Thanksgiving Hacks From A Caterer To Save Time & Space

Are you already stressing about hosting Thanksgiving this year? It’s a huge job that can take longer than you may think, but there are some tips and tricks to cut down on your time in the kitchen.

Danielle Sepsy, chef and founder of The Hungry Gnome bakery and catering, is here to help relieve some stress this Thanksgiving. She shares these holiday hosting hacks that can save time and your sanity.

• Post-It note tableware trick - Once you’ve picked out the serving bowls, plates and platters you’ll be using on Turkey Day, put a sticky note on each one with the name of the dish you’ll be using it for. That way you’ll be able to see where everything is going and if you have a helper, they’ll be able to see where it belongs without having to ask you.
• Use a cooler as a warming drawer - Oven and warming drawer space is always limited on Thanksgiving, but Sepsy recommends keeping hot dishes, like sides, warm in the cooler. Just line the inside with foil and towels to give it extra insulation and keep it hot without drying out the food.
• Make gravy in advance - With so many dishes to prepare for Thanksgiving dinner, it’s always nice to get anything you can done ahead of time. One thing that can free up some time and space in the kitchen is making your gravy base ahead of time. “You can also use store-bought turkey stock, a butter roux, shallots, garlic, white wine and aromatics to make a quick and easy gravy,” Sepsy explains. “Then when the bird is done, add in the drippings, simmer and you're ready to go.”
• Ice-water bath for faster mashed potatoes - You can cook them the night before Thanksgiving instead of waiting to do it right before dinner. After they boil, give them an ice water bath to shock and stop the cooking, and this expert says you’ll speed up prep and get perfectly creamy mashed potatoes, with no gummy texture.
• Help guests get leftovers easily - Pick up some disposable tins or muffin tins for guests to load up with leftovers, so you don’t risk giving away your good Tupperware.

Source: Good Morning America

Scott's Thoughts:

• Is it too late to make a reservation for 16 for Thanksgiving dinner out?
• I don't know how my mom does it all these years.
• Do you like to have help in the kitchen when cooking for the holiday? Or do you prefer to do it all yourself, so you know it’s done right?