There’s no doubt about the fact that Thanksgiving dinner is a beast to prepare. The turkey in and of itself is an entire event, not to mention the sides and dessert. While people joke about food comas and stuffing themselves with food, if you’re the one cooking the dinner, you may be wondering what you can do in order to make it more manageable. Trying to do an entire Thanksgiving dinner all in one day is quite a feat, especially with the turkey claiming the oven for its own for hours on end.

Fortunately, there are indeed things that you can do in order to maximize efficiency and make Thanksgiving more manageable. You don’t want to spend a holiday stressed out and only really be able to enjoy it when you’re actually eating or after all the dishes are taken care of. You deserve to be able to enjoy the holiday the same as everyone else, and these tips can help you do just that.

#1. Plan Ahead

In order to avoid a day of stress and trying to make everything happen at once, do your future self a favor and plan ahead. You don’t need to make everything the day of, after all! You can come up with a schedule for yourself of what days you’ll be making this or preparing that. While the turkey itself needs to be made the day of, as do mashed potatoes, a lot of the prep work and some dishes can be made in advance.

For instance, you can dedicate a day solely to chopping veggies and storing them in the fridge. While chopping vegetables is easy, it’s very time-consuming, so you can save yourself a lot of time by having them pre-chopped and ready to just toss into your dishes. 

You can also figure out what dishes can be made ahead. For instance, if you’re a stuffing or a casserole family, a lot of these types of dishes actually taste better when made in advance! This is because you’re giving the ingredients time to get to know each other, leaving you with more delicious and flavorful dishes. 

It’s also helpful to know what can’t be made ahead. The turkey, mashed potatoes, and rolls should all be made the day of, so that they taste their best. 

#2. Don’t Put Off Going To The Grocery Store

Or else you’ll be one of the masses crowding the aisles the day before – talk about stress! See what you can buy before the week itself, like canned goods. While all stores, grocery or not, are busier during the holidays, you can save yourself time and preserve your piece of mind by hitting the grocery store either the week before Thanksgiving or earlier on in the week of. 

This also helps to ensure that you can find everything that you need. Turkeys are very high in demand, so unless your family does something different, like a ham or lamb or a vegan option, you want to ensure you pick out your turkey sooner rather than later to ensure that you select a good one.

#3. There’s No Shame In Premade Dishes

If you’re a beginner, you may feel the need to show off all the skills you’re learning and present your loved ones with an extravagant dinner. Remember, though, that there’s no shame in using boxed mixes or premade dishes! You can still show off your skills, but you can save yourself time and money by opting for cranberry sauce from a can, rather than homemade. 

#4. Don’t Be Afraid To Delegate

If you’re the chef in the family, you may be tempted to lay claim to the kitchen and snap at anyone who dares enter your realm and interrupt your process. Don’t be afraid to delegate, though! If you are having guests, you can ask them to bring a dish that they specialize in, like your best friend’s exceptional pumpkin tarts or your sibling’s mouthwatering scalloped potatoes.

Play to everyone’s strengths. If there’s a niece or nephew running around who is hopeless in the kitchen, assign setting the table to them. If there’s a loved one who wants to learn or help, assign them something easy, like mashing the potatoes.

Teamwork makes the dream work, after all. Everything tastes so much more delicious when made with love and shared memories.

#5. Take A Cooking Class

Want to learn how to make a Thanksgiving dinner because you’ve never done it before? Or perhaps you want to learn how to make some new dishes or some tips and tricks from a pro. You can sign up for our Holiday Baking Class with Chef Brad, who will teach you recipes like mushroom galette and make-ahead rolls.

You can register for the event here. 

Kitchen Kneads is here to help you with your Thanksgiving cooking needs. Whether you need some more equipment or some ingredients or you want to learn, don’t hesitate to browse our store – either online or in person! Contact us today to learn more about how we can help you. 

From golden, orange, and red leaves to warm cups of apple cider to blanket scarves, autumn is charm itself. Pumpkins are among the most quintessential fall items you can find, found in festive candles, carved up for Halloween, and oh-so-delicious to eat. Here, we’ve gathered up some delectable pumpkin recipe ideas for you to draw inspiration from. You may be surprised to learn that pumpkin can be both sweet and savory; we have options that are both. 

