Out of Chaos an organizing newsletter
My Evolving Thanksgiving
I love to host Thanksgiving dinner, but my approach has mellowed in the 20-odd years I’ve been cooking. I used to aim for perfection, which was great when I was younger. It helped me up my culinary game and refine my systems. Now, though, I realize that while I love a fancy party, I have the most fun in a relaxed atmosphere, so that’s what I aim to provide for my Thanksgiving guests.
The beauty of Thanksgiving is that you don’t have to keep reinventing the wheel. People largely want the same menu, so rather than coming up with an exciting new lineup, I can work on my Turkey-timing and potato-peeling efficiency. Just because I’m not going to make myself nuts polishing silver and ironing linen doesn’t mean I don’t have a plan.
It’s Wednesday, and the soup is done; the kids are in charge of pie, and I’ve even trimmed the green beans. I’ve got a schedule for tomorrow that includes a hike with my family. Sometimes, if you want to do something fun you have to put on the schedule.
I’m also trying to remember the meaning of Thanksgiving. I’m trying to be grateful for my family, rather than see them as obstacles in the way of my achieving a Martha Stewart dinner, and once the doorbell rings I’m going to summon the spirit of my mother and know that I’ve done the prep work, the machine is in motion and now my job is to put my guests at ease and feed them as well as I can.
I’m wishing you all a happy holiday, filled with meaning and not stress. And if the meaning has a side of pumpkin pie, that’s even better.