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GAME PLAN: THANKSGIVING

Thursday Night

6:00 P.M.

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests.
  • Think about Menu and style of Thanksgiving. (Will you be doing most of the preparation on your own or is yours a group effort? Do you want to do most of the meal and ask people to bring a dessert or salad, or their favorite Thanksgiving dish?)
  • Buy all non-perishables including alcohol.
  • Decide logistics: Where to set up bar, buffet, etc. Do you need extra tables and chairs?

3 Weeks Before

2 Weeks Before

1 Week Before

  • Finalize menu and confirm guest list.
  • Set table: If you’re doing a formal sit-down dinner, it’s not too early to set the table. Traditional Thanksgiving involves a lot of last minute food preparation, so set the table now!

Sunday Before

  • Do all grocery shopping.
  • Wash all the vegetables and fruit.
  • Buy and arrange flowers. If your house isn’t too hot, flowers will keep if you replenish water, or wait until Monday to arrange flowers.

Monday Before

Tuesday Before

Wednesday Evening

Thursday

December 3, 2015

December 3, 2015

April 1, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Videos: New Year’s Day Brunch 2015 (PART I)

Some people celebrate the New Year by going out New Year’s Eve and drinking large quantities of their favorite adult beverage. I celebrate by throwing a scrumptious New Year’s Day Brunch. Of course, there are adult beverages for those who need the “hair of the dog” or for those who abstained the night before. Here’s […]

February 18, 2015

NEW YEAR’S DAY BRUNCH

GAME PLAN

 

4 Weeks Before

  • Invite guests: Send evites early as people may have established New Year’s Day traditions

3 Weeks Before

  • Plan menu: My menu had some food that needed to be kept warm. Omit this if you don’t have equipment like a chafing dish.
  • Arrange support staff or kitchen help if you will use it

2 Weeks Before

  • Finalize menu
  • Make detailed shopping list
  • Decide what you will buy readymade

7 Days Ahead

6 Days Ahead

  • Do grocery shopping: non-perishables, ice, frozen orange juice, blintzes, etc.

4 Days Ahead

  • Set-up buffet table

3 Days Ahead

  • Do grocery shopping: perishables, cream cheese, smoked fish, fresh orange juice, eggs, etc.

2 Days Ahead

  • Prepare and bake Pumpkin Monkey Bread
  • Roast leg of lamb for Lamb Hash
  • Bake potatoes for hash
  • Chop onions for hash
  • Buy and arrange flowers
  • Buy bagels, pastries, breads, fish, cream cheese, etc.

1 Day Ahead

Morning of Party (My party started at 12:30 p.m.)

  • 10:00 a.m.
  • Prepare fish platters (2 hours ahead)
  • Slice breads

Have a drink and wait for your guests to arrive!

January 12, 2015

October 10, 2014