Thanksgiving Survival Guide

Instructions Step 1: Spice up the soup Serve a curried pumpkin soup to kick off Thanksgiving dinner. Recipes for this spicy starter range from easy to complicated, so do a little research to find one you like. Step 2: Roast turkey in parts Traditional Thanksgiving turkey may be carved tableside, but roasting it whole often …

Instructions Step 1: Create a vegetable rack Cook your turkey on a layer of root vegetables instead of a rack. You won’t have a rack to clean, plus the veggies flavor the pan drippings for tastier gravy. You can even use them later for stock or soup. TIP: Cut the vegetables into approximately the same …

Instructions Step 1: Don’t blame the turkey Don’t blame the turkey for your annual Thanksgiving dinner food coma: It’s a myth that the amino acid tryptophan in turkey causes drowsiness. More likely, your lethargy is a result of too many carbohydrates in the form of stuffing, potatoes, and pie. Step 2: Loosen your pants Loosen …

Instructions Step 1: Get cooking Make an authentic menu: roast turkey and duck on a spit, serve peas, lettuce, radishes, carrots, and onions, and prepare pumpkin in a stew, rather than a pie. Forget the cranberry sauce, which requires more sugar than the Pilgrims had in Plymouth. TIP: Cook food to taste, rather than measuring …

Instructions Step 1: Snip leaves off the branches Snip the artificial leaves off of the branches and glue them along the back of the bottom and the neck of the gourd to make feathers for your turkey. TIP: Use a short handled dipper gourd that has a long, skinny neck and a fat, round bulb. …

Instructions Step 1: Prepare yourself Prepare yourself for the stress ahead by practicing deep breathing, meditating, or stocking up on mini bottles of booze that can be hidden in your clothes. TIP: If you’re seeing a therapist, now would be a good time to book an extra appointment or two. Step 2: Plan preemptive strikes …

Instructions : Children under 10 should use safety scissors, and an adult should help older children. Step 1: Place hand on paper Place your hand, palm down, on one piece of construction paper. Step 2: Start at wrist Trace around your hand, starting at your wrist. TIP: Keep your hand steady and your fingers apart. …

Instructions Step 1: Check logistics Figure out if you have enough chairs, seating space, and tableware. Borrow from friends and neighbors to fill any holes. Or check out a thrift store; if you don’t need or want it afterward, donate it back. TIP: Throw some cushions on the floor around your coffee table and let …

Instructions Step 1: Begin with black Begin with a basic black outfit: An ankle-length, long-sleeve, collarless dress or a plain skirt and top for a girl, and a long-sleeve shirt and pants for a boy. Both should wear black shoes, preferably loafers. TIP: The boy’s pants should be thin enough to be tucked into thick …

Instructions Step 1: Place large tray or cookie sheet Place a large tray or cookie sheet on a table. Step 2: Scatter leaves & set cornucopia Scatter colorful autumn leaves, real or fabric, over the tray, and set the cornucopia on top of the foliage. Step 3: Line w/ straw or raffia Line the bottom …

Instructions Step 1: Single out targets When discussing who will bring what, single out your targets—the guests who can’t cook—and say, “How about bringing a dish towel? I could really use some help with the dishes this year.” Step 2: Post a list of duties Post a master Thanksgiving list—in a very visible location—that shows …

Instructions Step 1: Cover your counters Before you begin cooking, cover your counters with a layer of plastic wrap or some old newspapers. Step 2: Protect the stove Place foil or a cookie sheet at the bottom of your oven to catch spills. Wrap your burners in foil. If you have a stovetop exhaust fan, …