Top 6 Turkey Day Tips To Make Your Thanksgiving Easier

The day is finally here. The infamous Thursday. Thanksgiving. You’re rushing around the house trying to get everything done before your family arrives from the airport. You have so many things going on your head might just explode! Here are a few helpful hints to make your day easier and delicious!

1. Be prepared. Start with your turkey. It’s the most important part of the meal so why not treat it as such? Try to get get it done early, about an hour before you plan on sitting down to eat then put all your sides in the oven to keep them warm.

2. Use every last drop. Don’t know what to do with those turkey drippings from the bottom of your pan? The best place for those drippings is your gravy. It adds delicious flavor that everybody will love!

3. Make the best mashed potatoes. Some people might say mashed potatoes are the best part of Thanksgiving. So, take your time and make them right. The best mashed potatoes are made with a ricer or foley food mill.

4. Get as much done ahead of time as you can. Lay your buffet out the night before(or even a few days before). Label all of your serving dishes and serving utensils with sticky note so you know exactly where everything will go.

5. Get your pies ready. As you begin to serve your meal, turn off your oven and pop your pies inside. This will warm them up so they’re ready to go when you finish your meal. What better way to end a meal than with warm pie?

6. Maximize your space. Don’t have enough room in your oven for all your sides? Break out the summer coolers and put warmed side dishes in there. Without the ice, coolers have the opposite effect on your food and are a great place to keep things warm.

*Bonus Tip*

The best addition to turkey is football. They are the two components that are key to making your Thanksgiving a great day.

Festive Fall Signature Drinks

What better way to bring fall elements into your Thanksgiving meal than with crisp fall signature cocktails. Guests will adore both the beautiful look these add to your special day, but also the fun taste! From apples to pumpkins there are plenty of delicious fall flavors to spice up your gathering. The cocktails you chose can be customized to fit your personality or even your color scheme. Give your guests something to be thankful for!

As fall approaches, so does colder temperatures. Warm your guests up with a steaming cup of cider after travelling all day and help them cool down after all the excitement with a chilled martini. Caramel, cinnamon, apple, and pumpkin are just some of the delicious flavors to introduce into your day to make it one tasty gathering! Whichever flavor you decide to use will add a unique touch to your day. Here are a few delectable ideas for a festive Thanksgiving:

Hot Apple Pie

Recipe from Barkeeper serves 1

·       1 oz. Tuaca (an orange-vanilla flavored liqueur)

·       5-6 oz. warm apple cider

·       whipped cream

·       cinnamon

·       nutmeg

·       cinnamon sticks

Heat the apple cider. Pour into a coffee mug, adding Tuaca. Garnish with whipped cream, and sprinkle on cinnamon and nutmeg. Add a stick of cinnamon. 




Pumpkin Divine             

Recipe from CocktailTimes serves 1

·       1 part Grey Goose La Poire flavored vodka

·       1 part pumpkin butter

·       1/2 part triple sec

·       1/2 part simple syrup

·       Pinch of cinnamon, clove, nutmeg and ginger

·       Grated nutmeg and apple chip for garnish

In a cocktail shaker filled with ice add all ingredients. Shake vigorously until the outside of the shaker is frosted and beaded with sweat. Strain into a martini glass. Garnish with nutmeg and apple chip.



Bourbon Cider

Recipe from Make it Naked serves 1

·       2 oz bourbon

·       1 oz spiced apple cider (or 6 oz 

for hot toddy)

·       Juice of 1/2 a lemon

·       2 sage leaves (one torn, one whole for garnish)

Rim:

·       2 tablespoons cinnamon

·       2 tablespoons sugar

Mix rim ingredients and using the lemon, wet the edge of a martini glass. Dip the rim of the glass into the cinnamon and sugar. Combine ingredients (including torn sage leaves). Shake and pour into martini glass. Serve with floating sage leaf.