11 Easy Thanksgiving Ideas from Local Moms
Between cooking, traveling, decorating, and endless to-do lists, Thanksgiving can feel overwhelming. It’s easy to forget that the holiday is supposed to be fun. So, we asked moms for tips on keeping spirits high and stress low. We loved their suggestions!
How do you create a memorable Thanksgiving while still keeping it easy?
“Wake up early, even if it’s just 30 minutes before your usual time. It’s not much of a difference in sleep, but a big difference in getting a productive start on the day!”
“You can prep gravy, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, mashed potatoes, desserts, and tons of other foods a day or two in advance! Some dishes even taste beer with extra time for flavors to meld.”
“We go to Cracker Barrel for the traditional meal and we spend the rest of the day playing: board games, movies, backyard football, charades. This year we are adding a turkey trot race to get extra exercise before our Cracker Barrel feast!”
“We're not even doing a turkey this year… no one at our house really likes it anyway! We’re doing a taco bar instead. After all, it isn’t about food, it’s about gratitude and family!”
“Get a white tablecloth and put a cute jar of permanent markers on the table. Everyone writes their name, date, and something they are thankful for. Use the same tablecloth every year so you can go back and re-read the messages!”
“Don’t do a full turkey! Just buy a 3-pound breast and cook it in the crockpot!”
“Our family spends the day delivering for Meals on Wheels. It's our tradition, the kids love it, and we celebrate afterwards by getting the Thanksgiving meal at Turning Stone, which feels like a special treat. (P.S. There’s no cleanup!)”
“Our table is packed with food we’re TRULY thankful for: ice cream, chicken tenders, popcorn, peanut butter sandwiches, and our other favorites! Ever since we ditched the stressful meal and decided to get silly, we’ve made more memories.”
“One word: Snacks-giving. It’s exactly what it sounds like: everyone’s favorite snacks, all day long.”
“Everything we serve is super simple, but I add fresh herbs as a garnish to dress it up and enhance flavors.”
Let Someone Else Cook!
Restaurants with Thanksgiving dinner options. Please note: most restaurants require ordering and meal pickup prior to Thanksgiving day.
• Bella Domani, Syracuse
• Brewster Inn, Cazenovia
• Brian's Landing, Jamesville
• Craftsman Wood Grille & Taphouse, Fayetteville
• Cracker Barrel, Cicero
• Dinosaur BBQ, Syracuse
• Eleven Waters, Syracuse
• Sherwood Inn, Skaneateles
• The Inn of the Seasons, Syracuse
• Turning Stone, Verona
• Tassones Wine Garden, Baldwinsville
• Limp Lizard, Syracuse
• 916 Riverside, Central Square