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Shutterbean Thanksgiving Meal Prep:
Thanksgiving is next week. Are you ready for it? Are you wondering what can you do ahead of time to prep for Thanksgiving?
I’ll tell you!
You must:
MAKE LISTS & GO OVER YOUR CALENDAR. MAP IT OUT. Collect your recipes, and organize!
Figure out what you can do ahead of time and DO IT so your day of is less stressful.
First, you need to answer the following questions:
Now you need to organize the answers!! My Party Prep List will help.
Start with a pencil and go over in pen!
There’s also a lot going on during the week of a holiday, so it’s important to map out all the other days surrounding the holiday.
Here’s my weekly planner template if you need help.
Hang it up on the fridge, so everyone knows the agenda!
If you’re hosting other people for the week, you’ll need to plan meals in addition to the main event.
Map it out! What can you do to make life easier?
Here’s my dinner template that you can also put on your fridge.
A clipboard can keep you organized. It will be your home base. It’s helpful if you get a clipboard with a folder storage situation because you can organize your recipes that way! Carry it around the house and pretend you are a cruise director/camp counselor. Clipboards command respect. Also, they don’t get lost as easily as rogue papers.
I find it helpful to draw out the things I’m making. Sometimes it’s easier to see what you need to put on the table when you mapped out a visual for yourself.
You can also draw the dish you’re serving it in. You don’t need to be a pro, just map it out!
Find ways to make life easier for yourself.
Speaking of… let’s talk more about what can be prepped ahead of time.
If you’re hosting here’s a list of things you can do ahead of time
- Grocery shop/pick up things that are premade
- Set the table (place cards or no?)
- Arrange flowers/decor for table
- Gather the dishes you plan to use for serving. Set up a buffet ahead of time to space things out. Put out trivets or any hot pads on the table where needed.
- Clean house/prep for guests (deep clean bathrooms!)
- Make sure you have an empty counter/dishwasher before guests come so you can be organized.
- pick a playlist
- prep water in a pitcher for the guests
- pick out what you are going to wear!
Food to make ahead:
- gravy (I make a base that will thicken up the juices in the pan from turkey)
- stuffing
- cranberry sauce
- mashed potatoes (I do up to a day ahead)
- creamed spinach
- appetizer prep
- cut up onions/vegetables for dishes/appetizers
If you are searching for some new recipes I love for Thanksgiving, here’s help from my archives.
Epic Cheese Board with Trader Joe’s Items!
Turkey Cranberry Meatballs Herbed Goat Cheese
Apricots + Goat Cheese + Basil
Sweet & Sour Roasted Delicata Squash
Skillet Roasted Cauliflower with Breadcrumbs
Roasted Brussels Sprouts & Butternut Squash
Braised Brussels Sprouts with Pancetta
Little Gem Lettuce Salad with Beets & Walnuts
Beet Salad with Poppy Seed & Chive Dressing
Brussels Sprouts Salad with Pecorino & Oranges
Pumpkin Cake with Brown Butter Icing
Pumpkin Gingersnap Ice Cream Cake
Burnt Butter Ginger Pear Crumble
One of my favorite things to do is set the table in the morning for the party. I piece stuff together over the day and let it all come together!
My favorite is taking a moment to step outside and bring some of the pretty autumn leaves inside.
And an altar for my Mom.
If you need some grace inspiration, I’ve got you covered too. Thanks HJH!
Have you given yourself the chance to map out your ideal Thanksgiving?
You might just get what you want if you know what it is you want!
If you need some holiday survival help this season, save the date for Saturday, Dec. 14th! I am cohosting a workshop with MC. We will help you reclaim holiday JOY!
Here’s all the details! We will be hosting Intentions workshops for the new year too. Stay tuned!
