Thanksgiving Day Potluck Entertaining
A Perfect Way to Share the Cost, Labor, and Cleanup with Guests
Thanksgiving Day potlucks can go smoothly with a little planning ahead of time . It can add fun and variety to the holiday meal and add to the festivities. Making out a list of the details will guarantee that it will go smoothly.
Thanksgiving Day Invitations
It is never too early to let your guests that they are invited to Thanksgiving dinner and that it will be "potluck", with everyone contributing a some part of the meal. When the number of people attending is known, which will determine the size of the contributions, it is time to call the guests with the count and the time everyone will meet.
ThanksgivingTraditional Dinner
Write out the foods that will be needed for the meal. If it is a "traditional" dinner, it will probably include such items as turkey, stuffing, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberries, vegetables and pumpkin or other pies. The hostess prepares the turkey, stuffing and gravy.
The Potluck Contributions
Create a chart listing each item that will be contributed by the guests. If any of the guests has special dietary needs, such as a diabetic, is on a low-carb diet, is a vegetarian, or has food allergies, suggest that they bring a dish that meets their own needs which can be available with all the other food. If someone is unable to cook a dish, suggest something like rolls or wine.
- Appetizer: This should be something light, like raw vegetables and a ranch type dip.
- Potatoes: Ask the guest that is bringing mashed potatoes to bring them in a crock pot. Suggest using Yokon Golds or other high-starch-content potatoes which do not become watery and do well in a slow cooker.
- Vegetables: Corn and green beans are easy to prepare and are enjoyed by children as well as adults.
- Cranberries are always a favorite, whether smooth or served whole.
- Relishes such as olives and pickles.
- Salads: The vegetables used for the appetizer can substitute for a salad which takes a lot of last minute preparation.
- Dessert: Traditional pies such as pumpkin and if there will be children, cupcakes and ice cream makes a good addition.
- Wine: Four .720ml bottles of wine will provide two-eight ounce servings per adult.
By assigning a dish to each guest family, duplications can be avoided and variety will be added to the dinner.
Ask guests to bring everything for serving their dish. Pie makers should bring pie servers, bread or roll bringers should bring a basket and napkin for serving. Serving spoons should accompany each dish.
The Host Family Contribution
- Turkey and dressing. The ritual of slicing the turkey is traditional in some homes but if not, it can be sliced beforehand, wrapped in foil and kept warm in a roaster.
- Jello is a colorful dish and is especially welcome if there are children among the guests.
- Coffee, tea, cream and sugar and soft drinks, butter or margarine and whipped cream for desserts.
- Trivets for hot dishes, baggies or small plastic dishes for take-home leftovers.
- Extra serving utensils in case guests forget to bring those with their dishes.
Setting up the Serving Area
Thanksgiving Day potluck dinner works more smoothly if it served buffet style from a number of tables. One table can hold the napkins, plates, eating utensils, and glasses. Another can be for just the turkey, especially if it will be sliced in the presence of guests. All the other food can be arranged on a table by itself.
The Cleanup
Today paper plates are colorful and sturdy and can add to the decor of the table. Those and plastic utensils makes the cleanup much easier. Don't be afraid to ask the guest to help clear the table. If you recycle, have separate bins available for paper, plastic and garbage. If there are any spills, have a bottle of club soda available for clean up.
The day after Thanksgiving make a list of do's and don'ts that can be used for the next holiday potluck. It is a great way to celebrate with a family and friends without doing all the work alone.
Thanksgiving Table
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