Thanksgiving this year feels extra special after last year’s socially distant holiday season. Turkey, stuffing, and football aren’t the same when you can’t share it with your closest friends and family. To celebrate in style, think about hosting a cozy Thanksgiving dinner for your loved ones. There are some easy ways to make new holiday memories in any sized living space. With a little planning, creative thinking, and resourcefulness, you can plan and host a wonderful party with minimal effort.
Make a Plan
Planning is crucial to a good dinner party! Depending on how many dishes you plan to make, you will need a list of ingredients, an idea of how much time each dish will take to make, and where to store everything before you’re ready to eat. If you think you might run out of room, use coolers for beverages and try to plan cold or room temperature dishes that won’t take up space in the oven. Using crockpots can help, too. Your plan should also include cozy decorations, dishes and utensils for everyone, and a general idea of when the festivities will begin. Once there’s a plan of action, start buying your groceries early to avoid inevitable ingredient shortages closer to the big day.
Get Ready for Guests
This year, we are more thankful than ever to enjoy time with friends and family. When inviting guests to your party, ask about any dietary restrictions to make meal planning easier. You’ll also want to prep your space by creating an area for everyone to sit and eat together. Decorate with a tablecloth, an eye-catching centerpiece, and warm lighting to set the mood. You also want to think about how to entertain your guests while the turkey is in the oven. Providing beverages, appetizers, and a music playlist will add to your cozy atmosphere and keep everyone happy until dinnertime.
Take Advantage of Outdoor Space
If you have a deck, balcony, or other outdoor space, think about how you can use it to your advantage. If it’s warm enough, create a space outside for guests to enjoy with chairs, blankets, snacks, and a cooler full of beverages. Regardless of the weather, use the deck or balcony to free up some storage space indoors while you cook. Those pies and side dishes can quickly take up a lot of room, so every square inch of counter space matters!
Get Resourceful
Planning for Thanksgiving is no easy feat and can come with a boatload of stress, so why make it harder on yourself than it needs to be? Get the most out of the holiday by finding ways to make your role as host as easy as possible. Determine what can be outsourced or made ahead of time and ask guests to bring their favorite side dishes or desserts. This is a great way to include everyone in the meal, plus you will spend less time in the kitchen and more quality time with them. Just make sure to ask what they’re bringing, or you might end up with nothing to eat but green bean casserole! Bake your pies a few days in advance, or if baking isn’t your thing, skip the hassle and buy dessert at a local bakery. Whatever you can do to minimize prep time will make a huge difference when entertaining company.
If you don’t want to cook but still want to host, you’re in luck! Longmont has many shops and bakeries to complete your feast, and VerraWest’s convenient location puts you within a short distance of our city’s bustling downtown. Contact us today to learn more about our modern apartments.