If you plan on cooking a big meal for your family on Thanksgiving, you may want to take advantage of the night before Thanksgiving. Preparing some foods before the big day will make Thanksgiving Day feel less hectic. That means less stress and most importantly, more time to spend with family.
First, make a list of all the cold foods you plan on serving. This may include coleslaw, marshmallow salad, 7-layer salad, cranberry sauce, applesauce, vegetable trays, cheese and pepperoni trays, and deviled eggs. Most of these can be prepared Wednesday night, wrapped in plastic wrap, and stored in the refrigerator until chow time on Thursday.
Next, plan your desserts. Almost all desserts can be made the night before Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pie, cheesecake, pudding, apple crisp, lemon squares, coconut custard pie, and brownies are all examples of desserts that still taste great when they are made ahead of time.
Now that you’ve gotten through the easy lists, consider all of the food items you think you have to cook on Thanksgiving morning. You will be surprised to discover that some of them can be made the night before, and then just heated up on Thanksgiving. Scalloped potatoes, for example, can be made on Wednesday night. If your children request homemade macaroni and cheese, put it together the night before and then just heat it up 45 minutes before dinner time.
Taking a few minutes to plan your Thanksgiving cooking schedule can save you from the morning rush to get everything done. Then you will have more time to appreciate the food and family that are gathered around your dining room table.