Are you planning your first Thanksgiving? Where do you begin? No worries, we have created a fun and informative checklist to help you maneuver your first Thanksgiving dinner. Of course, it’s only the beginning of a lifetime of additions and traditions. Click here for your downloadable version.
When your family asks you what you would like for your birthday or a holiday gift, don’t overlook basic items that you might enjoy getting but wouldn’t think of buying for yourself. A few of these include an electric knife, measuring cups, a beautiful serving platter, and a lovely set of cheese knives. My grandmother stitched linen napkins for me that have become one of my favorite heirloom keepsakes.
I have a girlfriend who has sent me hand written recipe cards throughout the years and many of them have become my favorite Thanksgiving recipes. She is from a small town in Iowa and I have several of her hometown church cookbooks. It’s so much fun to read through the books and recognize some of the names she has talked about throughout the years. Cooking for family and friends should not be stressful, nor should you feel like you can’t invite people over if you don’t have all the right tools or dishes. Mix and match plates, borrow serving platters, and ask your family to bring extra chairs; no one expects you to have everything.
There is nothing wrong with purchasing a few food items, or asking a friend to bring the dessert. People love to help! If they offer a helping hand when it comes to moving furniture to make room for additional people, or bringing a few bottles of wine to the dinner, say “thank you” and know that they truly are pleased to do so.
Relax, enjoy yourself and the rest will take care of itself. Start your collection of Thanksgiving tools by taking a look at the First Thanksgiving Checklist: