Every wire in my body is programmed to host parties. I’m built for it…. I’d suggest it was my calling if that weren’t such an outrageous sentiment. Never-the-less, entertaining is a passion of mine and I’ll do anything to claim a holiday.

Thanksgiving? Sign me up!

This year was relatively small for my family… but when it comes to holiday meal stress, it’s not the size that matters. After all is said and done, you’re making the same dishes you would whether feeding 10 or 35. Sure, you may have to have larger pots and bowls but, all in all, you take the same 347 steps in both cases. Size doesn’t matter. No. Chaos ensues when you try to properly coordinate everything so it’s all ready to eat at the same time…. it’s timing….

Timing Matters

Thanksgiving is the only holiday that has no ulterior motive. None. We’re not expected to have reverence for departed heroes or engage in ritualistic gift giving. No forced adoration or obligatory patriotism. We’re just supposed to gather with our loved ones for a meal and be thankful for what we have.

Traditionally, that means waking up early to get started peeling potatoes, cubing bread, chopping vegetables, prepping…. wait, I don’t need to go on, you get it… and it’s insane. It’s an insane tradition, really. How can I possibly feel warm and fuzzy (and thankful) when I’ve put in a full days work, elbow deep in a turkey and subjected to potato steam facials. It’s hard…

Not This Year!

This year, my friends and I got met up on Tuesday to get all the prep work done together. I mean, really, why not? We’re all making the same things. Sure, we all like to augment recipes with our own flare… but if it’s stuffing, it’s gonna have toasted bread cubes, stock, butter, onions and celery. So we tackled all the things from peeling potatoes (store them in water, please) to cubing bread. We even made a few sauces and a brine for our birds. It paid off.

Boy Did it Pay Off!

How was our big day? Well, it depends on who you ask!

We got the prep work done on Tuesday, I made my sauces on Wednesday and envisioned an idyllic holiday morning setting up on with my husband. He’d head out to pick up his parents as my cousin arrived and the two of us would be sipping mimosas before the guests arrived… HA, wrong! They had different ideas… In other words, “you’re on your own, toots!” It was my fault, I was too casual and should have done more on Wednesday to account for the possibility that I wouldn’t have any help. You know what, though… I’m willing to bet that none of our guests suspected I was on red alert…

Because; You Can’t Lose For Winning

I cannot overstate how grateful I am for having spent that Tuesday with friends. While I sincerely hope not to go through another Thanksgiving treading water, had I not been so incredibly prepared what could have been a catastrophic holiday failure became nothing more than an irritation. The meal wasn’t served on platters (and was 40 minutes late) but it was ready at the same time (4:40) and my guests were none the wiser.

I am exceedingly thankful for our Eating in Common Food Club.

Give Thanks, Be Thankful and Do Good.