Whether hosting a Thanksgiving feast for many or a feast for few, the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Guide will help reduce your stress. So,  you can enjoy family and friends this holiday even though you're hosting. Be sure to grab the free 14 page Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner. Use the planner along with the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Guide to successfully plan and organize a stress free Thanksgiving!

Hosting Thanksgiving?

Hosting Thanksgiving this year, not sure where to start? No worries, I've gotcha covered. The Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner has 14 pages of lists, checklists, shopping lists, menu, recipe cards, place cards and more. I'm making it available to my readers through the free download below. Be sure to get your copy! In addition to offering a free planner, below is an easy to follow, comprehensive timeline of tasks to be done, along with tips and and helpful information. Use this Ultimate Thanksgiving Guide together with the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner for a stress free Thanksgiving.  Did I mention the planner is free! Oh yeah, I think I did. LOL

Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner

A little about the planner. For years, and without luck, I have tried to find a Thanksgiving Planner that has the items I wanted, looked nice and had graphics that wouldn't run my printer dry.  So this year, I decided to make my own Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner myself.  I really like how it turned out and hope you do too.

So, without further ado, let's begin. First take a moment to download the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner, see link above. Next, print the pages of the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner. I printed on both sides and used 28 lb bright white paper, but single side printing on regular 20 lb paper will work too. The planner can kept together with a simple, 1/2" thick standard 3 ring white binder with inside pockets. Punch holes in the pages and place them into binder. Add a couple of plastic sleeves and that's it.

Familiarize yourself with the pages of your Thanksgiving Planner. Keep it close at hand, you'll want to put new recipes, pictures of decorations and table settings, toasts, and pieces of inspiration into it. The plastic sleeves or side pockets of the binder are great for this.

Keep your Thanksgiving Planner after the holiday. Throughout the years you'll want to add and remove items as times change.  I promise you, it'll be an invaluable resource.

Planning A Successful Thanksgiving

Success begins with a plan; a successful plan has manageable tasks. With this in mind, I've organized the Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Checklist in a simple timeline that has been broken up into manageable tasks.

"Great things are not done by impulse, but by a series of small things brought together." ~ Vincent Van Gogh.

Ultimate Thanksgiving Planning Checklist

4 Weeks Before  |  3 Weeks Before  |  2 Weeks Before  |  1 Week Before  |  3 Days Before  |  2 Days Before  | 1 Day Before  | Thanksgiving Day | 6 Hrs Before Dinner   |  3 Hrs Before Dinner   | 2 Hrs Before Dinner  | 1 Hr Before Dinner  |  30 Mins Before Dinner   | 10 Mins Before Dinner

4  Weeks Before Thanksgiving

• Make Guest List, decide who to invite.
• What type of Thanksgiving do you want to host - formal, casual, potluck?
• Make out a budget
• Send invitations via post or email. Let quests know what type of dish to bring.
• When guests RSVP, note what dish they'll be bringing.
• Plan Thanksgiving Menu. Test new recipes ahead of time. Make a list of recipes you'll need. Gather recipes and place them in Thanksgiving Planner. This will save valuable time looking for them later.
• Make master shopping list. Organize the list by sections as they are in your grocery store: produce, dairy, meat, bread, canned items etc. This will make shopping much easier.
• Plan the Thanksgiving Decor. Check out Pinterest for creative ideas. Schedule time on calendar for decorating indoors and outdoors.
• Schedule carpet cleaning if needed.
• Take inventory of supplies needed: tables, chairs, serving dishes, warmers, napkins and tablecloths. I short on supplies, either call party supply store to schedule and reserve items or check with family and friends for help in lending items. Make arrangements for items to be picked up or delivered. If possible, ask that they be delivered the day before to allow for set-up time.
• Schedule appointment with your hair stylist for 4-5 days before Thanksgiving. Looking great will boost your energy level ; )
• Plan beverage menu. Inquire at local stores for bulk discounts on beverages such as wine. Plan to provide alternatives such as tea, water or punch for guests who don't drink alcohol.
• Order table centerpiece. If making your own, check to see if you have needed materials.

