Thanksgiving for some is often considered one of the most stressful days of the year. What usually happens is people who don’t know how to cook, or those who cook very little are expected to create a grand feast of turkey, stuffing, sides, etc. If you want to draw an analogy with swimming, it is kind of like asking a beginner swimmer to do a 2 mile swim in the open ocean.

I think the main stress really deals with the fact beginner cooks attempt to cook everything the day of Thanksgiving. In reality what you could do the day (or days) before is:

  • Fully cook the turkey, carve it up and put it in a tray
  • Cook any sides in advance which are made of roots (carrots, yams, potatoes, etc)
  • Cook any soups and store it in the fridge

On the day of:

  • Gently reheat your food in the oven.
  • Cook/prepare any dishes that couldn’t be prepared in advance (e.g. salad, or anything that might oxidize).

Throw away all of the stereotypical tidbits of cooking you might have seen in television in movies. Things like bringing out a turkey from the oven to the dining table and carving is really ridiculous and time consuming.

At the end of the day remember the holidays are about being together with friends and family. Plan, relax, and enjoy.