Last-Minute Thanksgiving

By: Mackenzie Schieck

Hadn't planned on hosting this year? Don't let that stop you!

Find Your Center

Decorating might seem frivolous with so little time, but something as simple as a centerpiece can go a long way. Try one of these easy centerpieces:

Flowers: instead of one big bouquet, use three smaller, medium-height arrangements so you can still see the person across from you. Put a larger arrangement on a side table or buffet if you like.
Produce: arrange bowls of citrus fruits--one for a small table or three for a large table. Baby pumpkins or fall fruit (like pears, apples, bunches of grapes, etc.) add great color--arrange on a cake stand or candle holder large in diameter.
Candles: use tall glass cylinders or hurricanes that rise above the candle's flame so guests can reach across the table without worrying about dragging sleeves and arms through the lit wicks.

Little Touches

If you have extra time, here are some easy ways to spice up the atmosphere:

The night before, make fresh ice, dropping two or three cranberries into each section of the ice try. Use the ice cubes in water glasses at dinner.
Get colorful leaves from outside the night before, lay out to dry, and then place on table as part of your centerpiece, or under each water glass.
Instead of napkin rings, tie napkins with ribbon, then stick a sprig of rosemary under the bow.
Set a small votive with a tea-light at the top of each place setting (12 o'clock at each plate).
Place a baby pumpkin in the middle of each plate, then lean name cards against pumpkins. (Use simple index cards, white side facing out, names written with a black or silver marker.)

Want, Need, Gotta Have it

Okay, you know you don't have time to cook these dishes, but you can’t live without them on Turkey Day. Email one of these highly-rated traditional Thanksgiving recipes to each guest, so they can contribute to the meal. And don't forget to say "Thank you!"

Here are some great ideas for putting together a fantastic meal the day before that will show no signs of having planned it on-the-fly.

There's Still Time to Cook

Yes, it's Thanksgiving--the biggest meal of the year, but it's still just one meal--no problem! Stick to the main dishes when it comes to the cooking and your meal will come together beautifully.

Turkey: You might not have time to defrost a whole turkey, but that doesn't mean you have to take it off the menu all together. There are many ways to prepare turkey that don't involve a whole bird:

Stuffing: Luckily, stuffings and dressings don’t necessarily need to be prepared inside a turkey. Bake your favorite stuffing in a casserole dish--covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for about 10 minutes to brown the top. Voila!

Cranberry Sauce: There's always the option to buy it canned, but these recipes are so easy it would definitely be worth it to make one from scratch:

Gravy: Here's a recipe that simply calls for turkey broth and a few other magical ingredients (chicken broth can be substituted)--easy peasy!

Savory Turkey Gravy

Mashed Potatoes: Try these recipes for some extra-special mashed spuds:

Salad: It doesn't take much time to make a great salad. Cases in point:

Store-Bought Short-Cuts

Don't overload yourself by trying to bake everything from scratch. Here are some things you can pick up at the store and no one will be the wiser:

Pies: hit the local bakery or grocery store for some pumpkin, apple, or berry pies. Add homemade touches by serving with real whipped cream and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.
Dinner rolls: whether they are frozen or fresh from a bakery, you can still get that "right from the oven" effect by wrapping them in foil and warming them at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, while you’re baking the stuffing.
Easy appetizers: put out some fresh veggies, chips, or crackers with a delicious dip:

Need help with the timing? Here's a handy checklist to keep you organized:

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Timeline

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Alicia_R

Nov. 27, 2009 10:17 pm

Do you always find yourself dashing around to prepare a spectacular Thanksgiving feast? I guess yes. During this day, we always try to make it a point to have the requisite Thanksgiving tools – you need a bird (duh) and stuffing, and if the in laws are showing up, antacids. Thanksgiving brings with it football, and also the day after – when everybody goes shopping, and there is a lot of money going to be spent this year. It's also easier to know just how much food to buy and therefore prepare if you have all your guests RSVP ahead of time. (However, it never works out that way.) If you clip some Thanksgiving coupons, you could put on a royal spread without online cash loans or credit cards.

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