Three Weeks Before Thanksgiving

• If serving fresh Turkey, order it now.
• Deep clean kitchen, including oven, fridge and freezer.
• Deep clean common areas: living room, dining room and porch.
• De-clutter, organize entry way and coat closets.
• Ensure fireplace is clean and in good working order. Order wood if wood burning.
• Polish silver, store in a tarnish-resistant cloth or box.
• Purchase extra containers for leftovers. Amazon has some handy ones that are very inexpensive.
• Make sure kitchen gadgets and supplies are working as intended.
• Order containers for leftovers, like these at Amazon. They're cheap and easy.

Two Weeks Before Thanksgiving

• Using Master Shopping List, purchase non-perishables, beverages and decorations
• Decorate outside with fall color, hang fresh harvest wreath on front door
• Decorate inside throughout common areas, don't forget the downstairs powder room
• Create music playlist or choose a station on your favorite app to play during Thanksgiving day and soft mellow music during Thanksgiving meal.
• Inventory table ware and glass ware to ensure you have enough for each gust. Mix and match style create a unique, charming look.
• Wash an press table linens and napkins or take them to your local dry cleaner.
• Plan games and activities for children and adults. Adding items needing to be purchased on shopping list. Arrange items in nice basket, place in common where they're most likely to be used. Puzzles are always a hit. If you have the space set a designated puzzle table up in an out of the way spot with good lighting.
• Write a brief toast or blessing to share with guests and family at the start the Thanksgiving meal.
• Make list of out of town guests' itineraries. Schedule airport pick ups, determine sleeping arrangements for overnight guests.
• If buying a frozen turkey, buy it now. Then calculate when turkey needs to start thawing, then note it on the November calendar in your planner.

1 Week Before Thanksgiving

• Choose an outfit. Balance function with fashion. Plan comfortable shoes and an apron to wear in the kitchen.
• Confirm with guests bringing dishes: when they plan to arrive, refrigerator space needed, oven time, serving platters and utensils as well. Write the information down and keep in your planner for reference later.
• Plan seating arrangements, make place cards. Enlist kids help, this a great activity for them!
• Clear space in refrigerator and freezer.
• Wipe down appliances, wash potholders, dish towels, aprons, clean trivets. Thoroughly clean coffee maker by running vinegar through it, then fresh water twice.
• Gather everything needed to set the table and place near by.
• If making your own centerpiece put non-perishable items together now, as much as possible. Gather seasonal greenery from your own garden, store wrapped in moist paper towels in cool, dark location.
• Make final preparations for guest rooms. Prepare little baskets with some necessities and niceties.
• Manage yard work, dust of exterior decorations. Rake leaves, clear unnecessary clutter.
• Calculate cooking time for turkey (see table below for suggested cooking times) add a half hour (15 minutes to rest and another 15 minutes for carving), then note on Thanksgiving Day Cooking Schedule when it must go in.
• Complete Detailed Cooking Schedules. For instance, schedule making fresh cranberry sauce 2 days before. (It's super easy and tastes amazing). Schedule making giblet broth for gravy, pies or other deserts as well as all the food prep  1 day before Thanksgiving.
• Begin making ice for beverages, Store in airtight plastic bags.

Here's a chart with the minimum food you will need for Thanksgiving Dinner. For left overs you'll want to add accordingly. If hosting a large dinner, consider cooking 2 smaller turkeys instead of 1 large. They are easier to handle, offer more wings and drumsticks and cook faster.

3 Days Before Thanksgiving

• Review Ultimate Thanksgiving Planner, recipe ingredients, and shopping lists to make sure nothing is forgotten.
• Shop for perishables and any last minute items.
• Chill wine, champagne and cold beverages.
• If brining the turkey, put bird into brine now and keep chilled in the refrigerator.
• Fill salt and pepper shakers.

2 Days Before Thanksgiving

• Tidy the house with some final light housekeeping. Focus on bathrooms, kitchen, living room, family room, entry and dining room. Dust and vacuum.
• Make sure laundry is all clean and put away.
• Prepare soups and cranberry sauce, store in airtight containers.
• Pick up orders from butchers, bakeries, and specialty shops.
• Create serving area for beverages, deserts and coffee. Place ice bucket, glasses, coffee cups, desert plates and forks, sugar and creamer.

