Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for the first time? Well, it can be a little daunting. Hosting and cooking this great American meal is a big milestone for a cook, but it also can be a moment of some anxiety and nerves. Thanksgiving inspires thoughts of huge gatherings of loved ones, warm and cozy atmosphere with candlelight and of course, mouth-watering succulent food. This Thanksgiving, don’t let the fact that you are hosting come in the way of you enjoying it to the fullest. Here are few tips and tricks that you can follow to make your Thanksgiving a little less of a mess.

Don’t Do it Alone!

If you can't find a helping hand, It's worth reconsidering if you even want to throw it at all. You need to know that if you're going to host a big crowd, doing the whole thing by yourself is next to impossible, mostly if you've never done it before. When it's just you, you are responsible for every dish that does or doesn't make it on the table, and to be honest, that's A LOT of pressure! And getting worked up about things on Thanksgiving dinner is the last thing you should consider. On the other hand, having a helping hand (partner in crime) is both fun and less excruciating, because you have someone to share the duties with and share a laugh with when things don't go as you planned. Even if you can't find someone willing to ease off your burden, having a friend pitch in a dish or two would be amazing!

Plan It All Meticulously

Before even thinking to turn in the over, start making notes to help you keep track of everything you want to make and exactly how and when you’re going to make them. If you are collaborating with a friend, you don’t even have to be your co-host physically available to get some prepping done. Another pro tip is, never opt for the last-minute rush meal on the Thanksgiving day. When you are planning your menu, look for dishes that can be made ahead. In this way, you’ll get the idea of what to do in the day of, and those notes? They’ll come handy when you can glance at your to-do list.

Make-Ahead Recipes

If it weren’t for make-ahead recipes, most of the Thanksgiving dinners would be a sorry sight. It’s physically impossible for anyone to make everything you want the day of, there isn’t enough space in anyone’s oven or kitchen. The best part of the make-ahead recipes are that they include make-ahead instructions and will hold up for at least a couple days. For example, you don’t need to make desserts on the day of, instead you can prepare them two or three days ahead and store them in your fridge. And to serve them fresh and piping hot, you can just pop them into the oven a few minutes before serving, and no one will have any idea.

Opt For Easy To Make Recipes

You are throwing a Thanksgiving dinner for a huge crowd! Another reason for low-fuss dishes are great because they quickly feed a crowd, and you don't have a dirty bunch of dishes to make them. Avoid finicky recipes that need to be prepared one at a time. For one, they probably won't even make it to the table because of the work and dedication goes into making them. Make things easy for yourself, don't stress over “How many dishes I can make” it really is a game of quality over quantity. Plus, if you want an extravagant dinner with lots of dishes, you can always look for recipes and pre-made pies and dishes online! Use thanksgiving discount and get yourself some Thanksgiving essentials from TVC.

Don’t Be Experimental

If this is your first time hosting a Thanksgiving dinner, maybe in over-excitement you want to try new recipes. But hang on! You don’t want all your hard work go down the drain by being gutsy, instead, stick to the recipe you’ve seen your mum making every year. Don’t make simple things overly complicated; your guest expect you to make mashed potatoes, not reinvent the Television. Being experimental is great for casual gatherings, but not when you have got a headcount of a bunch, and you know they are going to be hungry for specific dishes. Not only will keeping it simple save you work, but it can also help you save bucks, as special ingredients are often the main reason things get heavy on pocket.

Invest In New Kitchen Tools

If you are making all the traditional Thanksgiving dishes (turkey, pie, casserole), you are going to need a few pieces of equipment that you might not already have. A meat thermometer is essential! It will guarantee you know exactly when your bird is safe to eat and cooked to perfection. A roasting pan is another essential that you must invest in. And depending on the cooking method you choose for your turkey, you may also need an oven bag. So, examine your kitchen tools and latch on to Thanksgiving voucher codes to buy all that your kitchen needs.

All in all, keep things low-key, get your loved ones involved, and give yourself time for all the little, unforeseen troubles that are bound to happen. If you do, you’ll totally have this under control. Happy Thanksgiving!