Thanksgiving dinner is a lot of things… delicious, memorable, and a whole lot of work! But here’s a little reminder as you start planning your holiday menu: Not everything has to be made from scratch.
Even some of the biggest names in the food world are happy to take a few shortcuts, and their tricks might just save you time, money, and a little sanity this Thanksgiving.
Here are five chef-approved shortcuts worth stealing:
- Don’t Make Your Own Pie Crust
Ina Garten says a store-bought refrigerated or frozen pie crust is perfectly fine. In fact, she thinks it works even better for her Bourbon Chocolate Pecan Pie because it balances out the rich filling. Less prep, less cleanup, and more time to enjoy dessert. Sounds like a win!
- Keep the Appetizers and Drinks Simple
Martha Stewart isn’t above putting out potato chips and onion dip for guests. She also likes an easy three-ingredient Apple Cider Bourbon Sour made with apple cider, bourbon, and lemon juice. Because nobody needs to spend three hours making appetizers before the actual meal begins.
- Embrace the Canned Cranberry Sauce
Food Network chef Alex Guarnaschelli serves both fresh cranberry sauce AND the canned stuff. She says canned cranberry sauce has a nostalgic appeal and is especially good on leftover turkey sandwiches. So go ahead and let that can-shaped cranberry sauce make its annual appearance. No judgment here!
- Give Boxed Stuffing a Homemade Makeover
Sunny Anderson uses boxed stuffing mix as her starting point, then adds sautéed vegetables, stock, and fresh herbs. It gets that homemade flavor without all the extra chopping, measuring, and work. Your secret is safe with us!
- Let Someone Else Cook the Turkey
Real Simple food director Jenna Helwig suggests buying a pre-roasted turkey if you really want to save time. You’ll skip hours of brining, seasoning, and roasting, plus free up some valuable oven and refrigerator space. And honestly, who couldn’t use a little more oven space on Thanksgiving?
Source: Real Simple
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