Thanksgiving is just a week away. If you're planning on hosting a Thanksgiving dinner this year, then you're going to want to take a few easy steps before turkey day so that everything goes smoothly. Whether you're hosting the whole family, or just keeping it simple, follow our guide to getting ready for this year's Thanksgiving dinner.
Image via Country Living.
Make Side Dishes in Advance
You don't want to cook the turkey the day before, but dishes like stuffing, cranberry sauce, and mashed potatoes can be made a day or two in advance of the big day, and stored in the fridge during the interim.
Image via Bon Appétit.
Sharpen Your Kitchen Knives
You don't want to start carving the turkey and realize that your knives are dull. Sharpen all of your kitchen knives, before anyone shows up hungry, so that you won't have to worry about slicing and dicing once the cooking commences.
Image via Bon Appétit.
Get Your China and Silverware Ready
Like sharpening your knives, this is one of those steps that can be done a week or so in advance of your guests arriving. Silverware always looks best when recently polished. And if you plan on using the china set that's been hiding in the back of your coat closet, consider dusting it off before you serve up Thanksgiving dinner.
Looking to purchase a new set of china for this year? Check out Décor Aid's guide to contemporary china sets.
Image via Dillards.
Get Some Thanksgiving Decorations
Halloween is long gone. So substitute any lingering spooky decorations for pieces that have a more welcoming vibe. You can keep the pumpkins, but consider swapping out the ghouls and ghosts for something a little more appropriate for a family dinner. And don't forget to decorate the table as well. Fall motifs, such as leaves, candles, and foliage make for great table additions.
Image via Elle Decor.
Bust out the Wine
Whether you and your guests prefer red, white, or sparkling, you're going to want to make sure that you're ready to bust open a bottle of wine as soon as dinner is served. And this is one department where you shouldn't skimp on quantity. While no one will mind if you run out of green bean casserole, you're going to have some unhappy guests on your hands if you run out of refreshments.
Image via Time.
Convince Your Guests to Bring Some Food
Since you're going to be doing most of the work, why not delegate to your guests a little bit? Don't trust anyone else with the turkey, but plan a bit in advance, and ask guests to bring some side dishes. Just consider whose cooking skills lie where before you start dishing out requests.
Image via Country Living.
Get the Guest Room Ready
If you've got any guests spending the night, or if your guests are prone to having an extra glass of wine, make sure that your guest room is ready to go. Set out fresh sets of linens and towels, along with some extra toiletries.
Image via HGTV.
Seating Arrangements
Make sure you know exactly how many guests are coming, so you can set the appropriate number of table settings. You can even put name cards at each setting, if you want to keep opposing political views away from each-other. And if you find yourself running out of space in the dining room, consider a kids table!
Image via Country Living.
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