Time saving Turkey Day Tips

Save yourself time tomorrow with a few do-ahead steps today for a very Happy Thanksgiving meal.

• Stuffing can be made and refrigerated overnight.
• Vegetables can be chopped, cheese grated and spices or seasonings can be measured out the day before.
• Wash, dry and store lettuce in a resealable plastic bag today for the salad tomorrow.

• Make it a potluck!  You couldn’t possibly cook everything yourself, so divide it up.  Send out a list of dishes needed and start enlisting relatives to help out, it’s what they’re there for!
• Turkey time crunch? Try roasting the stuffing outside of the turkey if you’re in a pinch; the turkey will cook faster!
• Burnt gravy?  Don’t throw it out!  Instead sprinkle in a little sugar to counteract the bitteress.
• Get Active – After you eat, don’t allow the fam to go into a food coma.  Appoint someone to be “Activities Coordinator” or talk your guests into a nice sunset walk to kickstart your metabolism and burn off some of this heavy meal.
• Handling the Kids – Put them to work for you, with setting the table and other simple tasks.  When it’s time to eat, let them have a separate table, and appoint the eldest as responsible for the whole group. If there are young kids consider serving them earlier to avoid crankiness and tantrums.
• Running out of fridge space?  Take the beverages out on a bed of ice!  This way they are cool, accessible, and don’t take up precious space!

My biggest tip = REMOVE THE NECK BONE AND BAG OF GIBLETS FROM INSIDE THE TURKEY BEFORE YOU COOK THE BIRD!

Happy prepping everyone!