From pumpkin cinnamon rolls that are so good that you can’t have just one to mouthwatering pumpkin gnocchi that keeps you coming back for more, here are some of our favorite pumpkin recipe ideas for dishes and treats that you can make with this festive gourd. 

How Can Pumpkin Be Both Sweet And Savory?

Have you ever had pumpkin by itself, with no spices or any added flavors? It’s pretty bland. Hence the incredibly popular pumpkin spice flavoring: the blend of cinnamon, nutmeg, cloves, ginger, and allspice, that gives pumpkin pie its signature taste. You can also use spices and other ingredients to make pumpkin work for savory dishes. It’s a very versatile fruit (yes, pumpkin is a fruit!) 

Treat Your Sweet Tooth With These Pumpkin Recipe Ideas

When most people think of using pumpkin to cook with or bake with, they tend to think of sweet treats. There’s nothing more fall than pumpkin spice, after all! Here are some of our favorite pumpkin recipe ideas to satisfy your sweet tooth. 

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Brownies

Give your favorite brownies an autumnal makeover with some pumpkin puree and pumpkin spice! These brownies are remarkably easy to throw together, making them perfect for school or office Halloween parties, or just to have around the house!

Get the recipe here. 

Cream Cheese Pumpkin Squares

Perfectly chewy and just dense enough without being too sweet, this pumpkin recipe perfectly straddles the line between cake and bread. The cream cheese renders frosting nonessential, but you can of course frost the squares if you like. Cinnamon or maple work wonderfully with pumpkin. 

Get the recipe here. 

Pumpkin Spice Creme Brulee

While creme brulee may seem like a dessert that’s best left to the masters, our recipe is straightforward, with a festive fall twist! This rich custard combined with pumpkin flavors is oh-so-cozy to have by the fire while your favorite fall show is playing.

Get the recipe here.

Fresh Pumpkin Bread

This is a bit less sweet than the above options and has a more mild flavor than you may typically associate with pumpkin bread, making it perfect for picky eaters or for those who aren’t sure whether or not they like pumpkin. 

Get the recipe here. 

Pumpkin Spice Scones

We love sweet scones combined with fall’s signature flavor. Adjust your favorite scone recipe so that you can add in some pumpkin and pumpkin spice, and you too can enjoy an autumnal take on this traditional treat. 

Pumpkin Spice Cinnamon Rolls

Ugh, cinnamon rolls are just so mouth-wateringly delicious. Add some pumpkin to the recipe or some pumpkin spice to the frosting to turn this classic into a seasonal treat. 

Here’s a good basic cinnamon roll recipe to get you started. 

Pumpkin Recipes For Those Who Want Something Savory

We love using pumpkin in creative ways! Savory pumpkin recipes may be a bit unexpected, but no less delicious, so long as you flavor them properly. Here are some of our favorite savory pumpkin recipe ideas!

Stuffed Pumpkin Dinner

Beef, peppers, tomatoes, garlic, and all the right spices all come together inside this pumpkin for a nutrient-rich dinner that is beyond delicious and beyond fun.

Get the recipe here. 

Pumpkin Pasta

This can be done in so many different ways! You can add some pumpkin to your favorite type of mac and cheese, with some breadcrumbs and bacon on top for a crispy flair. You can do your favorite spicy turkey penne with a pumpkin sauce. You could do an elegant carbonara with cremed pumpkin for a unique orange color and a touch of sweetness to the flavor. 

To take your pasta one step further, try making your own noodles! Here, we have a guide to get you started on your homemade pasta journey. 

Pumpkin Gnocchi

Sometimes, people get gnocchi and pasta confused, so you may wonder why this pumpkin recipe isn’t listed with the pasta ideas. In truth, gnocchi isn’t pasta, it’s actually a type of dumpling. Combing pumpkin gnocchi with kale and a garlic sauce may raise eyebrows, but it’s beyond delectable. 

These are some ideas to get you started! If you ever want to learn more about cooking and how you can incorporate items into your recipes, we here at Kitchen Kneads provide both virtual and in-person cooking classes that you can come to and learn from. While our caramel apple cooking classes this month are sold out, in November, we have a holiday bread class, a fudge and truffles class, and a holiday baking class that you can attend.