Getting stuff holiday ready to greet the occasion with bells on has many of us giddy with delight and on a sentimental journey.
Dave the Builder asked me why I was up so early this morning, to which I replied, “company’s coming, Dave, and I’ve got to get the getting stuff holiday ready show on the road.”
I take from traditions of the past the very best and memorable points of eat, drink, decorate, table setting, and celebration interest and holiday from there.
Turkey Thaw Countdown Guide:
Turkey Size How Long to Thaw in Fridge
25 lbs 6 Days, 6 Hours
20 lbs 5 Days
16 lbs 4 Days
10 lbs 2 Days, 12 Hours
There’s no time like the present to commit the Thanksgiving dinner holiday checklist to memory.
Those of us currently experiencing brain fog, writing it down is the way to go.
Grab a notepad or open the notes app on your device and write down or type out the information you know you’ll need to refer to during this countdown to Thanksgiving.
Recipe ingredients.
Cooking times.
Serving timeline projections.
Who can’t have what ingredient (food allergies).
Things will steadily become more hectic, and our brains tend to shut down when overloaded.
Note to self: write it down.
Get in the holiday spirit with a holiday spirit.
Welcome family and friends in with a refreshing beverage seasoned, spiced, and appropriately spiked with the flavors of the season.
Uncle Herbert, can I get you a cup of rum punch?
Southern Living- Photography by Alison Gootee- Styling by Suzonne Stirling
Thanksgiving Punch with Rum
Ingredients
1/3 cup honey
12 whole cloves
4 cinnamon sticks
8 cups apple cider, divided
4 cups cranberry juice, chilled
3 cups (24 oz.) spiced rum
2 (12-oz.) bottles ginger beer, chilled
sliced green apples, oranges, or lemons, for garnish
rosemary sprig, for garnish
Directions
Combine honey, cloves, cinnamon sticks, and 2 cups of the cider in a small saucepan over medium. Cook, stirring often, until honey is dissolved and mixture is fragrant with spices, about 7 minutes.
Remove from heat; cool and steep 15 minutes. Discard cloves and cinnamon sticks.
Combine spiced cider mixture, cranberry juice, spiced rum, ginger beer, and remaining 6 cups apple cider in a large punch bowl.
Garnish with sliced citrus and apples. Serve over ice.
Martha Stewart Highbrook Jadeite Glass Loop Cake Stand in Mint
Green and gold gorgeous for Thanksgiving, beautiful for Christmas, and festive for Mardi Gras.
My mother has always said it’s the package that sells the product, and this is where presentation comes in.
Okay, I’m repeating myself, but it’s worth revisiting.
Bring on the ooh la la factor by placing cake stands and serving pieces inside fresh or faux greenery wreaths both Thanksgiving and Christmas pretty and set about the table or countertop at various height levels.
Take advantage of this time to style the dining table to your liking. Place, stack, and set out the items you can now.
Cover serving bowls, utensils, and cake stands with a clean dish towel, label with a sticky note what dish goes in what bowl, and. mark this part of the process off the list.
Let those kitchen countertops pull serving table duty. I work with a salads and sides to the left, desserts and drinks to the right, keep it moving on down the line plan.
Space is one hot commodity in the Thanksgiving kitchen and dining room. Going with a dessert table frees up space.
A little birdie tells me you can cook the bird, ham, duck or roast the day before.
Slice the meat, cover with broth, place in plastic storage bags, and refrigerate.
Warm the meat and broth on low in a slow cooker on the big day.
One pound bag of carrots when cooked will offer up 4 to 5 servings.
12 ounce package of fresh cranberries = 2 ¼ cups cranberry sauce.
Cook cranberries in orange juice and add 2 teaspoons of fresh orange zest for a cranberry orange sauce.
16 ounce can of cranberry sauce = 6 servings.
Figure ½ cup of gravy per person.
6 cups of green beans makes 6 to 8 servings
A 5lb. bag of potatoes whips up 10 to 12 servings of mashed potatoes.
Music sets the mood and the mix.
Know your audience, and holiday company’s coming playlist from there with a mix of rock, pop, fall themed, kickin’ country, oldies, and vintage crooner tunes.
Don’t forget the holiday songs; it’s never too early for Christmas music.
Vintage Turntable Vinyl Record Player Christmas Card on Etsy
I continually find the loveliness of clear string lights placed in a clear vase visually irresistible and a super effective-good for all seasons-simple way to create a welcoming atmosphere.
My, how times flies when we’re having getting stuff holiday ready fun!
