By Mary Lynne Murray
Reprinted from Contra Costa Times, November 23, 2002
THANKSGIVING - the very name sounds peaceful and warm. And why
should it be anything but? Don't let Thanksgiving become stressful.
With some planning, your day can be organized for maximum blessings.
Choices abound. The first is to go out to dinner.
This might be the answer if your feet won't hit the ground until
Thanksgiving Day. The second, a variation on the first, is to
order a cooked Thanksgiving dinner from a deli, grocery store
or specialty market to eat at home. Either way, be sure to call
ahead to reserve a spot.
The third choice is to cook dinner the old-fashioned way. The
best foundation for a pleasant dinner is to have a plan -- from
appetizers to dessert. Just don't etch your plan in stone. Be
willing to accommodate the unexpected. Remember the simple Pilgrim
menu, and you'll be fine.
A variation on the home-cooked version (for families and friends
living near each other) is to have dinner at one place, and then
move to another for dessert and coffee. My family has done this
often; the change in scenery livens the crowd and splits up the
hosting duties.
When I was growing up, my dad was a grocer, and did the shopping.
Provide a detailed shopping list to whoever does the shopping.
Avoid crowds and shop early morning or late evening several days
before the holiday.
Ask family or other guests to make their specialty to bring.
Perhaps one of the guests likes to bake and could make pies. But
allow for shortcuts: Store-bought pies are an easy alternative.
Be sure to have light snacks on hand if people are hanging around.
This is a good job for someone who doesn't like
to cook, and perfect for kids. A preset table also puts your guests'
minds at ease and adds a festive atmosphere. Prepare any dishes
that you can ahead of time so you won't be stuck in the kitchen
all day.
Coming from the predishwasher days, I can attest
that drying dishes while my sister or dad washed wasn't so bad.
This gives everyone a chance to chip in with some conversation
between towel snaps.
Check your supplies. Do you have enough chairs, dishes, glasses,
pots, pans, serving pieces? Will you need extra tables? Will you
want candles and/or a centerpiece? Will you use place cards? These
may sound fussy, but they eliminate awkward moments of where to
sit, and kids like to write the names. Arrange to buy, borrow
or rent the things you need. Buffet style works well if you have
a big crowd and limited table space.
Sixteen years ago, my brother-in-law announced: "I've rented
a house on the coast and you're welcome to join us." He didn't
have to twist our arms. The tradition of having Thanksgiving in
this location continues. Here are our keys to a happy day:
No one person works too hard. My sister-in-law likes baking and
usually bakes pies. We let her off the year she was 9 months pregnant
and bought pies. My brother-in-law likes to cook the turkey, and
I become chef's assistant, whipping up the dressing, potatoes
and gravy. Somehow a salad and fresh vegetable get prepared. Most
of the group likes the canned cranberry sauce, so we take the
shortcut. My husband is the bartender and appetizer man. Cleanup
is handled by anyone who can still move after dinner. We eat an
afternoon dinner so we can take a walk on the beach before dark.
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