How to host a stress-free Thanksgiving meal

Fall is always a festive time to come together with loved ones and enjoy the delicious bounty of the harvest season, but planning a multi-course meal for a large group can be a lot of pressure – especially for those of us who might be out of practice.

If you’re feeling stressed about hosting an elaborate dinner for friends and family over the holiday weekend, here are a few tips to help you plan and execute a memorable Thanksgiving feast.

Shop early

Want to keep your Thanksgiving hosting as stress-free as possible? Make a shopping list and pick up all your food, drinks and décor items early in order to beat the last-minute crowds at the grocery stores and farmer’s markets in the hectic days leading up to the holiday weekend. And pre-ordering your turkey from a local butcher ahead of time will help ensure you get the exact size you need.

Prepare ahead of time

Hosting a dinner party for a large group can be nerve-wracking, especially when there’s oversized poultry and multiple side dishes involved. As you start to plan your Thanksgiving menu, be strategic in your approach; consider prep-time and storage for each dish and do as much as you can in advance. Avoid total kitchen chaos on Thanksgiving Day by making sides, sauces and fixings that will freeze well or keep overnight beforehand – think dinner rolls, soup, salad dressing, casserole, stuffing, cranberry sauce, and desserts. Of course, there are certain dishes that should definitely be made on the big day, including fresh salads, mashed potatoes and the turkey. Taking care of make-ahead items in the days leading up to Thanksgiving will reduce your stress levels in the kitchen and make for a more relaxed meal.

Set the table

Picking out colourful fall décor is half the fun of hosting Thanksgiving dinner. Design a decorative cornucopia-style centrepiece with festive pumpkins, gourds and corn husks or arrange a pretty floral display with sunflowers, dahlias and other seasonal blooms. Finish your tablescape with flickering pillar candles to set the mood, table linens in rich autumnal hues like deep burgundy and burnt orange, and other rustic accents like warm wooden trays and gold cutlery. Make sure you have enough seating for all your guests – you might need to add an extra folding table or squeeze the kids together on a bench – and set your table up the night before so you’re not frantically folding napkins as you try to baste the turkey.

Ask for help

Let’s face it, cooking an extravagant dinner for friends and family on a big holiday weekend is a daunting task. If you’re worried you won’t have enough time to prepare a full Thanksgiving spread on your own, don’t be afraid to cheat a little by purchasing a few pre-made dishes or asking your guests to supplement the menu by contributing their own appetizers, side dishes and desserts. And if you want to avoid the hassle of shopping, cooking, and cleaning all together, consider ordering a ready-to-serve meal from a local restaurant or caterer.

This year, Savoury City Catering is offering gourmet Thanksgiving To-Go packages available for pick-up and delivery in the Vancouver area on October 8, 9 and 10. Our signature meal packages are designed to feed six adults and come with a 10 lb. local turkey (already carved to save you time), an array of crowd-pleasing side dishes, and a classic pumpkin pie for dessert with all items packaged in oven-safe containers for easy and effortless holiday hosting.

For more information about Savoury City’s Thanksgiving To-Go packages, click here.