Thanksgiving Planning

Archive for the ‘thanksgiving planning’ Category

To decorate the children’s table at Thanksgiving, offer arts and crafts projects to the kids, like decorating their own place mat, painting a pumpkin or cutting out shapes from construction paper. Keep the kids busy during Thanksgiving, simultaneously adding decoration to their table, with tips from an event coordinator in this free video on holiday parties.

Expert: Lori Randall
Contact: www.SimplyDevineEvents.com
Bio: Lori Randall established Simply Divine Events after working as an event producer in Tampa, Fla. managing dozens of corporate affairs throughout the state and across the country.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Duration : 0:2:5

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I am undertaking the daunting task of preparing Thanksgiving for about 18 people this year. I’m not sure how much food to prepare. I’m also a little unsure about how to make large quantities of mashed potatoes and candied sweet potatoes. Can anyone advise me?

18 people huh! You got moxie! Well figure 1 medium size potato for each person plus 4 for those who like taters. Peel them and keep them in water until used. I would boil them in batches like 7 at a time, cut up into pieces of course, keeping the already cooked ones in a pan covered. Then when all are cooked, mashed them together and return to pan & cover for storage. Mashed potato can always be reheated in a microwave.
Candied Yams, figure 1 yam for every two people should do the trick. These can be done days ahead of time, then reheated in a microwave b-4 serving. In fact, the potatoes can be done the day b-4 and also reheated. Now the turkey, about a pound and a half per person should do the trick.
Green bean casserole, corn, biscuits, roll, deserts, again these things can be prepared days ahead and reheated or served Thanksgiving Day. You took on a Big Challenge and you need to react as they do in a restaurant. Oh for recipe ideas, recipesource.com. Good luck & I’ll say a prayer for you.

Planning a Thanksgiving dinner timetable requires grocery shopping before the rush, ordering a large turkey well in advance and doing most of the cooking the night before. Create an organized timetable, making sure to accommodate for all of the guests’ dietary needs, with tips from an event coordinator in this free video on holiday parties.

Expert: Lori Randall
Contact: www.SimplyDevineEvents.com
Bio: Lori Randall established Simply Divine Events after working as an event producer in Tampa, Fla. managing dozens of corporate affairs throughout the state and across the country.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Duration : 0:2:3

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I’m trying to get some ideas for some new sides to bring to our familys potluck. I’m running out of ideas and am looking for a little inspiration! I’m also interested on some new salad ideas (I’m so sick of the standard fruit and ceaser salads)

Stuffing and mashed potatoes are the obvious choices. My mom usually makes sweet potatoes with marshmallows, which are absolutely delicious, and roasted veggies, like carrots. We also have green bean casserole – it’s amazing!

I wanted to host our families Thanksgiving dinner this year but my apartment isn’t big enough for the 20+ people that we will be having. My bf is a great cook so he is in charge of most of the food and everyone else is just bringing small dishes or appetizers. I’m making pumpkin rolls and cranberry sauce. As far as decorations go I’m using the big 4 wick candles and putting grapes, apples and pears around them. I made a tablecloth by gathering leaves and using fabric paint to stamp them onto a plain white table cloth. I also have ideas for other decorating but what I want to know is, would it be totally tacky to use disposable plates? I’m willing to buy nice ones but I just don’t want myself or anyone else to have to deal with a lot of dishes after we eat. I’d rather just relax, play some games maybe and watch football. Any suggestions about dinnerware or any other decorations or anything would be appreciated! Thanks!
Ooops I forgot to mention that the dinner will be held at my uncle’s house since he has a huge house and is going through a divorce so it is just him there. I hate my small apartment!

