Step 1. Make the Guest List

• If they live out of town, invite a month early & specify date and time of desired arrival.
• Remember Young Married Couples, Young Single Adults, Orphans, Widows/Widowers, and Single Parent families.

Step 2. Plan the Menu

• Decide every item you will serve from hors d’oeuvres to desert. If family and friends ask to help, assign them each a specific dish. Give them the recipes if you have a particular dish planned. Large families and groups may go potluck.

Step 3. Compile the Grocery list

• As you plan your menu, list all the ingredients you will need. This will give you three weeks to purchase all the necessary supplies, allowing you to look for sales on many items.
• Be sure to remember garnishes such as watercress and parsley. To keep them fresh, you can put them stems down in a jar, with about an inch of water in the jar, enough for the stems to stand without the leaves getting wet. Put a tight lid on the jar, and store in the refrigerator. These garnishes will stay crisp for up to 2 weeks.

Step 4. Prepare ahead

• As much as possible, bake or prepare all menu items ahead of the big day. Schedule a baking day to prepare your homemade rolls, bread, and piecrusts and freeze them. If you plan a vegetable platter for hors d’oeuvres, clean and cut the vegetables, mix the dip, and refrigerate both a couple of days ahead. Involve the family as much as possible. Children especially love to help in the kitchen, and it provides a positive learning experience for them.

Step 5 Seven-Day Checklist

Day 7

• Order turkey, ham, goose, or whatever meat you plan to serve.
• If you are renting tables, chairs or other equipment, arrange for rental and pickup.

Day 6

• Choose table linens and be sure they are washed and ironed.
• Check supplies of serving dishes and borrow any needed items.
• Read over recipes to be sure grocery list is complete.
• Estimate cooking times and list them next to each recipe.

Day 5

• Determine seating plan and make name cards. (To keep with the thankful spirit, you might write a scripture verse of thanksgiving under each name.)

Day 4

• Sharpen carving knives.
• Shop for fresh produce you plan to prepare ahead of time.
• Prepare recipes that can be refrigerated or frozen.

Day 3

• Complete any unfinished grocery shopping.
• Clean house.
• Bake Pies.

Day 2

• Pick up Turkey, ham or other meat.
• Prepare center piece arrangements from a variety of fruits, vegetables, candles, pumpkins, natural leaves, and nuts. Or, purchase fresh flowers.
• Set the table.
• For an added festive touch, set a fresh plant or flower in the guest bathroom.

Day 1

• Delegate responsibilities. Make sure each family member knows exactly what to do.
• Stuff your bird and place in the oven. Be sure to allow enough time for it to cool before carving.
• Do a quick check of the house to make sure everything is in order.
• Finish last minute cooking.
• Put on a clean apron.
• Smile and thank God for this special day when you can enjoy your family and friends.