Thanksgiving Memories & Tips, Plus a Giveaway

This is a sponsored post from BlogHer and Welch's.

Growing up in Canada, we celebrated Thanksgiving near the beginning of October. Unlike the American version, Canadian Thanksgiving has nothing to do with the arrival of the Pilgrims to the new world. Rather, it is a celebration of a successful harvest. Since Canada is further north than the United States, harvest season takes place at an earlier time, which explains the timing of the holiday. Since moving to the United States 15 years ago, I have come to appreciate the timing of American Thanksgiving. Landing mere weeks before Christmas, Thanksgiving is the window into the joy, chaos and merriment of the holiday season. With a full day of cooking and eating and three days of quiet family time, Thanksgiving has become one of my favorite holidays.



For us, as for many families, Thanksgiving is a time to be grateful for the big and little gifts in our lives and a time to enjoy the company of family and friends. However, you are reading the words of a food blogger, which means that this holiday also has to be about the food. And a little more food. Oh, and a little more. Preparations start well before feast day - ideas for menus, table settings, and decorations swirl in my head for weeks. Over the years, there have been very successful feasts and some that are, well, less than ideal. However, at the end of the day, when leftovers are wrapped up and guests are sitting in front of the football games in their tryptophan trances, all that really matters is that we did it together.

That being said, there are a few tips and tricks that I have learned over the years to make Thanksgiving day go as smoothly as possible.

Make ahead:
If you leave all of the cooking until Thanksgiving Thursday, you will spend a very long day in the kitchen and emerge with aching feet and a feast that you are too tired to eat. Prepare as many dishes as you can the day before, such as cranberry sauce, pumpkin pies, and even the turkey. Gasp! Yes, the turkey. Years ago, we learned that making the turkey the day ahead for both Thanksgiving and Christmas makes the holiday far less stressful. When the turkey is doused in hot gravy, your guests will never know the difference.

Set the table:
Arrange the table the day before. Put on the tablecloth, lay out the napkins, set out the silverware and glassware, and arrange the centerpiece. Collect all of the serving dishes and utensils you will need so that you are not scrambling at the last minute.

Delegate:
There is no need to be the hero in the kitchen. When your guests ask if there is anything you can bring or if they can help in the kitchen, say "Yes"! Not only does it give your guests warm, fuzzy feelings about contributing to the meal, but also it will take a lot of pressure off of you. Besides, the party always ends up in the kitchen anyways. You might as well put all of those party-goers to work.

Consider rentals:
Most rental places have very reasonable rates for two-day rentals of plates, silverware, and glasses. We have not done this often but, let me tell you, there is nothing better than piling most of the dirty dishes in big containers and sending them back to the rental company to deal with.

Our feast this year will include all of the traditional favorite dishes, along with one of Welch's holiday drink recipes. The choices are all appealing - Holiday Toasting Cup, Sparkling Holiday Punch, Spiced Grape Punch, Sparkling Cranberry Spritzer, and Sparkling Cranberry Punch - and I will likely try all of them over the holiday season, but it will be the Sparkling Holiday Punch that graces our Thanksgiving table this year.

For a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card, please answer the following question in the comments section:

"Which Welch's holiday drink recipe would you like to try?"

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Please head to the BlogHer.com exclusive offers page for 11 additional chances to win a $100 Visa gift card.

Sweepstakes ends 5pm EST on December 31, 2010.

For more information on Welch's, head to their official site.

Welch's Sparkling Juice cocktails are the perfect choice for happy family celebrations
* Non-alcoholic, so they’re perfect for the entire family.
* Deliciously refreshing with a light, bubbly sensation.
* Upscale package perfect for special celebrations.