With Thanksgiving just around the corner, many people seem to truly stress out over the thought of preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal. This really does not have to be the case. With proper planning and preparation it can actually be a painless experience.

I am a planner through and through. I always have a pen and paper within reach; I’m constantly writing lists. And if there is ever a time to make a list, it’s Thanksgiving. Hopefully you are not having to prepare the entire meal for more than 8 people. Since all of our family lives out of state, I usually end up cooking a Thanksgiving meal for 4 people at the most. Having to juggle multiple dishes can be nerve wracking. And because I tackle the entire meal by myself, I break it down into multiple days of work. Here is what I do:

During the week prior to Thanksgiving:
I list and buy all the necessary items to make the meal.

Tuesday:
Prepare cranberries. They are the perfect side dish to make ahead of time, and the easiest.

Wednesday:
Bake desserts
Prep all of my vegetables for all of my side dishes

Thursday:
Roast the turkey and make the gravy
Make the side dishes (I usually prepare 2 to 3 sides since I am only cooking for three people.)

I like to also cook in order to eat a late lunch. This way, we can relax for the remainder of the day, as well as eat second helpings later in the day. What’s not to love about that? Happy cooking, y’all, and happy Thanksgiving!