If you’re hosting Thanksgiving this year (or just attending), the name of the game is efficiency. What can I make ahead of time? How can I free up the oven? You get the idea. Here are four ways to whip up a stress-free Thanksgiving dinner.
1. Utilize your slow cooker
Most warm food can be kept warm in a slow cooker, which means you can make some dishes ahead of time and open up prime real-estate in your oven or on the stove. You can even prepare the turkey ahead of time, slice it, and keep it warm in the slow cooker with some chicken, turkey, or vegetable broth. As a bonus, the low heat and additional broth can help add more moisture back to the turkey if you were a little overzealous with the cooking time. Mashed potatoes, corn, green beans and sweet potatoes all work well in a slow cooker, too, just keep a little broth on hand in case you need to add additional liquid.
2. Fuss-free gravy
If your brown gravy is a little lackluster, add a splash of soy sauce. Soy sauce naturally enhances the umami flavor (a rich, meaty taste) and adds a nice dark brown color. Open up one more burner on the stove by preparing the gravy and keeping it warm in a thermos. Most thermoses will keep hot foods hot for a few hours – leaving your more time out of the kitchen.
3. Stuff the muffin tins
Muffin tins are a safe back up when you’re running low on traditionally pans, as long as you slightly decrease the cooking time. Providing individual servings for side dishes, such as stuffing, expedites serving as a grab-n-go option and keeps portion sizes in check.
4. Free up the fridge
Pull out a cooler and serve your beverages table-side, instead of from the refrigerator (odds are you’ve got each shelf pretty full). You can even toss in some condiments (butter, sour cream, whipped cream, etc.) so guests aren’t rummaging through the refrigerator.
For more helpful tips, attend What's Cooking with Fareway Registered Dietitians Whitney and Caitlyn. This month's free, virtual workshop will focus on easy-to-make fall comfort foods. Attendees will have a chance to win a $50 Fareway Giftcard and free copy of the Fareway Favorites cookbook. Register here.
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