Ah, Thanksgiving. It's one of the coziest, most delicious days of the year, but it's also one of the most stressful ones if you're the one cooking or hosting. Want to get to dinner without losing your mind? We've got some hacks that will leave you thankful!
1. Making food ahead of time is a good idea, but you don't want to run out of stove or oven space, or let it get cold. Get creative! Use a thermos to store gravy, and keep dishes in slow cockers on the 'warm' setting.
2. Want to take your green bean casserole to a whole new level? Instead of topping it with french-fried onions, fry up some onion rings and use them as the top layer instead. Give this recipe a try.
3. When we think turkey, we think stuffing -- but it's actually not a good idea to over-stuff the bird. Give the stuffing room to breathe and it'll help things cook more evenly.
4. Need more space in your fridge for bulky or oddly-shaped items (like, say, the turkey)? Fill a cooler with ice and stash condiments, jars, and bottles inside for the day so you've got more space in your fridge.
5. Making a pie often involves baking the crust first, and pie weights can help prevent the crust from puffing up. Don't have pie weights? You can use a layer of parchment paper topped with dry beans.
6. Veggies can do double duty -- they can act as a roasting rack for the turkey while also imbuing the bird and the drippings with plenty of flavor. Just layer carrots, potatoes, celery, and more underneath the turkey in the pan and it'll help ensure an even cook.
7. Don't feel like you have to make absolutely everything from scratch. If you're not a great pumpkin pie maker, buy one from the store! You can also dress up store bought items with a little extra seasoning or homemade whipped cream.
8. Time is money. Use the evening before Thanksgiving to chop and peel all of the veggies so they're ready to go the following morning!
9. Instead of constantly re-lining the trash can after emptying, line it with three bags at once so a new bag is ready as soon as it's full.
10. Don't send your guests home empty-handed! Buy disposable muffin tins so you can divvy up different foods for folks to take home -- without them touching. Nice!
