It's Here. Now What?

Today's the day. You have been planning and cooking for days, maybe weeks, so that you and your family can celebrate Thanksgiving together. But with so much to do, how can you enjoy your guests? Here are some pointers from some of my hard-learned lessons and observations.

Relax

First of all, remember that you set the tone for your dinner, and if you're not happy, you're guests won't be happy. A panicky and uptight host makes family and friends feel awkward and unwelcome. Sure people like a nice spread on the table, but you don't want them to feel guilty that they made you work too hard.

Before Guests Arrive

You can't do everything, so now's the time to enlist help. Before the stream of people arrive, here are some jobs you can delegate:

• Have your spouse or child be responsible for greeting and taking coats.
• Assign another person to take and fix drink orders.
• Assemble simple appetizer plates of cheese and crackers, nuts and fresh veggies and have one person set these out when guest arrive.

These gestures will make your friends feel welcomed.

The Turkey

In my house, the biggest worry on Thanksgiving is if the turkey will be done in time for dinner. An undercooked turkey can really throw a wrench into your day. Don't forget that a stuffed turkey takes longer to cook, so make sure you are following the directions of your recipe correctly.

A cooked turkey can sit out for an hour or two before needing refrigeration, so I aim to have mine cooked about 45 minutes before I want to eat it. That gives you some leeway if it takes longer than expected. If it's done on time, you can keep it warm by covering it with foil.

If you forgot to thaw the turkey, there is hope. You can place the turkey in its wrapper in cold water. Do this for 30 minutes per pound, changing the water every 30 minutes.

Timing

Getting everything on the table at the same time can also be a challenge if you only have one oven. And there's nothing like a guest who needs to use your oven unexpectedly.

You probably have two solutions for this scenario: the microwave and the grill.

For foods that don't need to be crispy, such as sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes or peas, your microwave is your friend. For sides that need to be kept in the dry heat of an oven, use your grill on its lowest setting and put the dishes on a baking sheet or pizza stone.

For chilled items, keep a cooler either outside or in a mudroom. You can free up refrigerator space by keeping drinks on ice in the cooler, and even have another set up for the cranberry sauce and other cold sides.

Crowd Control

There's nothing like a pack of kids running through your kitchen and a bunch of well-meaning relatives asking questions to stress out a cook. The saying, "Too many cooks in the kitchen" is true, especially at Thanksgiving.

If you need help cooking the day of your dinner, ask someone who knows how to cook and is self-directed, and then politely decline the rest of the offers.

For the children, have some games or activities (preferably outside) ready. Ask the responsible tweens and teens of the group to play with the younger children. If you've planned for a craft, give them clear directions of where to do the craft.

Kids also love to decorate the table. Have some simple tasks to keep them busy, such as filling water glasses, sliding on the napkin rings or setting out the place cards.

Speaking of place cards, they are a good idea when having a crowd. Be thoughtful about who sits next to whom, placing newcomers next to your friendliest chatty relative.

The Goal

Finally, take the time to count your blessings. When everyone sits down together, it's a tradition in many families to go around the table and say what you are thankful for. Also, many kids bring home crafts from school. The dinner table is a good time for them to show everyone what they made and let them tell what they learned about the Pilgrims.

Thanksgiving has been set aside as a day when our whole country stops to think about the abundance we have, individually and as a nation. So as we share our bountiful table, take time to appreciate those with us and those who have come before us to make this day possible.