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Is your pre-Thanksgiving anxiety starting to kick in? It’s pretty daunting to prepare a big meal, and especially if you’re planning to feed a crowd. I know I’ll try anything that can make that job easier, and I’m happy to share these pretty terrific hacks with you so that we can all get the work done and also enjoy the day.

1. Create extra fridge space. Clear your refrigerator of bottles of condiments and other foods that you hardly use and store in a cooler with ice packs. You’ll likely find yourself with a whole empty shelf.
2. Create extra warming space. No enough room in the oven to keep everything warm? Use your cooler as a thermos by lining it with towels and stacking food in there after it comes out of the oven. Use a different cooler for hot and cold, obvs.
3. Pie weights. No need to spend money on pie weights, when you can use dried beans or raw rice.
4. Degrease drippings. Separate the fat from the drippings by pouring the drippings into a measuring cup and placing in the freezer for a few minutes. As it cools the fat will rise to the top and you can easily spoon it out.
5. Revive dry turkey breast. Pour warm chicken broth over turkey breast to moisten it before serving.
6. Set the table. Have your table all set the night before. It will make you feel good to see it done and you won’t have to scramble at the last minute.
7. Plan it out. Plan out which serving dishes and pieces you’ll be using for which foods and you’ll be all ready to go.
8. Tape recipes to cabinets at eye level. Print out recipes from cookbooks and tape them where you can easily see them.
9. DIY roasting rack. Put a layer of quartered onions, carrots, and celery on the bottom of the roasting pan and place the turkey on top. You don’t need to buy a roasting rack and the drippings will have more flavor this way.
10. Peel garlic. That’s a chore everyone hates, and ready peeled garlic is expensive. Make it easier by putting garlic in the microwave for 10 seconds- the cloves will slip right out.

Thanksgiving should be all about enjoying your time with your loved ones and being grateful for what you have, and grumbling about making dinner takes away from that. Use these tips and remember that feeling happy and grateful is up to you! Happy Thanksgiving!

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