It is Thanksgiving , so the most important part is for your family and friends to feel welcomed, comfortable, and to have a good time. Try thinking of it as more of a celebration that you get to host your way. Over the years I have been to all types of Thanksgiving dinners and have hosted quite a few myself. One of the best and is still talked about by everyone is the a little non-traditional. My dad had moved into a new house, but it was also in the middle of a kitchen remodel. There ended up being about 30 people there and everything that could possibly go wrong did. First the pipe under the kitchen sink burst, then the storm knocked out the power before all the food was done so my dad fired up his BBQ and borrowed his neighbors BBQ to finish the turkey, biscuits, etc. The food was served buffet style with good disposable plates, glasses, napkins and flatware. We had multiple tables set up in the living room and dining room with lots of candles and a fire in the fireplace. It was gorgeous and fun. Everyone had a great time and ate too much, and I don’t think that they gave a second thought to what kind of plate they were eating off of, but it was nice being able to enjoy my family and be stuck in the kitchen doing 10,000 extra dishes. There will already be plenty to do with all the serving bowls and platters. I say make it fun, special and your own.

By the way pumpkin rolls sound really tasty. Care to share the recipe?

Planning a Thanksgiving feast requires putting together a guest list, buying non-perishables from the grocery store early and preparing the dish ware, silverware and platters ahead of time. Plan a Thanksgiving feast everyone will enjoy with tips from an event coordinator in this free video on event planning.

Expert: Lori Randall
Contact: www.SimplyDevineEvents.com
Bio: Lori Randall established Simply Divine Events after working as an event producer in Tampa, Fla. managing dozens of corporate affairs throughout the state and across the country.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Duration : 0:2:56

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Planning a Thanksgiving meal involves creating a menu, shopping early to avoid the holiday rush and cleaning the fine china. Plan a successful Thanksgiving meal, setting the table the night before to save time, with tips from an event coordinator in this free video on holiday parties.

Expert: Lori Randall
Contact: www.SimplyDevineEvents.com
Bio: Lori Randall established Simply Divine Events after working as an event producer in Tampa, Fla. managing dozens of corporate affairs throughout the state and across the country.
Filmmaker: Christopher Rokosz

Duration : 0:2:3

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Thank you for the pie recipe!

Side dishes are always interesting to make.
This year I am making a nice banana salad.
So simple;
Cut bananas in to wheels.

Add strawberry flavoured yogurt and mix carefully.
Make just before serving to avoid blackening of the fruit.

Also,
My family likes a potato salad, so I am making some this year as a side item, and for sweets, here is a very special recipe for you to try;

Granny’s sweet dumpling pudding

Dumplings;
250 ml cake flour
10 ml baking powder
2 ml salt
50 ml margarine/butter
1 egg
100 ml milk

Sauce:

500 ml boiling water
25 ml margarine / butter
cinnamon sugar

Sift dry ingredients together. Rub 50 ml margarine in tot until mixture resembles bread crumbs. Beat eggs and milk together, stir in to flour mixture in until soft dough. Add milk if needed. Heat water en 25 ml margarine until boiling point. Put spoonfuls of dough in to water. Cover with lid and allow to simmer for 15 minutes. Do not lift lid while dumplings are cooking

Scoop dumplings out of water with a slotted spoon and place in dish. Shake cinnamon sugar over Boil the water that the dumplings were cooked in again. Add to that some cinnamon sugar and use over dumplings as a sauce. Add water if needed.

Learn the different requirements for formal versus informal meals when setting a table for Thanksgiving in this free holiday meal etiquette video from a Thanksgiving dinner authority.

Expert: Jennifer Cail
Bio: Jennifer Cail has been cooking and baking since she could reach the stove at the age of 4.
Filmmaker: randy primm

Duration : 0:1:12

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I will be serving canned corn for thanksgiving. I would like a way to make it more fancy. I don’t want the taste to change. I just want a way to make it look not like I opened a can and put it in a bowl.
I loved canned (not frozen) corn. It will be one of at least ten different vegetable side dishes.

Since you say you don’t want the taste to change I wouldn’t saute anything into it as that will definitely change the taste. If your fond of canned corn, then darn it, stick with it! Make it fancy by serving in a lovely bowl, glass would be nice to let the color shine through and then put a little greenery on top like a simple bit of parsley in the middle, maybe a sprinkle of cayenne pepper across the top (not much flavor there). Alternatively, what about serving it around your turkey? That would look nice and would just get some of the flavoring from the meat. Have a great thanksgiving!