HELP! I'm having family over for Thanksgiving!?!
HELP! I'm having family over for Thanksgiving!?
My husband , 2 kids & I all just moved to NM. Both of our families will be here for Turkey day, that's a total of 12 people! How do I plan my menu & get everything done with 2 kids under the age of 3?! I don't want to cater & I'm thrilled to be having everyone here, I just think it'll be a little overwhelming. Any suggestions on make ahead dishes or how to keep my house clean for more than an hour? ANYTHING would be greatly appreciated :0
Answers:
Good for you to be willing to host the two families. First of all, do any of the people live nearby and can you each share the responsibilities. For instance in my family we each take a course to bring over to my MILs. One person brings desserts, another person brings appetizers, a third person brings salads, etc.
Turkey can be defrosted a couple of days in advance.
Jello, desserts, and tossed salads can be made early
The bread for stuffing can be gotten out early
I'm sure others will have some great suggestions on your other questions.
pre plan and don't feel bad to ask for help. if the family lives close by ask them to make a dish to bring it will cut down on what you have to do while taking care of the two kids.
you can make desserts and peel veggies the night before
I'm sure the women will help the next day with the actual meal
and get your husband to keep an eye on the kids and help to clean the house
pull the whole family in! tell everyone to help out! Put the kids in the play pin! Put some pampers and wipes near the pin! Make the hard things first and take plenty of breaks! It's alot when you have small children! tell some to bring a dish! it will help with dishes and cleaning!
Casseroles can usually be made two to three days in advance and easily reheated on Turkey day. Dessert can be made the night before. Mashed potatoes need to done on Turkey Day. But I agree with the person who said if the family lives in town or fairly close by ask them to bring a dish. They should understand that you have two kids under 3 years of age.
But sit down and write down dishes that you have generally had over the years for Thanksgiving. Keep it simple. If you wind up with 20 dishes narrow it down to five to go along with the turkey.
What if catering is cheap. I saw walmart has a whole turkey dinner for $35. You could get 2 & some extra sides, a couple 24pks of soda. they also have cakes & pies cheap. Another tip is when you have a family thing you can have a pitch in, where everyone thows some cash in to pay for the food. So it isnt so costly for the one person & if you provide everything meal, drinks & desert its better then them trying to firure out what to bring. Dont forget coffee & cocoa.
Everybody has had good ideas thus far.
You can bake pumpkin pies the day before, and green been casserole can be made the day (without the cheese and onions on top) before and on Thanksgiving day, you can top it with cheese and onions and re-heat it in the oven with the turkey. Jello salads with fruit in them are also easy to make and can be done a day or two in advance.
If you buy heat and serve rolls, those can also share the oven, and only take a few minutes. Mashed potatoes are really best made the day of.
If you buy the canned cranberry sauce, you can melt it in a saucepan or the microwave and pour it into a pretty mold and refridgerate it, and it will set back up. It's an easy way to keep it from looking like you just slopped it out of a can.
For other side dishes, you could borrow some help from the grocery, and buy precut trays of fresh veggies and dip and fresh fruit with yogurt (or make it the day before yourself).
Catering it a great idea. The first thing is make a plan and start early...If you are having out of town guest that are staying with you then you have an advantage you can enlist them to help with the children...What Grandparent wouldn't want to play with their Grand kids!!
Start cleaning a week ahead and take one room at a time and everyday go into the room you cleaned the day before and do a quick clean up and then go to the next room. I have a 3 year old and a 1 year old, I know it is not easy to keep things clean..try to limit there access to a couple of rooms.
A good rule of thumb is KISS (Keep it Simple Sweetie) Pending on when you do your shopping you can get a Fresh or Frozen Turkey...If you get a fresh then you don't have to deal with the Defrosting process. Make things ahead and put in refrigerator..use Sister Schubert Dinner Rolls they are great and heat in 5 minutes....
And above all remember to have fun..and my favorite word...Delegate!!! This is your home so now you get to tell your mother what to do!!!
Hope all goes well
Hope all goes well!!!
Been there - this is what I did: Write out your menu right now.
I used to call it my battle plan (I had two small boys). Write down the ingredients needed to make each menu item. From this make out your shopping list. When you go to the store - leave your children with your husband. That is the first Step.
Make as much as possible a day or two ahead of T-day. you know the turkey and dressing and rolls will have to be done on T-day. All desserts, veggies done ahead of time (OR-these are great things to tell the other family members to bring).
Do all cleaning, chopping and slicing of veggies the day before (store in baggies covered with cold water to keep them fresh).
Thanksgiving Day - tell your husband he is responsible for the kids COMPLETELY until you get the Thanksgiving meal on table. If he complains - remind him these are his kids and his family - so get over it. LOL Then make it easy on yourself by having milk and donuts or cereal - something easy to serve for breakfast - cuz you don't want to be having to focus on cooking breakfast on that day.
Set your table the night before if possible - this is where you can score lots of points with family members - if you have a beautiful table. Even if you don't have gorgeous china - buy or make pretty Thanksgiving napkins, candles, centerpiece.
Once family members start to arrive - ask for help. And be kind to yourself - let them help you. Remember this is about being together as an extended family - so don't just stay in the kitchen - take some time to visit and enjoy too. Good Luck - you can do it!
Start cooking two or three days ahead of time. Cook while the children are in bed for the night. Save the turkey and stuffing for last. Drink a little wine and listen to music while cooking. It makes it more fun. Let your husband help out. (Like cutting up onions and green peppers) That's all I will let my husband do. LOL!!!!!!!
Go to Kraft Foods.com They have tons of nice recipes that are quick and yummy. Plus they have a great section on what foods to serve on holidays such as thanksgiving. Sign up is free, you can save your fav recipes in your own virtual recipe box. If you pick out a bunch of recipes to make for that day, it will generate a shopping list as well..talk about convience! Enjoy!
CONGRATULATIONS! i could never have my family together for even a wedding nevermind a dinner.
so okay i have no experience of this but i'll try and help.
well you preparing the food you want to keep the children entertained with a board game or something they like. so moments before you start cooking introduce 1 or 2 brand games to them (it would also help if 1 was for the whole family).
about house cleaning. if their occupied they wont mess things up.
about the food. well im British so i dont know what you food rules are for thanks giving but i understand you will probably eat alot, like Christmas. So you should have small/medium dishs or pasta, rich and veg, and just simple things which everyone likes.
ask for a little help with cooking from your hubby.
oh and make sure you have learned how to cook everything your cooking on the day so you dont confuse time. lots of potatos and rich.
okay go! good luck
deligate to each family member what they are in charge of,.. the sit back and enjoy the company.