Hosting Thanksgiving dinner can be a daunting task, especially if you wait until the final days—or hours—to begin your planning. By being prepared and taking baby steps along the way, you’ll be able to pull off a spectacular event while barely breaking a sweat. So, just how do you pull off a fantastic dinner for which everyone will be lining up to give thanks? The same way you would eat a 24-pound turkey: one bite at a time.

Who’s coming to dinner?

Establishing a guest list well in advance is essential for efficient planning of your menu, seating arrangements, and food purchases. While it’s important to obtain an accurate head count, you’ll also need to consider whether any of your guests have dietary restrictions, require special seating, or will need overnight accommodations. Menus can be easily modified to include a no-sugar pumpkin pie, an unsalted bowl of mashed potatoes, or an onion-free pan of dressing, and dining room chairs can be made suitable for little ones by adding some boosters.
When planning your food purchase, here are some general guidelines to follow:

• Turkey: 1 pound per guest
• Mashed Potatoes: 1 potato per guest
• 8” or 9” Pie: 8 servings
• Gravy: ½ cup per person
• Rolls: 1-2 per person
• Side dishes prepared in 9 x 13 pan: 12-15 servings

Preparing your home

Fall is an excellent time to deep-clean and rejuvenate your home. When preparing for Thanksgiving guests, concentrate on the public areas that will see the heaviest amounts of foot traffic. Below are a few tips to get you started:

• De-clutter: Have a few boxes handy for packing up books, games, mail, and personal items. If little ones will be visiting, remove breakable or fragile items from public areas.
• Deep Cleaning: Begin at the top of the room and work your way down. Remove cobwebs from corners, and dust ceiling fans and chandeliers. In the bathroom, give the grout a thorough scrubbing and put up a new shower curtain liner. Schedule a carpet cleaning appointment, or rent a steam cleaner and tackle it yourself. Thoroughly clean and disinfect all hard surface flooring, paying special attention to corners and baseboards. After each room has had a deep cleaning, the final spruce-up will be a snap.
• Appliances: Clean your oven and refrigerator the weekend before Thanksgiving. Most self-cleaning cycles can take several hours, so plan to spend the day at home. Adjust refrigerator racks to accommodate larger loads, and place condiments you won’t need for Thanksgiving dinner in a small cooler. Free up additional refrigerator space by placing chilled beverages in coolers or in garages or basements.
• Guest Room: If you’re hosting overnight guests, freshen the spare bedroom with clean sheets and blankets and be sure to have additional towels and toiletries on hand.
• Entryway: Spend additional time sprucing up your porch, foyer, and front hall. Sweep the front steps, clean the door, remove all clutter, freshen up your welcome mat, and check to make sure all outside lighting is in working order. Affix a fall wreath to your door, or decorate your entryway with a “harvest scape”. Inside the front door, dedicate an area for guests to hang their coats, hats, and purses.
• Take Inventory: Make certain that you have the proper supply of baking dishes, dinnerware, serving spoons, gravy boats, serving pieces, and storage containers on hand. Inventory spices and baking supplies, foil and plastic wrap, and prepare a shopping list accordingly.
• Gather Supplies: Launder and iron linens, polish candleholders, and fill salt and pepper shakers. Insert the extra leaf in the dining table, and be sure to have table pads and trivets on hand. Sharpen the carving knives, and round up the turkey baster and meat thermometer.
• Prepare the Shopping List: After deciding on your menu, begin your shopping list. Read recipes thoroughly, paying special attention to required spices and seasonings. If freezer space isn’t a concern, avoid the crunch and buy your turkey well in advance.

Let’s talk turkey (and dressing, and mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie).

A frozen turkey takes time to thaw, so plan accordingly. If you plan to thaw it in the refrigerator (the recommended method), allow five hours per pound of thawing time. To speed up the process, you can also submerge it in cold water (be sure to change the water every 30 minutes to accommodate temperature changes). Cold water thawing takes about 30 minutes per pound. Never leave a turkey on a countertop to thaw. For cooking time and safe handling instructions, consult the USDA Thanksgiving fact sheet.

To help cut down on frenzy, prepare dishes ahead of time. Here are some time-saving tips from the professionals:

• Peel and dice potatoes, then place them in the cooking pan and cover with water. Change water prior to cooking.
• For macaroni and cheese, boil the macaroni the night before and refrigerate in a zip lock bag.
• If serving deviled eggs, boil eggs the night before.
• Cook onions and celery for dressing the day before, then refrigerate.
• Bake pies the night before.
• Prepare cranberry sauce up to one week in advance.
• For cornbread dressing, bake the cornbread up to two days in advance. For white bread dressing, cube bread and let dry well in advance and freeze until you’re ready.
• Most casseroles can be prepared and refrigerated in advance; increase cooking times to adjust for cooler start temperatures.
• Have a sink full of hot, soapy water and wash all prep dishes as you go.
• Line the turkey baking pan with foil, or use an oven bag for easy clean-up.
• Whenever possible, opt for pre-made items, such as piecrust, rolls, jarred gravy, and canned sweet potatoes.

If you will be having overnight guests, plan for a simple, light breakfast. As luck would have it, day-old bread works great for dressing and French toast.

Setting the table

Whether you’re planning a casual buffet or a sit-down meal, be sure to add a few special touches to your table. Folded napkins, candles, table runners, festive tablecloths, and a harvest-themed centerpiece are simple additions that will add elegance to the feast.

Sit back and relax

Now that the work is behind you, allow yourself to enjoy the fruits of your labors. Reflect on the spirit of the holiday, and take time to reconnect with family and friends. Remember, in hosting Thanksgiving dinner, you’re building traditions and lasting memories that will endure for decades to come. By preparing ahead of time, you’ll enjoy the holiday and have enough energy leftover to hit the after-Thanksgiving sales. Go ahead and have an extra scoop of whipped cream on your pumpkin pie. You pulled off a fantastic Thanksgiving dinner, and have earned a little indulgence.

