It’s almost Thanksgiving and we’re counting down with our featured articles. First, we’ve got 6 Thanksgiving Time Traps To Cut Out This Year, then 5 Ways To Prevent A Thanksgiving Meltdown, and finally in our FFP Quick Tips we’re sharing 4 Fun Activities For The Thanksgiving Kids’ Table.
And of course, we have five warm, delicious weeknight dinners to help you feed the family before you start thinking about your Thanksgiving feast. Enjoy!
6 Thanksgiving Time Traps To Cut Out This Year
By Crystal Ponti
It’s that time of year again: Thanksgiving. If you’re a mom, this can be a wonderful holiday for celebrating family and being together. It can also be a Prozac-inducing food fest that causes anxiety hives and the purchase of industrial-size bottles of wine (we can dream).
Well, get your hand out of the poultry’s hind end for just a minute and listen up. You do not need to be clucking Wonder Woman! Not this year, Mama! “Relax and enjoy” is the new mantra!
Here are 6 Thanksgiving time traps you aint’t got time for:
Basting the Bird
Is this 1940? Do you even own a basting syringe? If you answered “yes” to either of these questions you’re either 1) my mother or, 2) seriously out of touch with modern baking techniques. Sista, quit basting and bag that bird instead. Get some Hefty EZ Oven Bags that cost less than the therapy you’ll need after shoving a plastic needle into a carcass and will produce one of the juiciest turkeys you’ll ever taste. You won’t regret the decision.
Baking from Scratch
If you have your hands full with work and kids or both, because they’re kinda the same, why stress yourself out over creating Grandma’s mile-high apple pie from scratch? You have a lifetime of Thanksgivings ahead of you. Save the hardcore, flour-to-the-roller baking for when you have more time and less little hands wanting your attention. It’s okay to let go and buy a pie from your local bakery or supermarket. Or rolls. Or cookies. AND CAKE! Oh my gobbles, don’t forget the cake.
Perusing Pinterest
For the love of all things uncrafty, do NOT log on to Pinterest on Thanksgiving Eve! Half the shit you find on there took some disgruntled mother sixty days to make and she lost her marbles in the process. Pinterest is a playground for the imagination and for those WITHOUT KIDS HANGING OFF THEIR LEGS! Save yourself some hot glue gun burns. Let the kids gather pine cones and leaves for the decor. Or go to the Dollar Store and buy a pop-up Mayflower, and BAM, you’re done.
Opting for Fancy Tablecloths and Fine China
You will not disappoint June Cleaver if you opt for a paper (or plastic) tablecloth and some heavy duty paper plates. Imagine the time you’ll save tossing everything into a trash bag, rather than standing at a kitchen sink. Use that time to savor the memories and cuddle your little turkeys.
Declining Offers of Help
If you have family coming for Thanksgiving, under no circumstances should you say no to requests to help. If they’re willing to bring a side dish or dessert, let them. If they want to pick up a bottle of wine along the way, great. Jumping up to help do the dishes? Why nudge them out of the kitchen? LET THEM HELP! Sure, they’re guests. But they’re also being really good guests by executing some good old-fashioned manners. Emily Post would be quite impressed. So put your Wonder Woman attitude away, and graciously accept the offers.
Getting the Kids All Dressed Up
Little ones need to be changed every 2.6 seconds. They’re constantly making messes, spilling and smearing things, and running off with dirty utensils. Don’t go overboard and get them too frilly and suited up. Sure, Thanksgiving is a special day and it’s nice to have everyone looking their best. But how crazy do you want to make yourself? How crazy do you want to make the kids, who will reach a point of meltdown just in time for turkey dinner? Keeping them clean is a battle you’ll lose. Choose comfort over Calvin on this special day.
RECIPES OF THE WEEK:
Before we cook (or order) the turkey and stuffing, we have to feed our families for the next two weeks. Well, we have this week covered. From Slow Cooker Lasagna to our Friday Flatbread, there’s something yummy for everyone in your family.
Beef and Bean Burritos
Ingredients:
1 pound ground beef
1 small onion, finely chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 can (15 oz) refried beans
1 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon cumin
Salt and pepper to taste
4-6 large flour tortillas
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Salsa, sour cream, sliced avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro (optional, for serving)
Instructions:
In a large skillet, cook the ground beef over medium-high heat, breaking it apart with a spatula as it cooks. When the beef is no longer pink, drain any excess fat.
Add the chopped onion and minced garlic to the skillet with the cooked beef. Cook for a few minutes until the onion is soft and translucent.
Stir in the refried beans, chili powder, cumin, salt, and pepper. Cook for an additional 2-3 minutes, or until the mixture is heated through and well combined.
Warm the flour tortillas in the microwave or on a dry skillet for about 20 seconds on each side to make them more pliable.
Place a portion of the beef and bean mixture onto the center of each tortilla.
Sprinkle each tortilla with shredded cheddar cheese.
Fold the sides of the tortilla in and then roll it up, tucking in the ends to form a burrito.
If desired, you can warm the assembled burritos in a skillet over medium heat for a few minutes on each side to melt the cheese and make the tortillas slightly crispy.
Serve your beef and bean burritos with salsa, sour cream, sliced avocado, and chopped fresh cilantro if you like.
Slow Cooker Lasagna
Ingredients: