Image by Mr. T in DC via Flickr

For many of us, the bulk of Thanksgiving is spent in the kitchen. There are side dishes to prepare, meats to cook, and desserts to make. When we finally get to sit down it is at the dinner table to join our family and friends in devouring the meal we worked so hard to put together. It’s a small miracle that we don’t fall face down in the mashed potatoes after all that time and effort.

Here are some ideas that you can put into play this Thanksgiving to help you spend less time in the kitchen and more time actually enjoying your company and the festivities.

1. Begin early. Most people work up until Thanksgiving Day so they buy groceries and let everything sit until the night before at the earliest. This year, create a list of the food items that will be on the Thanksgiving table at least a week before the actual day. If it is not on the list, it doesn’t go on the table.

2. Cook ahead and freeze. Casseroles, macaroni and cheese, and rice dishes are wonderful candidates for freezing. Be sure to let them completely cool before refrigerating them or it will cause condensation to form. Once the dish is evenly cooled, cover it with an airtight lid or in freezer bags and place in the freezer until Thanksgiving morning when you can pull them out and reheat.

3. We all like to have our pies fresh and hot from the oven, but that is a lot of “perfect” timing for the baker, which is hard to come by when you’re cooking a huge Thanksgiving feast. Bake your pies before hand and let guests heat their single pieces up after dinner when they’re ready to enjoy them.

4. Our house never has a store bought turkey, let alone a frozen one.  When asked, I always recommend Fresh over frozen.  Why, you might ask?  For one thing, a frozen turkey needs to thaw in the fridge for four to five days before preparing. That means your refrigerator won’t be available to hold too much else. It also means that raw, thawing meat will be right next to other foods for the big day. Not a good idea if you’re trying to save time and energy and start early. A fresh turkey can be bought later without the space worries. Even if it has to be cooked a day or two before, the entire bird can be reheated in the oven on Thanksgiving Day before meal time.

5. Purchase or make appetizers. I don’t think there is one household that ever has dinner on the table exactly at four o’clock or whatever time you slate for the Thanksgiving meal. My household is no different!  In case dinner is a little late getting to the table, munch on a tray of raw vegetables with ranch dip or a fruit salad. It is light and healthy and won’t ruin the appetite for turkey and gravy.

This year, give thanks that you planned for the big turkey day not just winged it. Planning takes the guesswork out of the occasion and leaves more time to enjoy with family, friends and the good food you’ve prepared.