This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sam’s Club. The opinions and text are all mine.
Take the pressure out of hosting the holiday with these easy steps to a stress free Thanksgiving dinner!
Last year I was put in charge of hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time ever, and let’s just say I was completely unprepared. I was running out last minute to pick up items that I forgot, I burnt a casserole, and I forgot to clean out my fridge the night before so I had no room for leftovers. Instead of spending the time enjoying the company of my family and friends, I was stressing and pulling my hair out. Luckily this year will be different because I’m planning ahead and I’ve learned from the mistakes I made from hosting my first Thanksgiving. With these handy tips you’ll be able to enjoy the time with your loved ones and organize a stress-free Thanksgiving!
1. Plan Ahead – Start planning your menu and guest list about 3-4 weeks ahead. This is the time that you’ll want to get your invitations ready and ask people what they would like to bring.
2. Make Lists – Lists are crucial for stress free holidays. After you have your menu planned out, make a detailed grocery list. Make sure to double and triple check it so you don’t forget anything.
3. Clean Out The Fridge – A few nights before clean out your fridge to make room for all your leftovers. This is a lesson learned for me.
4. Shop Early and Buy Extra – I love to shop early because that means the stores aren’t packed with holiday shopping and everything isn’t already picked over. When I shop I also have two toddlers in tow, so I like to get my shopping done in one place. I always do my shopping at Sam’s Club, they have everything that you need for your holiday shopping from fresh baked goods, meat, and produce at great quality and great value. I also like to buy in bulk so that I’m prepared if something may burn or I need extra for a recipe, then I already have it on hand and I’m not running to the store last minute Thanksgiving day to pick up something. This is also a lesson learned from last year. You can enter your email here for a Sam’s Club Membership offer.
5. Shortcuts – Out of my menu which usually consists of 9 items I like to do shortcuts on at least 5 of them. So that I have at least 4 homemade items and then the rest can be things that are easier to make or already prepared. For instance I’m awful at baking so instead of me even trying to attempt to bake a pie, I always buy my pies fresh at Sam’s Club. I also pick up my dinner rolls and different sides that are already pre-made at Sam’s Club too, this saves me HOURS in the kitchen and not to mention money!
And from 10/22 – 12/31/15 you can enter to win the Party Planning Like A Pro Sweepstakes here. Prizes include the following:
Grand Prize (1 winner) – $500 gift card and 1 year Plus membership ($100)
1st Place (5 winners) – 1 year Prime membership ($100)
2nd Place (5 winners) – Wolfgang Puck 10 piece Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl Set ($29.99)
3rd Place (10 winners) –Kitchen Aid 3pc Chef Knife Set ($15.98)
You can enter once a day through December 31st.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal residents of the 50 United States and D.C., 21 years or older. Ends 12/31/15. To enter and for complete details and odds, visit www.foodnetwork.com/party.
5. Do As Much Prep Work The Night Before – Clean out your dishwasher. Set out and group everything you need for your recipes so you’re ready to get started in the morning. Make any recipes you can the night before that you can just throw in the oven the next day.
6. Set The Table The Night Before – Doing this helps you to make sure that you have enough dishes, utensils, and glassware. And helps save you time before dinner is served.
7. Don’t Forget The Kids – I like to plan a few Thanksgiving activities that the kids can do while they wait for the food to cook. If you’re feeling creative you can check out some of our Thanksgiving ideas here.
8. Add A Twist – Your menu doesn’t have to be like the traditional Thanksgiving menu, you can make it your own. For instance, some people may have ham instead of turkey. And others may offer 3-4 different meats instead of keeping it simple.
To give you some ideas check out Chef Robert Irvine, host of Food Network’s Restaurant: Impossible Ambush as he ambushes an unsuspecting Sam’s Club member to help solve problems and party plan like a pro. In this video, Robert and the Sam’s Club meat cutter show us that you don’t need a turkey for unforgettable meal that impresses, especially if this is your first time hosting.
What are your tips for a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner?
This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sam’ Club. The opinions and text are all mine.