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Uh oh! That’s right; it’s your turn to host the big family Thanksgiving meal. You’ve counted the guests and want to faint/run away/hide/break down or maybe just get the pre-packaged meal from the supermarket.

Never fear, Premium How To Guides is here to guide you through your Thanksgiving preparations, so that you and your family can have a delicious and enjoyable Thanksgiving… probably.

The first step is to solidify that guest list, no matter how large it gets. When thinking of how many people are planning on attending, you’ll want to keep the size of your home in mind. You’ll want to plan the setup carefully so that there is no confusion the day of Thanksgiving. Make sure you have enough tables, chairs, dishes, etc. Also, always prepare for those surprise visitors!

After you have the dining arrangements down, you’ll want to start planning the menu. Everyone has different tastes and dietary restrictions, and as much as you’d like to please everyone, you won’t be able to. Just because your sister is a vegetarian doesn’t mean you have to buy a Tofurkey. As long as you provide enough options and variety, then everyone should be satisfied. This is also a great way to have people help out with the leg work. If someone has special dietary needs or is a picky eater, then ask them to make a dish they’d like to share with everyone. Then you have one less dish to make and one happier guest.

Besides bringing food, some of your guests will offer to come a little early and offer their services. Unless you’re a total control freak, let them come and help you! It’s a nice way to spend quality time with loved ones, while getting things done much more efficiently and with less stress. You should also be realistic with yourself about what can be made from scratch, and what can’t. Choose a few items you’d like to spend extra time on, and either leave the rest to a box or another guest.

If you’re having a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, you will inevitably run into the equally traditional dilemma of the turkey versus the pie. The turkey will be taking up residence in the oven for most of the day, which means you need to carefully schedule in some pie time. Thanksgiving just isn’t the same without pumpkin pie! Speaking of traditions, don’t forget Thanksgiving staples like gravy, stuffing, mashed potatoes, yams (with marshmallows!), and cranberry sauce. Your hardcore Thanksgiving lovers will be expecting to see a spread with those important components.

Last but not least, leftovers are probably the biggest Thanksgiving tradition! Who doesn’t love fresh turkey sandwiches every day for the next week? With this in mind, aim to cook for about 25% more guests than you’ll actually have so that everyone gets their fair share of food to take home.

***Picture Thanks to Rev. Santino***