Listen up all you Nanny Savers out there! This year may just be the year to hone your holiday cooking and party planning skills. Whether you are cooking for a small family or hosting a gathering the size of Wisconsin, consider the money that can be saved by stopping and paying attention to some of Shopping Nanny’s well defined tips for your day of thanks. Your food budget will be rewarded and your guests will truly savor a traditional Thanksgiving meal and wonder how you did it?
Want to be the envy of your family and guests this Thanksgiving?
Stick with us! We'll show you how it's done.
Tip #1
Get others involved in the planning/ preparation process. Find out what foods the family would like for that special meal. Tastes and likes often change so it's best to be prepared beforehand. Some families even plan to try one new dish for Thanksgiving every year.
Tip #2
Selecting the right Turkey
Plan on about 3/4 pound per person (raw weight in the package) for generous servings with not very much left over. If you like to have more leftovers, plan on 1 to 1.5 lbs. per person. (the raw weight of the turkey is nearly always on the tag attached to the top of the package.)
Tip #3
Check your oven temperature. Experts recommend roasting a turkey at 325 degrees, no lower. Make sure that your oven is working properly at least 3 days before Thanksgiving.
Tip #4
Baking stuffing separate from the turkey. This raises the temperature of the turkey. This also keeps the stuffing from getting too soggy.
Tip # 5
Boil and mash potatoes; they can be reheated just before serving. Consider holding the warm mashed potatoes in a slow cooker. They will stay warm and creamy up to two hours. If you want to try something tasty and different, try cooking one sweet potato and mashing it in along with your regular potatoes. It makes for a bit of color and extra taste.
Tip #6
Set a timer for an hour before the turkey is done. It's a handy reminder to begin cooking fresh vegetables and get other foods ready to go into the oven ( stuffing, rolls etc.)
Tip #7
Use a food thermometer to check the internal temperature of the turkey. A whole turkey should be cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F throughout the bird. Most home cooks enjoy the dark meat at a higher internal temperature of 175°F to 180°F. Check the internal temperature in the innermost part of the thigh and wing and the thickest part of the breast. The stuffing should reach 165°F, whether cooked inside the bird or in a separate baking dish.
Tip #8
Balance the meal with a variety of foods. Select fresh fruits and vegetables with a vegetable-rich stuffing to reduce the number of grams of fat in the traditional Thanksgiving dinner. Serve at least two non-starchy vegetables like green beans and carrots to offset the carbs from potatoes, winter squash and stuffing.
Tip #9
Be extra thankful you are surrounded by family and friends during this holiday
Tip #10
Be sure to relax and take all the credit for your hard work!
And viola! You're an instant hit.
So that's it. We shared ours with you, now you share with us your tips on what makes your Thanksgiving holiday so successful!
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