This week I have been preparing for Thanksgiving. We are expecting 13 to 16 people and I can hardly wait! I love Thanksgiving more than any other time of year because of the gathering in of friends and family and because there are no other trappings of the season to deal with. Its low-stress and fun for me.

Apple Brown Betty

Last week I got all my recipes down, made lists of grocery items I will need, made lists of specific things I want to clean and arrange in the house and wrote out my menu.

Here is my menu:

Brined and roasted turkey
Cranberry-pecan Stuffing and Old-Fashioned Dressing
Mashed potatoes
Sweet potato casserole
Corn casserole
Broccoli salad
Aunt Eura’s Yeast rolls
Cranberry relish
Various pies and desserts – it is tradition here that the oldest girl at home makes the Apple Brown Betty.

Other folks will bring some food too. I know that I have Green Beans and Cranberry Salad coming.

The cleaning that I mentioned is mostly cosmetic. I’ve done my de-cluttering and my deep cleaning in the weeks past. So the house is pretty well organized just waiting for a shine and a song.

One thing that has really turned around my Thanksgiving planning and freed me up is a Thanksgiving Notebook. I add recipes to it when I find them, ideas for decor, ideas for organizing, etc.    I made lists of my china and flatware too and put it in there. Its just a handy place ot keep all my Thanksgiving plans. The great thing about it is that it can all be used for any big gathering.

Another good idea is a Recipe Box just for Thanksgiving recipes. It really is helpful to have all of them at hand when you get ready to cook. Not only recipes but other ideas can be stored in your Thanksgiving Box; decorating ideas, check lists, inventories, etc.  If you spend a little time this week making yourself one, you’ll use it from now on and it will make your life easier.