Tips on how to get ready for Thanksgiving 2013

No matter what you do, your family will appreciate the effort that you put in. However, this does not mean that you should just do whatever you may feel like. After all, if you are a host, you need to make sure that your guests feel great. Here are some tips to help you prepare for Thanksgiving 2013:

1. Remember Why You Celebrate Thanksgiving 2013!

This is what counts the most. You can basically plan the perfect Thanksgiving dinner and still end up forgetting the essentials as you get caught up in all the small tasks that have to be performed. Christmas is not the only family time that you get. Thanksgiving is equally important. Remind the children about the Pilgrims and tell them the story of the Mayflower. The first ever Thanksgiving was a reason to celebrate and that is exactly the atmosphere that you want in your home. The Pilgrims are the reason why USA is the great country it is. Remember and cherish what they did while telling children all about that.

2. Planning Your 2013 Thanksgiving

Never wait until the final minutes to prepare and plan Thanksgiving 2013. This is the biggest mistake that you could make. Shop smart and always make sure that you buy everything in time. If you wait for too long, you might not find what you need in the stores. This is especially true in the event that you want to cook some really special Thanksgiving recipes that require rare ingredients.

Every single year there is a Thanksgiving food rush. That is why you have to prepare for at least 1 week ahead of time. Shop for those items that can get spoiled fast close to the holiday! Everything else should be bought ahead of time. Also, remember these tips:

• All pie crusts and bread dough can be frozen ahead of time
• The sweet potatoes can be cut and peeled ahead of time and stored in refrigerator baggies or even in a mason jar
• Pay close attention to the Turkey Recipes that you will prepare so that you know exactly how much time you need
• Don’t forget about Thanksgiving side dishes and Thanksgiving desserts

3. Pay Close Attention To Kids

We already mentioned the fact that you should teach people to be grateful through Thanksgiving 2013 but we also have to understand the fact that kids do get bored easily. If you have children or children will come over to your house for Thanksgiving dinner, you need to factor this into your planning. You can keep them entertained through Thanksgiving games for kids or through special Thanksgiving crafts. Also, if possible, try to arrange some sort of play area for them to have fun while grown-ups talk. It is also quite an interesting idea to arrange a small table for the young ones so that they can enjoy their own company. Grown-up talk is never entertaining for children during Thanksgiving.

If you plan to have the family over for an entire day with a Thanksgiving dinner planned at night, you can use the day to entertain everyone. If you have a backyard, make sure that you use it. You can play some football or just organize a really fast barbeque in the morning for a quick snack. Make sure that it is also festive.

4. Buy Your Turkey Ahead Of Time!

This might seem like common sense but it is something that we tend to forget so often. You cannot really have Thanksgiving without turkey. The only option when that happens is when you opt for alternative dishes but even then, you still need turkey breast or similar meat.

The problem with turkeys is that they do sell really fast. This is especially true for the heavy ones. If you plan to cook dinner for a larger number of people, it is vital that you buy you turkey ahead of cooking date. This guarantees that you actually have what to cook. The turkey can easily be refrigerated until it I needed.

5. Don’t Forget About Thanksgiving 2013 Decorations!

While most people stay focused on what they will cook and do not care much about decorations, you need to be smart about everything and understand the fact that the atmosphere is what makes everything a lot better than it might seem at first glance. Just think about going into a home that is festively decorated. Now compare with your regular interior design.

There are not many modifications that are necessary. For instance, you can simply add some covers to the chairs or use festive decorations for the table. Make sure that your food is also arranged in a way that is attractive and try to just do all that you can so that your home is as welcoming as possible.

Thanksgiving 2013 Will Be Memorable If You Are Grateful!

It is really easy to say this but it is a piece of advice that you have to remember at all times. Unfortunately, there are so many people that get tangled up in all that they have to do and they basically forget to be grateful about the opportunity of having the family over. Do not overdo it! It is a guarantee that your family will love what you did and all that is necessary is to do as much as you can. This holiday is not about competition. It is all about being grateful and having quality family time.

It is always a great idea to ask the guests what they would enjoy doing or eating ahead of time. That would help you to have something available for everyone. In addition, all the guests would thus feel welcomed and appreciated, which is exactly what Thanksgiving is all about!

