Canadian Thanksgiving is this weekend. I always take time to look back on the previous year when there is a holiday weekend. What I have learned, what has changed and where I am. Holidays for me are about family and a time to reflect.
It’s a day when families across Canada spend time together, and cooks everywhere plan their menus carefully, plot out their seating arrangements and strategize their approach to what’s often the most elaborate meal many Canadians tackle each year. Amid grandmother’s sage advice to avoid lumpy gravy and how to impress your in laws this year, the hoopla can be exhausting before turkey day ever arrives.
To help you reach Thanksgiving Day nirvana, OxiClean has put together a nifty tip sheet with the help of celebrity home entertaining expert, Nicole Sassaman. Check out her “sassy” tips on how to make Thanksgiving dinner preparation and cleanup an easy affair, as well as her own table setting tips for the big feast!
When it comes to Thanksgiving dinner, I usually host. It is nice to have all my children here for this yummy and thankful day! Don’t get me wrong, I have had more than my share of stressful family gatherings. Now a days, they are pretty stress free.
Do you have any Thanksgiving tips to add?
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- OxiClean™ Laundry Detergent Paks, Fresh Scent
- OxiClean™ Liquid Laundry Detergent, Fresh Scent
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Disclosure- This post is brought to you by OxiClean
Always be prepared by extra guests. Prepare desserts in advance and freeze.
A sense of humour.
Always have extra food. Lots of patience. Activities for the kids. And have fun!
Prepare food in advance, make extra and keep it simple. We usually use paper plates and throw everything else in the dishwasher as we go.
OMG, lots of tv . Wow, mantras-nicole-sassaman is fab. & splendid. 2 fingers snap. It is tight, fly & off the chain. Thank you for the awesomeness, the contest, and generosity.
I always use quite a few crock pots, they keep food at the perfect temperature and are perfect for a buffet type of meal service.
I like to make many dishes ahead of time and freeze them. Also, have special drinks set up at a table to guests can help themselves.
Lots of wine, and food!
Make some of the side dished the night before, make a little extra and make others do the clean up 🙂
pot luck,everyone loves potluck and dessets you can make ahead and freezer and a help yourself drink table
not sure if you mean food wise but guess prepare ahead know how many are coming, and with my family we know where to seat certain family members so they don't start a fight
Welcome guests to bring a dish they would like to share. This takes some of the time and expense off of the host and prevents you from forgetting to make someone's favorite dish.
Jonnie
I always do the table arrangement the day before,so I can really focus on making it pretty.
I have family members help out. One bring veggies, one brings extra chairs, another a table, etc. It works out quite well.
Grin and bare it, almost over,for the most part we all get along.
prep as much as you can beforehand, the day before, 2 days before, however you can pull it, just do all the prep work!
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Always have extra food so you don't run out
Definitely bring a lot of good snacks as well as some healthy snacks. Also, happy and upbeat music always brightens up the mood
I always have plenty of family/friend help but I find as the preparation starts I clean as I go/cook as others set tables, arrange chairs and entertain. Once dinner is on the table it's easy street from there!
My survival tip is to get everyone to bring their favourite dish, so that everyone cooperates and contributes, and so that everyone has at least one part of the meal that they love.
I plan weeks ahead..prep what I can days before..the day of the event just ask for help, using paper plates is always welcomed in my home!
Everyone needs to pitch in and help
My survival tips are to go pot luck and to have disposable plates and cups. It makes clean up so much easier!
When our family gets together, the person hosting provides the main dish (for example: turkey/stuffing); the rest of us fill in the rest – from appetizers to dessert. We all help with the clean up too.
Don't drink too much. This way you'll lessen the risk of shooting your mouth off and pissing off a family member 😉
A good nights rest , planning ahead, making a check list and music
We provide a lot of snacks and entertainment, from games to movies playing in the background!
Clean as you go and encourage a potluck meal!
Booze and lots of it.
Extra wine and ask your family each to bring a dish/potluck. Also don't be shy in asking for after dinner help cleaning up
We do pot luck at Thanksgiving.
Try not to take things too seriously!
Get things prepared ahead including cleaning. When mom is here, no matter what she said, she is always right.
Plan ahead and don't put too much pressure on yourself to be perfect.
i have areas that are more quiet that people can go to
I like making things in advance. It makes life so much easier.
WINE! lol
make the dishes or as many as you can the night before so your not running around like a crazy person. Or make the main dish and get your guests to each bring a dish
Honestly, NO clue! We don't have family get togethers. its just my kids, my husband and myself. I try to clean as I go so its not so bad for me after dinner though.
Clean as you go!
Pot luck and a dvd player for the young ones.
Patience and lots of it
Prepare ahead of time as much as possible and enlist a few family members to help clean up afterwards
Lots and lots of patience and remember it's only once or twice a year, my biggest one is have someone else host it..lol
do as much as you can ahead of time,and clean up shortly after before the turkey coma sets in 🙂
always have plenty of extras – I once had 9 sitting down to eat and really didn't have enough – it was so embarrassing that I could have cried.
My survival tip for get togethers is to plan and do what you can ahead of time. Dishes that can be made ahead and frozen sure lighten the load
team work. it's the best way to survive family gatherings. If you and your partner are on the same page you can push through the evening as a mighty force
Lots of food to keep everyone satisfied!
