Stress-free and holidays don’t typically end up in a sentence together. At GP Kitchen and Catering those words are music to our ears. We are your trusted caterer of choice and we can truly make your November and December easy!
Let’s start out talking about drinks, both alcoholic and non-alcoholic. The most important thing to know is your guest list (number of adults, children, non-drinkers vs. drinkers). Thanksgiving is typically a wine drinking holiday, although if you have 20 or 30-something men, they may drink prefer beer (especially if they are watching one of the three NFL games that day!). During the fall and winter months we find people gravitate toward red varietals. Depending upon who is pouring, you can get 4-5 glasses from a 750ml bottle. Plan on most guests having 2-3 glasses throughout the afternoon and evening. Please stop by either GP Kitchen location for our Thanksgiving wine picks, which are fantastic for your feast – Vicky says so!
Non-alcoholic drinks should have a fall feel to them, such as sparkling apple cider, hot mulled cider or a pomegranate punch. Plan on 2-3 glasses of cold drinks for those not having alcohol, and 1-2 mugs of hot drinks. Having a pitcher of orange water with cranberries on the drink table is also a nice gesture and encourages guests to drink more water. Here is a Pomegranate-Orange Punch one of our staff members serves at her Thanksgiving gathering:
Ingredients:
- 2C fresh orange juice
- 1qt pomegranate juice
- 2C chilled limeade
- ice
- 1C pomegranate arils (the seeds)
- 1 liter bottle of ginger ale
- orange & lime slices to garnish punch bowl
Method:
In punch bowl, mix pomegranate juice, orange juice, and limeade. Pour in ginger ale, add ice and float lime and orange slices on top along with some pomegranate arils.
Cold beverages should be chilled sufficiently (cool for at least an hour in the fridge) and keep them on ice throughout the day. Hot beverages should stay hot all day long– we like to use crockpots on low for our mulled cider while the burners are free for sauces or gravy. Place paper cocktail napkins on the table and perhaps even have a towel handy for the occasional spill. It is your choice whether you want to use your crystal, plastic, or consider renting. All options are completely acceptable. Ask yourself how much time do you want to spend hand washing after you have indulged on turkey, stuffing and delicious gravy and pie? Or, if you have teenagers, how much do you trust your beloved children to take care of your expensive crystal?!
Next we will talk about meal prep. What you can make ahead of time, how can you cut corners in the kitchen the day of and still have the most delicious, memorable meal.