1 Day before Thanksgiving

• Make giblet broth for gravy, pies and deserts.
• Do all food prep for stuffing, side dishes and store in individual, airtight containers. Cover fresh cut vegetables in ice cold water, store in airtight containers and refrigerate. To save even more time, store refrigerated prepped items in one section of frig.
• Pick-up floral centerpiece from florist.
• Set the table, complete with centerpiece.
• Set out serving dishes with appropriate utensil and post-its noting what goes in them
• For added touch, add a bouquet in quest bedroom.
• Hang fresh towels, put out full rolls of tissue paper in bathrooms.
• Disinfect kitchen sink and counter tops, run disposal with some lemon rinds and water running.
• Spot clean common areas in home. Disinfect remote controls, phones, door handles and light switches. empty waste baskets
• Cut lemon and lime wedges and slices for beverage serving area. Store in small, tightly covered bowls; refrigerate until just before guests arrive.
• Assign one or two family members to take photos and video.
• Go to bed early and get some rest!

These are the approximate roasting times for turkey. Turkey will be done when digital thermometer inserted in drumstick reaches 165.

Thanksgiving Day

Thanksgiving morning take some time for yourself, relax. -do your morning routine. Smile, you got this one!  Thanksgiving Day cooking schedule. Note, time turkey must to go in oven. (See cooking table below.)

About  6 Hours Before Thanksgiving Dinner

(check table below for more accurate cooking time)

• Preheat oven 325 degrees. Turkey is done when an instant-read thermometer placed inn in the middle of the thigh reaches 165 degrees.

• Prepare turkey for stuffing and roasting - or fry, smoke or barbecue.

• Make whipped cream for pies.
• Peel and cut potatoes, place in large bowl, cover potatoes with ice water, cover and store in refrigerator.
• Now that you have the turkey prepped and in the oven, it's time to put on your Thanksgiving outfit.

3 Hours Before Thanksgiving Dinner

• Arrange side dishes and casseroles. Keep covered, until time to cook or warm. These times should be noted on cooking schedule.
• Assemble appetizers on platters, let cheese platter warm to room temperature.
• Remove casseroles and side dishes from frig so they aren't so cold when placing in oven or cooking.
• If making dinner rolls with bread machine, start them now.

2 Hours Before Thanksgiving Dinner

• Fill beverage ice bucket with fresh ice
• Set butter dishes and condiments on the table, keep covered for now.
• Wash and put away any stacked up pots. Clean kitchen, run dishwasher.
• Unload dishwasher
• Don't forget to check on turkey, they can surprise you!
• Warm appetizers
• Set out appetizers for quests.
• If guests offer to help, put them to work! Guests can help pour drinks, answer the door, stow coats, refill ice, take photos or keep an eye on the kids.
• Set up coffee maker for serving with desert, don't start it yet.

1 Hour Before Thanksgiving Dinner

• Place casseroles in oven
• Cook potatoes for mashed potatoes.

30 Minutes Before Thanksgiving Dinner

• Once turkey is out of oven, use drippings to prepare gravy.
• Prepare mashed potatoes. Place in warmed serving dish, cover tightly, keep warm. (Microwave is great place to keep them warm, just don't forget about them ; )
• Start baking dinner rolls
• Fill guest's water glasses and open red wine to let breathe, if serving with dinner.
• Remove covers from condiments on table.

Ten minutes Before Thanksgiving Dinner

• Carve turkey, place on platter
• Finish sides that are cooking on the stove.
• Transfer everything to it's serving bowl/platter and start placing on table or buffet.
• Push button to start coffee set up earlier.
• Pour the wine.
• Just before inviting everyone to the table, make sure the stove's off. If serving apple pie, place it in the warmed oven to heat while your're eating dinner.
• Sit down, smile, take a breath and relax. Offer a toast (the one your prepared a couple of weeks ago).
• Enjoy dinner, give thanks for your many blessings, your family, your friends.

HOW TO CARVE A TURKEY

Watch as a professional carves a turkey and arranges the pieces on a platter

Wishing you a wonderful, blessed Thanksgiving. Did you found this information helpful? How about the Thanksgiving Planner, did you use it? Please share your comments below.

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