Along with backyard barbeques, pool parties, and outdoor festivals, the transition from spring to summer also marks the season for graduations. Whether you’re celebrating the culmination of your high-school years or winding down your college career, receiving that long-awaited diploma marks not just the end of an educational vocation, but the beginning of a whole new chapter of your life.

Each spring, graduating students are immersed in preparations for the big milestone: ordering their caps and gowns, cramming for final exams, and bidding farewell to favorite teachers and fellow classmates. But after the tassels have been turned and the textbooks have been stored away, the summer after commencement can loom long and uncertain. After so many months of bustling activity, too much downtime can be disconcerting. Below, we’ve compiled some suggestions for fun and productive things you can do during the summer months after graduation.

1. Throw a party. It may go without saying, but your years of hard work have earned you the right to celebrate. Even if it’s just a relaxed, intimate barbeque with close family and friends, your accomplishment deserves to be recognized. For added festivity, consider commemorating the event by throwing a combined graduation party along with some of your fellow classmates. Dress up your venue with graduation party decorations in your school colors and old pictures from grade-school and junior-high. For a refreshing twist, consider a themed party, such as a disco or ‘80s party, where everyone is encouraged to dress in a certain style of clothing. Don’t forget the music!
2. Create a scrapbook. For a lasting memento of your high-school or college years, flex your creative muscles and create a graduation scrapbook of photos, cards, important papers, and other keepsakes that mark milestones of your educational career. Include papers or report cards of which you’re particularly proud, notes from favorite teachers, tickets to school sporting events or performances and, of course, your hard-earned diploma. Accent the pages with graduation cutouts and party favors.
3. Decorate your dorm. If this summer marks a transition from high-school to college, focus on creating your new home away from home. If you’ll be living in a college dorm or campus apartment, you should start making lists of what you need, what you already have, and things that need to be done to prepare your new space. If you’ll be dorming with one or more roommates, keep the lines of communication open to ensure you’re all on the same page as far as decorating themes and sleeping arrangements. Browse home décor websites to get a feel for the styles you prefer. Be sure to check your school’s guidelines for what types of appliances and furnishings are permitted in your dorm room.
4. Work. If you’re graduating from college and have already secured your first “real job,” you may be transitioning immediately into the corporate world. After four or more years in a comfortable college environment, being thrust into a more rigid, structured setting can be a culture shock for many new professionals. To help ease the transition, consider seeking out a mentor at your new place of employment who can help get you acclimated. For more support, stay in touch with former classmates who are also forging their place in the working world.
5. Travel. Take advantage of your break to visit places you’ve always wanted to see. Select a locale that matches your objective. If your goal is relaxation, you may want to book a trip to the beach for a week of sunbathing. For a dose of culture or to supplement your chosen area of study, you might prefer to travel abroad to a more exotic location. To use your time to help those in need, consider joining an international volunteer program. Whatever destination you choose, the summer after graduation affords a unique opportunity for an enlightening excursion.
6. Intern. Enterprising graduates often use the summer after commencement as an opportunity to secure an internship to help them prepare for their chosen area of study or as a transition into their selected vocation. Many internships are either unpaid or offer very modest salaries, but their resume-building capabilities are priceless.
7. Relax. Above all, the summer after graduation should be a time to celebrate your achievements, enjoy summer parties with family and friends, and take a much-deserved respite from all of your hard work.

Here is a tip to keep those burgers, brats, and dogs hot! 

When grilling for a large number of people, have you ever had a problem keeping hamburgers, brats or hot dogs hot and moist?  Here is a little tip that my mom told me.

What you will need:

• 2 cans beer
• 1 stick oleo
• 3 chicken boullion cubes
• 2 large onions sliced

Mix all ingredients in a large roaster, heat over medium heat.  Add your burgers, brats or hot dogs as they get done.

This will keep all of your meat hot and moist.       

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Six Tips For A Successful Bridal Party!

No matter if your are throwing a bridal shower, reception, or bachelorette party there are always a few items that you will need.

1. Party Favors! These are a must have at any party or celebration.

2. A theme for your party. You will want your decorations and party favors to match your theme.

There are several different types of themes you can consider, here are a few just for an example.

• Beach theme
  
• Luau theme
  
• Pampering the Bride theme
• Tea Party Theme
• Room of The House Theme
• Stock the Bar Theme
• Favorite Memories Theme

3. Party Games. You will want to keep your guest entertained! Nothing is worse than a boring party.

4. Invitations. You will want to have an invitation that is exciting and informative. Make sure and let the guest know what type of a them you have chosen for your party.

5. Food and Drinks. Choose your food selectively. Make sure that it goes well with your theme and is something easy to prepare. Finger foods are great to have at a party and keep the drinks light.

6. Personalized Gifts. No matter how much money you have to spend on a gift. Make your gift personal and something that everyone can enjoy. You want your gifts to be special to the receiver. You will want a gift for the Bride and party gifts for the guest. You may even want a gift to give as a prize for your party games.

Just remember no matter what you choose keep it fun. Enjoy yourself, relax, and have a great time.

Lara Shriftman was on Extra today.  For those of you that do not know who Lara Shriftman is, she is the ultimate Party Planner to the stars.  She has hosted parties for Will Smith, Renee Zellweger, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, Oprah, and many more.   She recently just released a book called Party Confidential which shares her tips on party planning.  She shared some of her most impressive tips live on Extra.  She stated that “Entertaining is easier than you think.  You just must have everything planned out well for it to be a successful party.”

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