( Parenting ) -- No matter how much you plan ahead , feeding your extended family -- bottomless teenage nephews , out-of-town uncles , and wild munchkins included -- is going to be a massive undertaking . These clever strategies will help you do it with less stress and more sanity . Do n't fret the table . News flash : You do n't need to iron the entire tablecloth . If you 're low on time ( uh , who 's not ? ) , just iron the corners and sides . Once the dishes and centerpiece are in place , no one will see the wrinkles . Have the kids help you set the table the night before , too . It 's one less thing to do . Parenting : Totally embarrassing holiday photos . Splurge on pre-chopped veggies . Scan the produce section and salad bar for prewashed , pre-chopped veggies , like carrots and celery . They might be a little more expensive , but it is totally worth it . Fill your freezer . Check the supermarket freezer section for bagged ingredients that wo n't sacrifice flavor , like peeled sweet potatoes . Frozen piecrusts have fooled many a guest , too . Pretty much any casserole or fruit-filled tart , crumble , or pie will freeze beautifully . ( You can bake it when time allows , either before or after freezing . ) Parenting : Easy Thanksgiving crafts . Store items in the dishes you 'll heat them in . Freeze or refrigerate your creations in the same oven-ready dishes you 'll heat them in . On the big day , just bring the dish to room temperature , then toss in the preheated oven for the quickest cooking . If you break Aunt Bertha 's ginormous casserole recipe into two or three smaller dishes , it will cook even faster . Parenting : 5 delicious mocktail recipes . Utilize your A.H.D . -- Alternative Heating Devices . Not enough oven space ? You can put together a veggie or bean dish days in advance , then pop it in the microwave ; just be mindful of the size . For example , put our Green Beans With Glazed Onions in two glass pie pans , which will fit nicely in the microwave for a quick zap . Also , keep soup hot in a Crock-Pot and extra gravy toasty in a large thermos . Parenting : Top iPhone apps for kids . Do n't overdo it with the turkey . You may be tempted to spend hours on sauces and seasonings for the bird , but hear this : it 's all about knowing how long to cook the thing . Just give it a salt-and-pepper treatment and use an instant-read thermometer . When in doubt , call the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line ( 800-BUTTERBALL ) or the USDA Meat and Poultry Hotline ( 800-535-4555 ) . You do n't have to cook the stuffing inside the turkey : It 's safer and faster to cook them separately . Get 2 FREE YEARS of Parenting magazine - Subscribe Now ! ! Copyright 2011 The Parenting Group . All rights reserved . Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited .
No one will notice that the top of your tablecloth is up when all the dishes are on it . Just iron the linen . The old adage , ` ` time is money , '' holds true for Thanksgiving . This time with expensive pre - chopped veggies . Perfecting your turkey seasoning technique will take hours of sauce - making . Salt and pepper is all you need .