Enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving

Preparing a large holiday meal can be stressful. It’s not easy to plan, prepare and coordinate cooking times for the entire menu. If you’re smart, you’ll lighten the load by planning a potluck with family and friends. But if you’re the sole cook slaving frantically over the stove, cleaning and trying to get everything perfect, here are a few tips to help:

Delegate: If you don’t want to have all of your guests bring a dish to share, do allow at least one person to bring a dessert or drinks. Let’s be honest: Desserts and alcoholic beverages are higher-cost items, so besides saving some time, you’ll save a bit of money, too. Ask someone to make and serve after-dinner coffee or tea, or enlist children to clear the table. It’s often a single item or task that pushes your limits.

One reader, H.M. from Michigan, shares: “Tell everyone to bring their own drinks of choice and have plastic cups on hand and ice for them. I see nothing wrong with eating on sturdy disposable plates (especially if you don’t have a dishwasher) or enlisting help with clean-up.”

Give yourself permission: Allow yourself some shortcuts, such as ready-made foods that require little preparation or small time-savers that can add up to make life much easier. Buy brown-and-serve dinner rolls rather than baking them from scratch. Roast two smaller turkeys side-by-side rather than a large turkey that might end up dry or not cooked properly (use a thermometer for accuracy, too). Another option is to serve the meal buffet-style. Drinks can be chilled and easily accessible in coolers with bagged ice, or you can serve hot beverages in a slow cooker.

Another reader, Kitty from California, shares: “Set up a bar for everyone to serve themselves pop, juice, beer, wine, etc. You can do a coffee and/or dessert station, too. Use tables or counters or whatever you have to set the food up. Make a basket of silverware wrapped up in napkins and put your plates out like a hotel conference or meeting.”

Think ahead: Many of the foods you serve for Thanksgiving can be made the day before. Chop your vegetables, cut any fruit and bake desserts ahead of time. You can set the table the night before, get extra chairs out, line up any canned or boxed goods that you’ll be using, locate your carving knives and have serving and cookware at the ready to eliminate any last-minute frantic searches.

Dawn from Missouri shares: “Deciding which pots and serving bowls to use for each dish is a good idea. I make a list, then put sticky notes in them when I start cooking, so I don’t forget. Make sure you have enough serving utensils as well. The first year I hosted my husband’s family I went down to the secondhand shop and got some nice, barely-used vintage casserole dishes and serving plates so I would have enough. I make a chart showing which foods I am making and how long they take to cook, and whether it is oven-baked or stovetop so I can coordinate all the recipes.”

If you don’t have a double-oven or are concerned about timing your meal, you can make some of the side dishes earlier. Place them in crockpots or on warming plates to keep them at serving temperature. If you’re short on oven space, consider options such as a roaster oven, grill or fryer for your turkey. Save your grocery list, too, so you won’t have to re-create one next year.

Ÿ Sara Noel owns Frugal Village (www.frugalvillage.com), a website that offers practical, money-saving strategies for everyday living. Send tips, comments or questions to Sara Noel, c/o Universal Uclick, 1130 Walnut St., Kansas City, MO, 64106, or sara@frugalvillage.com.