Planning your Thanksgiving meal

A stress-free thanksgiving centers on planning. If things are thought out, well planned and prepared ahead of time, your thanksgiving meal is sure to go off without a hitch. Don't forget to view our Weekly Ad for all of our great Thanksgiving deals!

Plan ahead: At least a week in advance plan your meal. Don’t make generic plans, be specific and decide exactly what you want and how you want it. Once your plans are made, delegate to your guests and then make a shopping list. If you are planning to purchase a frozen turkey, be sure to purchase it at least five days in advance so you can start the thawing process. There are several ways to thaw your turkey, click here to learn about the different methods. Remember each safe method takes time.

Stick to what you know: Never try a new recipe for a big get-together. You never know what to expect and how it will taste so it’s best to avoid it. Also, remember to stick to the thanksgiving classics: Turkey, stuffing, yams, potatoes, cranberry sauce, pie etc. Your guests will be expecting these things and may be disappointed if you don’t have them.

Create a workflow: A workflow will help you manage your tasks and ensure that everything gets done. Be sure to plan some downtime into your workflow so you don’t feel too exhausted when your guests arrive.

Work ahead: Many thanksgiving favorites can be made a day or two in advance. Pumpkin pie, stuffing and cranberry sauce all keep well. Some dishes are best when made the day of, but you can get them prepared earlier in the day and then keep them warm. Did you know you can cook and mash your potatoes several hours in advance? After you mash them, place them in a slow cooker to keep warm.

Assign clean up duty: If you’ve been in the kitchen all morning. You deserve a break. Assign your spouse, kids or well-known guests to help you clean up. There is nothing worse that cooking all morning and cleaning all evening; so remember, it’s okay to ask for help. Most people are happy to lend a hand, especially, when they didn’t have to host Thanksgiving.

So start your planning, make your lists and stop by one of our locations today. We have everything you need for your thanksgiving meal and our friendly team members are here to help you celebrate thanksgiving without stress.

If you want to take stress-free to a whole new level: check out our Thanksgiving meal options in the deli. You can pick up a prepared meal so you don’t have to worry about the cooking and can spend even more time with your family and friends.