff a turkey, and make a turkey dinner.
2. The vegetables: Make old fashioned string beans, roast potatoes, roast sweet potatoes, pumpkin puree, and parsnip and turnip deliciousness.
3. Accompaniments: Make cranberry sauce, use cranberries for Thanksgiving and dinner rolls.
4. Baked goods: Bake pumpkin pie, pumpkin log roll, cornucopia place cards for Thanksgiving, and Thanksgiving cookies. You can also use pumpkins for a variety of other Thanksgiving desserts.
5. Food for vegetarians: Make a vegetarian Thanksgiving dinner and tofurkey (tofu not a turkey).
6. Prepare casual foods such as appetizers, candies, and sandwiches for snacking. This way, if you plan to eat late, you and your guests won't be starving before the meal. You can even make candy turkeys -– ideal for the kids to make and enjoy!

 

3

Prepare the food. Some things can be done prior to the day, such as baking cookies and pumpkin pie, while other things need to be made fresh on the day, such as roasting the turkey. Whenever you're cooking, don't be afraid to ask for help; it'll make your life and holiday much easier. You can also consider cooking two small turkeys instead of one to simplify the process. Here are some things you'll have to do to prepare the food for your holiday:

• Defrost the turkey in plenty of time. Note that this may take several days depending on the size and weight of the turkey.
• Bake the pumpkin pie or other favorite pies a day in advance. You'll be glad you did when focused on preparing the main course on Thanksgiving Day.
• Roast the turkey and complete the meal preparations on Thanksgiving Day. Brush up on your turkey carving skills before the day.
• Have family members or friends who've arrived early help cook or prepare certain dishes to ease the workload.