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Thanksgiving Dinner
Ban the Frantic Woman from the Kitchen!
By Donna Smith
Another way to cut down on Thanksgiving Day stress is to ask everyone that's coming to bring a dish. This is a great way to make your day a little easier, as well as let friends and family show off their culinary masterpieces. Make sure that each person is bringing something different so you don't end up with three green bean casseroles and four bowls of mashed potatoes!
Pick a few recipes that can be made ahead of time. Some recipes can be made up to three days before the big day and stored in the refrigerator. Some pies, like pecan, freeze very well, so they can be made up to a month ahead of time. Mashed potatoes, stuffing, and most vegetable recipes can easily be made the day before, then reheated. This takes a lot of stress off the cook!
The night before Thanksgiving, have your family help you get the house in order. The table can be set and decorated. A simple centerpiece, such as a bowl full of fruit and nuts, or a terra cotta pot full of mums, will make a festive addition to your table. Cranberries look wonderful floating in a glass bowl full of water. Candles of different heights and colors set on a glass tray makes an elegant centerpiece. Set some pinecones randomly on the table, or how about some cinnamon sticks tied with a ribbon next to each plat?