Talking Turkey (Decking the Halls) and Finding the Gravy Boat! 

The leaves are gusting, the candles are glowing, and your kitchen smells like it belongs in a Hallmark movie. You have planned a perfect menu; you are dressed up and wearing your favorite apron, not a hair out of place, the greenery is all fluffed; the lights are twinkling; and you have remembered everyone’s favorite song for the holiday playlist. The bird comes out of the oven, and you are ready for the perfect meal. Yep … this is the vision!

Past celebrations may have been quite different: your hair, held together with a chip clip; your serving spoons, missing; the apple juice for the cider, forgotten; the turkey, undercooked; the dinner rolls, burned. To top it off, the cake knife grandma gave you 12 years ago as a wedding gift is nowhere in sight to cut her famous dessert. Real life usually includes a host rifling through drawers for a whisk and “making do” with a spatula instead. 

This year is going to be different, because we are going to prepare for the feast differently. Before your first guest arrives, jot these forgotten essentials on your Thanksgiving Prep checklist:

Thanksgiving Prep Checklist

Spices and More Spices

The basics are for sweets and savory, and they can almost all be handled with one of two spices – Poultry seasoning and Pumpkin pie spice. Your basic spice pantry should always have a stocked supply of:

For Savory Dishes

• Salt and Pepper
• Garlic and Onion Powder
• Paprika
• Oregano
• Thyme
• Sage
• Rosemary
• Poultry Seasoning

For Sweet Dishes

• Ground Cinnamon
• Cinnamon Sticks for Cider
• Ground Nutmeg
• Ground Ginger, Nutmeg, Cloves, Allspice
• Pumpkin Pie Spice

General Basics

• White Sugar
• Brown Sugar
• Powdered Sugar
• All-Purpose Flour
• Baking Powder
• Baking Soda
• Cornstarch
• Cocoa Powder and Chocolate Chips

Don’t Overthink the Appetizers

Every host needs a go-to appetizer. A few boxes of crackers, an assortment of cheeses, seasonal fruit, a couple of blocks of cream cheese, and jalapeno jelly work wonders on hungry appetites.  You want to blunt your guests’ appetite but not ruin it. 

How Many Serving Spoons Do You Need?

Pull together at least three sets of serving spoons and a couple of slotted spoons for the buffet or serving trays. Add more if your menu requires additional. Don’t forget casseroles, green beans, mashed potatoes, corn, dressing, peas, cranberries, and more need their own serving utensil. Put the appropriate tools next to each dish so guests will know what they should use.

Tongs, A Turkey Lifter, and Meat Thermometer are a Host’s Must-Haves

The two things hosts most often overlook until it’s too late are a good pair (or three) of tongs and a meat thermometer. The turkey should reach 165 degrees Fahrenheit, and looks are deceiving. Check the thickest part of the breast and the innermost thigh without touching the bone. Small tongs make the fruit and cheese tray easier to maneuver. Sturdier tongs are useful for picking up pieces of the turkey, and the turkey lifter is vital for lifting the bird out of the roaster.

A Sturdy Roaster is a Key Cooking Supply

Don’t resort to a last-minute search for a makeshift baking sheet for the turkey. A roaster is paramount to a beautifully roasted bird, and a rack provides support for the drippings that will turn into gravy. A flimsy roaster from the five-and-dime will work, but it’s not the best for handling a hot, sizzling turkey.

The Gravy Boat is a Conversation Piece

Instead of serving your gravy from the stove, make sure to have several gravy boats to pass around the table. You can use them for conversation pieces, as well. Most gravy boats have a story, and a gravy boat from grandma or the vintage store is a great tool to get the dinner conversation started. It also saves the host from getting up to bring more gravy to the table.

Ladle it In for Cider

A pretty punchbowl for the holiday punch needs the correct serving tool. Rather than a spoon, a ladle is easier and more efficient to use. Whether you display your favorite holiday mugs or use decorative thermal cups, the presentation, with the right ladle, will make a big difference. Don’t forget to add a batch of small, decorative napkins near the cups for guests to grab as they serve their punch.

One Last Look Around

Before the first guest arrives, take one quick walk around the house and make sure there is plenty of hand soap and toilet paper in the powder room. Now enjoy your guests and your party!

I hope today’s post has been especially helpful as you prepare for this season of Thanksgiving. We wish you an abundance of blessings! 

You may also like Hosting Etiquette for a Thanksgiving Potluck or a Friendsgiving.

For more information about working with Diane, America’s “Go To” social and professional etiquette authority, please visit The Protocol School of Texas. 

See what Diane is up to by following her on Instagram and Facebook and find etiquette inspiration on her Pinterest account. For more of Diane’s etiquette tips, refer to her posts on Inc. and HuffPost.