Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving

hannikan

I know this is early but I've just found out that we will be doing Thanksgiving at our place this year. DH's father passed away this year so this is the first time we'll be doing the holidays without him. MIL doesn't want to do Thanksgiving in her house for that reason so I offered to do it here. We are in a 2 BD apt with a fairly small dining room. We haven't bought a dining room table yet but we will be this week. I'm trying to find an affordable one (around $500) that has 6 chairs. We can have 7 ppl then since DH brings his own chair. It needs to have a leaf(ves) so we can make it smaller for us when we don't have people over and have rounded edges so DH doesn't bump a sharp corner. Something like this:

 

MIL, SIL, BIL and DH's cousin will come and stay in a hotel starting Tues night while my family (my 2 bros, bro's GF, mom and my grandpa) will only come for Thanksgiving day. MIL is bringing a card table with folding chairs to put in the living room since there will be 11 of us so we won't all fit around the table. I know we'll divide up the food duties but I will probably be making the turkey. I've never done that before, only helped. Thanks in advance for help!

 

MrsJulieT

I think the best thing I did my first time hosting Thanksgiving was to purchase a roasting oven. It gave me a place to cook the turkey but still have my oven free for other dishes or to warm things up. Also make whatever you can the day before. I have an amazing whipped sweet potato recipe that you can make the day before and just bake the day of.

hannikan

That roasting oven sounds like a great idea. I've been concerned about oven space. Where did you get it? I've been looking around and saw this one:

http://www.target.com/p/Nesco-6-Quart-Roaster-Oven-Nonstick-Stainless-Steel/-/A-580392

StumpyG

Last Christmas C and I hosted for about 20 people and I managed to make a turkey and a roast beef along with ALL the normal (and then some... I went waaay overboard) side dishes, appetizers and baked goods (someone brought a ham, but otherwise no one brought anything) with one oven. Having a well planned-out oven/stove schedule is essential! Make ahead everything that you possibly can, and stick with recipes that you trust and can count on working the way you intend (so you don't get stuck with something that's taking an hour longer to cook than you thought it would). 

For fitting people in the house, we moved our living room couches into the spare bedroom and set up 2 big tables with chairs (borrowed) so there was a space for everyone. I don't know if you have room in your place to rearrange in any way like that. 

Good luck! I hope you have fun hosting! 

hannikan

StumpyG:

For fitting people in the house, we moved our living room couches into the spare bedroom and set up 2 big tables with chairs (borrowed) so there was a space for everyone. I don't know if you have room in your place to rearrange in any way like that. 

Yeah, we don't have a spare room but we do have a big closet in DH's bedroom that will house the chairs until we are ready to eat. The coffee table will have to be moved in there to set up the card table with folding chairs in the living room. I'm more concerned now with where people will sit after dinner is over. We only have one very small couch (seats 2 max) and one cushy chair. Drew will want the table sized down ASAP so he can get around. When it's set up with all the chairs around it he'll be kind of locked in to a small area. Our living room is small so it's going to be interesting to have people hang out after we eat.

ErikandAfton

People can always just sit in the dinning room chairs after you down size the table.

As far as prep stuff is your making mashed potatoes if you peel and quarter the day before you can keep them in water in a covered dish in the fridge. Day of make them they way you normally would and then transfer them all to the crockpot, cover and keep on warm. They will keep warm and fresh for about 2 and a half hours. 

As far as everything else prep and then put it in the oven as soon as you take your turkey out. Your turkey will stay warm on the counter covered with foil and a couple of towels. 

Good luck with everything H!

hannikan

Thanks! When I say sized down I mean down to only having two chairs like it would be for just us. But we might be able to have one group of 4 in the dining room with the table smaller and another group in the living room. I'm afraid DH will go hide in his bedroom to be out of the way with so many people. Thanks for the tip on mashed potatoes. That's probably something I'll delegate but I'll pass that tip along.

wldktz10

I agree with trying to do as much as possible the day or two before. I've hosted several holidays at this point and I generally cook everything up to the point before putting it in the oven and then do the oven the day of. And then anything that needs to be cooked on the stove top or might have an issue sitting in the fridge (like it'd get soggy or something) gets cooked the day of.

pink.dutch.tulips

i've hosted thanksgiving a couple of times and my biggest piece of advice is delegate, delegate, DELEGATE ! ask people to bring things so you're not the only one cooking.

cooking the bird - we usually deep fry but w/ an apt. i'm sure that is NOT allowed. my stepdad cooks his birds this way .. breast side DOWN for 2 hrs i think then turns the bird breast up and continues cooking it for the remaineder. i'm sure if you goggle it you can find the specifics but anytime you can free up space works.

Mrs.BoomBoom

hannikan:

That roasting oven sounds like a great idea. I've been concerned about oven space. Where did you get it? I've been looking around and saw this one:

http://www.target.com/p/Nesco-6-Quart-Roaster-Oven-Nonstick-Stainless-Steel/-/A-580392

Stalk Target's ads.  They'll run some really great specials on that kind of stuff as it gets closer.

I've cooked the bird using a quick method in the oven.  The temp is like 500 and it only takes a couple hours.  

Remember that the turkey should rest for about 15-30 min before you carve so you've got that last bit of time to throw some things in the oven for cooking or warming.

Try to keep it simple.  I always seem to over-do and then end up with a million leftovers.

I hope you can figure something out about chairs and seating so D doesn't go to his room to be out of the way.