The post How To Properly Prepare For Thanksgiving 2013 appeared first on Dzhingarov

Mashed Potatoes

It is not at all difficult to make mashed potatoes. We all know that. The classic recipe sees you taking potatoes (preferably Yukon gold) and letting them simmer for 45 minutes in cold salted water. Drain the water, peel and then mash with a maximum of 1 stick of butter. Add hot milk (around 1 cup), pepper, salt and then mash until fluffy and smooth.

That is the easy way to cook mashed potatoes but you might want to spice things up a little. If you use red potatoes you can avoid peeling and then do all the other steps. The result is chunky red mashed potatoes that are both visually appealing and tastier than you might imagine. You could even replace the milk with sour cream and then top with the use of fresh dill to obtain another interesting recipe.

If you like peppers, take 2 chopped peppers (preferably red bell) and sauté them with the use of 1 teaspoon of thyme leaves and olive oil. Cover and do so until tender. Swirl or puree into the classic mesh.

In the event that you want to have a low fat recipe, use the chunky red mash option that we mentioned. Instead of butter, use a quarter of a cup of cooking water. Use plan nonfat Greek yogurt so that you do not use milk. The result is one of the tastiest thanksgiving side dishes.

Green Been Casserole

This is a recipe that takes you a little over 1 hour to make. The actual cooking time is 45 minutes and the result is 4 to 6 servings if you respect the quantities mentioned.

Topping Ingredients: 

• A quarter of a cup of flour
• 2 onions – medium sized and thinly sliced
• 2 tablespoons of panko bread crumbs
• Cooking spray – use nonstick
• 1 tablespoon of salt

Sauce And Main Side Dish Ingredients:

• A little more than 2 tablespoons of salt
• 2 tablespoons of butter – unsalted
• 1 pound of fresh green beans – halved, trimmed and rinsed
• A quarter teaspoon of nutmeg – freshly ground
• 2 cloves of minced garlic
• Half a teaspoon of black pepper
• 2 tablespoons of flour
• 1 cup of chicken broth

Cooking Directions:

Preheat your oven to 475 degrees Fahrenheit. Combine the panko, salt, flour and onions in one mixing bowl. Coat a simple sheet pan with the use of the cooking spray and then spread onions evenly on pans. Put the pan on the oven’s middle rack. Bake until the color becomes golden brown. It should take around half an hour. Add the onions 2 or 3 times while cooking and as soon as all is over, remove. Let it settle aside. The oven needs to be turned down to 400 degrees Fahrenheit.

Let the onions cook and prepare your beans in the meantime. Add one gallon of water and use 2 salt tablespoons. Let it boil and add blanch together with the beans for five minutes. Drain and then plunge all the beans into a bowl with ice water. Drain and then set aside.

Melt the unsalted butter and add mushrooms, pepper, salt. Cook and stir occasionally. You can stop when the mushrooms become tender. It should be around 5 minutes. Add nutmeg and garlic. Continue cooking for 2 minutes. Add flour over the entire mixture and then stir. Cook for 1 more minute. Add broth and then simmer for 1 minute. Reduce the heat source to medium to low and cook until the entire mixture thickens (around 7 minutes). Stir occasionally.

Remove all from the heat and then stir with a quarter of the onions and the green beans. The rest of the onions would top everything. Place everything in the oven and just bake for 15 minutes. As soon as you remove the green beans, you can serve.

Extra Thanksgiving Side Dishes Tips To Consider

Remember that while you prepare the side dishes, you can always use thanksgiving games for kids in the event that there are young ones so that they do not get bored. Also, keep in mind that the side dishes do tend to be left last and this can turn out to be a mistake. It is best to start at the right time and calculate when the dishes would be ready as you need to serve together with the turkey for the best possible experience.

The bottom line is that you have to plan ahead. You cannot have thanksgiving without the turkey and you cannot have the turkey without side dishes. Take all the time that you need to be sure that you have all the ingredients and if possible, test all the recipes some time in advance, before Thanksgiving. If you prepare for the holiday, you will surely have a great time and everyone will be extremely happy with the experience. Also, remember that your dishes are not everything. You need to also have a loving atmosphere and you need to take into account what this holiday is all about. If everyone is jolly and the food is great, wonderful memories can be created.

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