You might partner w/ someone who has done this in the past, either for the same crowd as yours or another. My brother and I alternate as to who hosts and give each other tips - we do it all - as well as back-up for when you have burned all 4 pies and need someone to bring dessert.

My big tip is to skip the salad. When I've made one, it barely gets touched.

Agree that cranberry sauce can be made in advance. I also do lots of prep the day before-- peel and slice potatoes, chop stuff ingredients, snap green beans, bake pies. The bread is hard... it's best if made the day of, but if you only have one small oven it's hard to coordinate. So I usually put it in the oven right after the turkey comes out, and it bakes while I'm mashing potatoes and making gravy.

Writing up a schedule is key.

My in-laws do a 20+ Thanksgiving every year and here's what they do: 2 turkeys instead of a big one (don't take as long to cook), mashed potato casserole made the day before and kept warm in a huge slow cooker and assigning dishes to people. There are so many side dishes (green bean casserole, sweet potatoes, stuffing, creamed onions, etc.) and not everyone likes the same things, so we don't need a 20-serving size of each side dish. A 6-8 person serving size is fine. The one thing they do not skimp on is the gravy: there's gravy enough for 40 people! (My family, on the other hand, uses a make ahead gravy recipe from Cook's Country that calls for roasting turkey pieces. Really good gravy and no stress on Thanksgiving Day!)

PP again: forgot to mention...with the salad, don't toss until you are ready to serve, that's the beauty of putting the dressing in the bowl first.

First, how many ovens do you have, one or two? If you are like me and only have one, you need to make some things in advance and put them in the oven after the turkey is done and resting (and it can "rest" for quite a while, just cover it with foil).

Agree with the PP on making a menu and a schedule in advance, as well as a very detailed shopping list.

I have gone so far as to order my groceries for delivery just to make sure I have everything. I inevitably can't find or forget something when I go myself, and then I stress out having to run out again.

So, menu ideas:

* make ahead cranberry sauce, so easy it's stupid, consider adding booze (Whiskey or Brandy)

* pies, buy...or prepare in advance and put in oven while everyone is eating dinner. I buy a pumpkin cheesecake...it's heavy so people generally don't want a lot of it and it goes a long way. Or ask a few people to bring a dessert.

*appetizers: cheese board (Costco sells HUGE chunks); Salt and Pepper Kettle Chips (also HUGE bags at Costco), halved radishes, and carrot sticks with herbed dip (dip recipe--Barefoot Contessa).

*Drinks: Costco for wine and other beverages.

* mashed potatoes....consider using red bliss potatoes so you don't have to peel! So easy, can be done on stovetop while turkey is in, and you can add a head of roasted garlic at the end for variation (just put the garlic in with the turkey). If you have a big stick blender, it's even easier.

*sweet potatoes of some sort if your family loves them, like mine. You can make a sweet potato soufle days in advance and just reheat.

*a HUGE spinach salad with bacon, fresh figs, and gorgonzola...very easy. Mix a simple olive oil/balsamic/shallot vinagrette in the bottom of the bowl, top with spinach and then other stuff, can keep without wilting for 24 hours in the fridge. Everyone always gobbles up salad surprisingly, a nice change from all of the starch.

*Stuffing/Dressing: make in advance, bake with turkey...my family doesn't go wild for stuffing, so I make a wild rice pilaf with wild mushrooms instead...in advance.

Anonymous wrote:In my experience, Thanksgiving is a meal where people usually want to be involved and contribute by bringing something. I have an aunt who hosts a big gathering every year, and she just goes ahead and gives people their "assignments," and everyone is happy to have a role in putting the dinner together. I've also just gone ahead and asked people if they can bring certain things (like veg side dish, pie, etc) and leave the particular item up to them. Totally agree with the idea of doing things ahead as much as possible, and delegate tasks on the actual day, too (making sure everyone has a beverage, etc). Have fun!

My experience is different. I do it all. Nobody has ever offered to bring anything. I am fine with that. You just need to do a lot of research and make sure that you have a complete schedule a week or two in advance.

In my experience, Thanksgiving is a meal where people usually want to be involved and contribute by bringing something. I have an aunt who hosts a big gathering every year, and she just goes ahead and gives people their "assignments," and everyone is happy to have a role in putting the dinner together. I've also just gone ahead and asked people if they can bring certain things (like veg side dish, pie, etc) and leave the particular item up to them. Totally agree with the idea of doing things ahead as much as possible, and delegate tasks on the actual day, too (making sure everyone has a beverage, etc). Have fun!

I did dinner for 40 last year.

You need a menu and a schedule.

Write out your ideal menu including any family favorites, and pick a time for when you want dinner on the table.

Think about what has to go in the oven other than the turkey. Things like pies can be baked ahead of time. Others like one of my family potato receipes have to be put in after the turkey. Account for the time for everything that has to bake after the turkey, and then back up the time for the turkey from there.

Measure your oven before you buy your turkey. Don't be like my sister who a few years ago bought a turkey too big for her oven.

I would keep things simple and do as much as I can ahead of time, and have sides that can be heated in the microwave. For example, cranberry sauce is super-easy to make and you can do that a few days ahead of time. A cornbread/pudding type dish or a green bean casserole can be made ahead of time in an 8x8 glass pyrex, and then heated up for a few minutes in the microwave (have it out on the counter at room temperature so heating up takes less time). Appetizers (if you have any) should be things that don't need heating like cheese and crackers or dips and chips/veggies.

Anonymous wrote:This is how many (at least) my family has every year. Figure out what you really want to make (obviously you should do the turkey, but I'm sure you have particular sides you are attached to). Then, when people inevitably ask what they can bring, assign them something (a side, a dessert, an appetizer, rolls, etc). Have LOTS of Gladware on hand to send people home with leftovers so you don't wind up with all of it.

We always set up the food buffet style on the kitchen table and then sit in the living/dining room (dining room table plus one or two of those long folding tables covered in white tablecloths) to eat.

This only works if your family asks what they can bring. At our first thanksgiving at my MIL's, their entire family showed, and only 2 people offered to bring anything. She spent 3 days cooking.

My advice: if people offer, I second pp here, and if there is a side that people in your family love, ask a couple families to make it so there's plenty. If no one offers, unless you want to either spend days in advance cooking or call up people and assign dishes when no offers are forthcoming, outsource as much as you can (honeybaked ham has some great sides, balducci's, etc). Lastly, if there are people in your family who are challenged in the kitchen, assign them wine duty

Anonymous wrote:What about a dance studio?

Many of them offer themed birthday parties.

I was posting on a different forum, but it popped up here. Very weird. Please disregard

Enjoy your Thankgiving dinner.

This is how many (at least) my family has every year. Figure out what you really want to make (obviously you should do the turkey, but I'm sure you have particular sides you are attached to). Then, when people inevitably ask what they can bring, assign them something (a side, a dessert, an appetizer, rolls, etc). Have LOTS of Gladware on hand to send people home with leftovers so you don't wind up with all of it.

We always set up the food buffet style on the kitchen table and then sit in the living/dining room (dining room table plus one or two of those long folding tables covered in white tablecloths) to eat.

What about a dance studio?

Many of them offer themed birthday parties.

Looking for ideas and thoughts on planning dinner for 20. Thanks.