Patience, patience, patience. And when that is gone, a little more patience.
Pot Luck is the way to go. Take the stress of the host.
To be prepared and plan ahead.
I have enough for people to have seconds… we over prepare so we don't run out of food
Great meal, great wine and great time 🙂
bring your shell and take what is said with a grain of salt.
jan
we take truns hosting, cleaning up..and we stay away from topics that are controversial – we try and concentrate on the moment
I try to find recipes I can make ahead so I am not stressed on the holiday.
Paper plates, prep the day before and do as many dishes as u can b4 they come. Or make it a potluck dinner
prepare as much as possible ahead of time -and always have 2 desserts
to survive the holidays we do a potluck. that way everyone does a bit of work and no one is overwhelmed
get as much prep done, the day before and assign housekeeping tasks to the kids
Make a grocery list in advance, and prepare as much as you can ahead of time. And if someone offers to help, let them.
To do list is my tip….. I never leave anyone out or forget anything :D) plan plan and more planning makes for a great get together
Good planning.
Don't serve dinner too late. People get grumpy when they are hungry.
Keep a stain remover pen handy to remove small stains that happen suddenly. Great in a pinch.
Use paper plates as much as possible
Pot luck is always a good idea
Coffee and lots of it.
have a good plan and schedule
Figure out an activity for the kids to do together so they stay out of the way while things are being prepped.
Lots of activities for the kiddies and paper plates plastic cutlery and paper cups
organize everything before have veggies peeled and ready.
Prepare some foods the day beforehand to reduce last minute stress
Make as much and prep as possible the day before so you have time to have fun with everyone on the day of the Thanksgiving dinner
We cook , prepare and clean as a family
Always have extra food prepared and fun activities!
Mary had a little lamb,…the doctor was surprised
Definitely making a variety of food, and having an assortment of drinks (especially wine for the adults!)
Everyone helps clean up so we spend time together
My best survival tip would be to cook and prepare as much beforehand as possible.
Get everyone to bring something small and do as much of the prep as you can the night before.
I had everyone learn early to pitch in with the clean-up! I love to cook but i am no kitchen wench!
Prepare as much as possible the night before
Drink !!!! And dont eat too much
Prepare as much as possible in advance. Once my guests arrive I always live by the words "It is what it is" and relax and enjoy myself no matter what food dish doesn't work out or whatever unforeseen holiday disaster occurs.
I prepare as much as I can the day before and then I try not to sweat the small stuff. I let people help themselves and try to mingle as much as possible.
NO SHOUTING
Prepare as much in advance as possible!
I make sure there is plenty of food, and extra containers on hand to send home leftovers.
make and prepare lots of food
Lots of good food and deserts
Always keep out lots of wine and desserts to keep everyone pleased!
My tip is to have activities or board games and do a pot luck dinner.
My survival tip? Don't take anything said or done, seriously.
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Have lots of food and drinks
get plenty of rest before the occasion and have a place for a quick self time-out during the big day.
i try to prepare as much as possible in the days leading up to the get together so that i can be relaxed the day of
Have as much prepared before they arrive.
Make what you can ahead of time, and don't be afraid to ask for help!
Always have extra food. Lots of patience
I like to make extra quantities for unexpected guests; anything I can make the day before I do; all my adult children bring a dish for our special Christmas Eve celebration.
wine. its the only way i could make it.
Lots of wine, and don't even bother apologizing for the mess!!
My survival tip is to clean as you go – take the extra minute to put things away now instead of later.
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My survival tip to to try to do as much in advance as possible.
Make a list and prepare as much as possible ahead.
Plan, plan and plan. Do everything that you can possibly do ahead of time. Be prepared for unexpected guests-better to have too much food than not enough. Relax once guests arrive and enjoy the getogerher.
be prepared – clean as I go – do as much as I can in advance!
Prepare in advance 🙂
Survival tip? Wine!
A good night sleep the night before
Wine. Lots of wine. LOL joking!
Plan ahead as much as possible so you arent rushing around trying to do everything at once
Mingle with a couple people you’re comfortable with to start then branch out as you get more confident.
Try and prep some stuff ahead of time
Wash the dishes as you go along, it makes it that much easier at the end of the night. Make the dessert the night before and have help!
Potluck; less cleanup. A dishwasher helps too.
U get the children to pitch in 🙂
Do as much of the prep in advance, cook side dishes in advance, use slowcookers – anything you can do to reduce the amount of work you have to do on the day.
A sense of humour, good food, and a tonne of patience.
Prepare prepare prepare!
lots of tasty food frozen in the freezer
I clean as i go
Sharing tasks helps make things funner and easier for everyone.
My greatest survival tip for family get-togethers is to remember that they'll be over in a couple of hours. Better to relax and enjoy them.
Wine, No, make sure you prepare as much ahead of time as possible.
I have had to learn to relax and not worry about the idea of being perfect! Do as much ahead as possible…
Have lots of food and drinks
My survival tip is to relax and let what doesn't get done go. Spend more time visiting than alone in the kitchen. Find a cooking buddy to visit with while you work and get a few people to clean together so they can visit!