Thanksgiving is a lot of fun, and most of us spend all year long thinking about the tasty treats that await. But it can also be stressful trying to make all that magic happen! Well, we've got some tips to make things easier -- try these Thanksgiving hacks, and thank us later.
1. First of all, make life easy for everyone by splitting the labor -- consider going full potluck style! Everyone can bring a dish or two, and that way no one is spending all day sweating over a hot stove. (The less-great cooks can bring the rolls -- or the beers).
2. Go old school and print your recipe of choice out. Why? Well, instead of touching your phone or tablet with dirty hands, you can just tape it to a wall or cabinet so it's always at eye level.
3. Use your slow cooker as a warmer that you barely have to think about! Potatoes, gravies, veggies, etc...they'll all stay nice and cozy-warm while you work on making other dishes.
4. Foil is great for many of the classic Thanksgiving dishes, but keep the foil tent off the turkey! Why? Well, this article points out that it's just going to destroy that lovely crispy skin with sogginess.
5. Make your own whipped cream for the pumpkin pie. Sure, we all love the sound of that whipped cream coming out of the spray can, but you can flavor homemade whipped cream any way you like, and it's as easy as it is tasty. Here's a recipe.
6. Save space in the fridge by breaking out the coolers. They're not just for summer cookouts and football tailgates, after all! You can keep all of the desserts and stored foods in the refrigerator without worrying about the drinks getting warm.
7. Your cooler can also be, well, a warmer! Line it with foil on the inside and store warm dishes inside -- the insulation will help trap all of the heat so that none of your dishes cool down before dinnertime.
8. Want to impress your guests with beautiful serving platters but don't want to spend a fortune? Hit up the thrift or vintage store! You may be rewarded with some amazing finds that are downright cheap. The same goes for gravy boats, glasses, or serving utensils.
9. Planning on taking home or keeping a lot of leftovers? Sure, plastic containers are convenient, but if space is at a minimum in your fridge or freezer, put the food in gallon bags instead so they can be laid flat.
10. Let the kids have some fun -- and keep them distracted so they don't start begging for dessert too early -- by covering the kid's table with butcher paper instead of a tablecloth. Set out crayons or colored pencils and let them make some masterpieces between helpings!
