When I make a big meal, I find it is so much easier if I create some sort of Thanksgiving cooking schedule. To make a cooking schedule that makes sense, I write down what time I want to serve the meal and then backtrack the time it takes to make each dish.
Why Do I Need A Cooking Schedule
Here is why a cooking schedule is a great idea:
- Everything on the table while it is hot.
- I don’t forget to put something in the oven or on the stove.
- There is no need to squeeze multiple dishes into the oven at once.
- I don’t have to try to fit too many pans on the stovetop at once.
- I can sit and enjoy my family and not run around crazy trying to remember it all.
Here is a video explaining the process:
And here is the link to the FREE printable cooking schedule.
I Don’t Know Where to Start
Still not sure what you are making? Here are some recipes to get you started:
Creating a Thanksgiving cooking schedule may seem as if it removes the spontaneity of home cooking, but it actually gives the cook a solid plan to get everything on the table on time and ready to enjoy.
You can also use a cooking schedule for your next big family dinner. We eat a sit down Sunday meal every week, and knowing when I have to stop working on my blog things and switch gears to the kitchen is crucial to me pulling it all together. I truly do use this technique and although it’s never been on a pretty printable, it has always worked.
Another day that I find a cooking schedule to be useful is Dessert Day, traditionally the day before Thanksgiving. I make so many pies and other sweet treats, that I have to plan them out in order to fit everything into the oven.
It’s a point of pride for me to pull everything together and not seem as if I just finished a marathon in the process. I hope you find this printable useful!