Dear BA Foodist,
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner puts me on edge. In addition to making sure that everything reaches the table on time and hot, there's wine to pour, silverware to set out, and children to watch. Got any suggestions for reducing stress on November 26?
Elizabeth Wickham, Iowa City, Iowa
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Dear Elizabeth,
I love cooking. I love how everyone gathers in the kitchen at a party. I love all this except on Thanksgiving. If it's the fourth Thursday of November and I'm cooking, leave me alone. In that spirit, I've got some dos and don'ts for Thanksgiving dinner that might help you this year.
1. Lovely guest, this is no time to chat with me about little Timmy's academic problems or the Super Bowl. Most people, myself included, cook best when there's relatively little talking. Walk into many great restaurant kitchens and, despite what you may have seen on reality TV, it's quiet. Everyone's head is down, and the cooks are concentrating on peeling the potatoes or mixing the vinaigrette. You want the perfect Thanksgiving meal? Go mingle with someone else.
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2. No matter how confident a cook you are, Thanksgiving dinner takes organization. For example, I rarely make to-do lists. Around Thanksgiving, I do. (Dressing, check. Cranberries, check. Gravy...damn, I forgot the gravy.)
3. Read recipes carefully and thoroughly, especially if it's your first time making a dish. The first time I decided to serve fried turkey, I did a test run a few weeks before--just to make sure I could pull it off.
4. A few sips of wine while cooking is part of the experience, but be careful. A tipsy chef leads to burned rolls and scorched marshmallows.
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5. Delegate. Run your Thanksgiving as you would a restaurant. Ask someone to bring the dessert, someone to set the table, someone to pour the wine, someone to clear the table, and someone to do the dishes.
6. Don't forget to enjoy yourself once everything is on the table. Take a moment to revel in people's compliments. And be sure to give yourself a pat on the back. You deserve it.
***Get organized with our three-week countdown to Thanksgiving. You can add the
checklist to your calendar or print it as a PDF.***
Related: Top 7 Most Common Turkey Emergencies (and How to Fix Them)
More from Bon Appétit:
- The 20 Best Turkey Stuffing Ever
- Easy, Homey Thanksgiving Potato Recipes Everyone Will Love
- 5 Essential Kitchen Tools for Thanksgiving
- Fabulous Finales: 28 Thanksgiving Desserts to Finish Your Feast
- 6 Healthy Tricks for Your Thanksgiving Feast
