It’s that time of year again! The leaves are turning colors, the air is cool and we are grateful for our friends and family. Hosting Thanksgiving from an apartment can seem like an overwhelming challenge but not if you know how to plan and organize. We have some great ideas for you, from space-saving strategies to food prep. Here are some tips for hosting Thanksgiving in a an apartment!
Start with Your Guest List: It's usually best to figure out how many you think can comfortably fit into your apartment. Once you have this number in mind then you can move onto planning out your party.
Get Creative with Your Seating: If you already have a small kitchen table, you can add a folding table to the end of it to extend the space. Then cover the tables with fall themed table cloths and you are all set! If this isn't an option then no worries, you can simply forgo a table and just use trays! Make it a fun adventure and keep it flexible. Remember, your guests are there to celebrate with you. It's a day to be thankful. No one will worry about seating, tables or even matching dishes.
Make it a Potluck: Serving up a large Thanksgiving dinner in an apartment would likely send most of our grandmothers into a whirl! However, you can do it with the help of your guests pitching in. You can ask everyone to bring a dish and that’ll turn your gathering into a festive Thanksgiving potluck. As the host, volunteer to make the turkey or main dish. Task everyone else to bring their favorite side dishes. Just remember to assign types of dishes. That way, people can pick and choose within the category you assign like desserts or sides. Otherwise, you could end up with five rounds of mashed potatoes and a box of cookies from your less than culinary-inspired friends.
Plan out Your Cooking Schedule: If you are a brave sort and decide to prepare the Thanksgiving feast all on your own to show off your culinary skills, then planning is essential. Preparing the bulk of the meal prep the day before is also a huge time saver! Knowing how long something needs to bake for and what temperature is key. Make a list of all your dishes with times and cook temps so you can easily plan it out. For example, if you can plan to put in all your side dishes at once and at a temperature they all can tolerate, this helps cooking go quickly and stress free.
Clean As You Cook: Preparing a Thanksgiving feast requires all the pots and pans you can possibly find. That’s why it’s crucial to clean as you cook. Quickly wash, dry, and put aside any dishes not in use.
Otherwise, your entire kitchen area turns into an explosion of dirty dishes. You can also leave sides that need to stay warm, like green beans or sweet potatoes, on the stove or in the oven.
Just coordinate serving as you go. That’ll keep dishes off valuable serving space.
Keep Decorations Minimal and Functional: With space at a premium in an apartment, it's important to keep clutter out of the way. Move out anything that takes up space that can be used for seating into other rooms. To add fall color you can opt for fall colored table cloths, and dishes and add autumn scented candles. Open up those blinds and let in the sunshine to add visual space to your room.
Plan For An After Dinner Activity: Do your guests enjoy games? Perhaps your theme can be a screen free day! A day to take a break from the stresses of the internet and spend face to face time with the people in your life. Dominoes, cards or board games are always a hit and create the best memories of a fun time spent together.
We hope each of you has a wonderful Thanksgiving day!
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