Happy Thanksgiving

Good morning, and Happy Thanksgiving to you! First things first, and this is not a task from the list, but something far more important.  Think about what you’re thankful for.   A loving family?  A roof over your head?  A healthy body?  The ability have the to choice to eat real, healthy fresh foods? That in and of itself is a lot to be thankful for; I certainly am (and, by the way for all of you who take the time to read what I write and perhaps take away something here or there that resonates…well, I’m very thankful for that, too!) It’s so easy to get caught up in the countdown to Christmas, the shopping, the festivities and parties to forget to take even a moment to be a bit introspective. Just a little reminder to take a moment to think about everything in the grand scheme of things. While you plan your day, keep this in mind and watch to see if the day doesn’t seem just a bit more relaxed and perhaps you feel a little more ‘in the moment’. For today’s tasks:

• Calculate when you’re guests are going to arrive, when you’d like to serve the meal and work backwards to decide when to put the bird in the oven.  (The rule of thumb is that a 10 – 18 bird may need about 3 – 3 1/2 hours to cook, 18-22 about 4 and 22 – 24 up to 4 1/2 (thank you, AllRecipes.Com!).
• Also factor in which side dishes may need to be reheated and plan accordingly.
• Prepare your fresh salads, as well as any appetizers and hors d’oeuvres.
• About half and hour prior to guests arriving, set out the apps to bring them to a slightly less than arctic temperature
• Empty the dishwasher so you’re starting with a clean slate
• Take a quick five minutes to sit in a quiet place, remember that moment from the morning when you thought about giving thanks, and do it again!

Now, while the morning is still young, go for that hike with your family or a run with your significant other, then come back, put your  and get ready for the day! Happy Thanksgiving!