Thanksgiving Dinner

Ban the Frantic Woman from the Kitchen!

By Donna Smith

The smell of turkey, pumpkin pie and stuffing wafting in the air, the sounds of football and children's laughter, and the crazed woman running around the kitchen in a panic can only mean one thing -- Thanksgiving dinner. This year don't be that frantic woman: plan ahead!

About a week before Thanksgiving, sit down and get organized. First, how many people will be coming to your house for dinner? This is important to know when planning the menu. Call friends and family, if necessary, to confirm that they will be there. Will Aunt Betsy bring her new boyfriend? Will Cousin Erin be able to make it home from college for Thanksgiving? The amount you're serving will have an impact on what recipes you choose to make.

Now that you know who's coming, make a list of what you want to serve. Find the recipe for each dish and write up a grocery list. Include everything you'll need to buy for each recipe, and make sure to check on your staple items, such as salt, pepper, flour and sugar. If you're running low on a staple, add it to the list as well.

What recipes did you select? This will determine your "stress level" on Thanksgiving Day. We all want to impress our family and friends with wonderful gourmet fare they will be raving about for years to come, but stop and think first before you pull out four new recipes you've never made before. If you want to try something new and different, by all means -- do! Try that new stuffing recipe with the wild rice and shitaki mushrooms, but keep the rest of the menu simple. Or make that those asparagus teepees you've been dying to try, but then make a simple stuffing you know will turn out great. Don't over-stress yourself by making too many new things. Face it, some recipes, no matter how good they look in the picture, don't turn out well.

Want to see more?

• Table Foods: From the Mushy Meal to the Main Coarse
• The Challenge of Feeding Your Toddler
• Where Have the Manners Gone?