My Best Thanksgiving Tips Part 2

The next steps on your make-ahead list, plus two delicious and easy snacks to satisfy not stuff.

“Planning is Everything.” – Dwight D. Eisenhower

I spent the afternoon creating an editorial plan for this last quarter of the year.

It was more of a professional thing, and slightly less of a creative act – though I like to believe creativity fuels just about everything – even the person who invented the abacus did so with a blessing from the muse. 

I am a planner at heart. It surprises everyone, and heartily disappoints me, that I am. I’m an Aquarius, a rebellious sign known for its fleeting and whimsical ways. Unfortunately, I am neither fleeting nor whimsical. Frighteningly impatient and often indecisive, yes, absolutely, but never fleeting. I’ve always got a list, written by hand, in my trusty notebook, which is never far from my side. Without one, I feel untethered, like one of those daycare toddlers whose rope has broken from the group.

An unmoored Erin is a dangerous Erin.

On the upside, holiday planning is my jam. Actually, any dinner party or event is where I shine. I’m organized to a fault, which can frustrate some people close to me, but as I’ve said before, I am never the one sobbing in the kitchen over the dried out turkey.

Get as much done ahead of time. Not only does this take a million things off your list on the Big Day, but, if you mess something up – scorch the cookies, over salt the casserole, you’ve got time to fix it. Even if fixing it means calling the nearest catering company.

We’re now two weeks (really, 12 or 13 days depending which days you celebrate) from Canadian Thanksgiving. I truly hope you took me seriously with last week’s post on Round One (if you didn’t, or have stumbled across this post unknowingly, but are now riveted, I’ve linked it at the bottom.) We haven’t got time to waste, so let’s get on with Round Two.

Step-By-Step Guide to Thanksgiving Planning, Week 2

Last week, we tackled the big stuff: organized the pantry, loaded up on the holiday non-perishables, took inventory of our plates, cutlery and cooking vessels; washed, repaired, and replaced what is needed.

Now that that is off our desk, we only have four things to do this week.

Roll up your sleeves, this week we prep: