• Category: Uncategorized
• Published Dated: November 23, 2010
• Written by: Susan

My adult daughter is making the Thanksgiving dinner this year, and I will be helping her. She’s expecting to seat 11 people and this includes her boyfriend’s family. She created the menu, I supplied a list of ingredients and estimates needed, and sent money to help pay for the items.

Yesterday, she asked me what time I wanted to come over to help on Thanksgiving Day. She plans to have guests over anytime after 1 PM, will serve snack food early, and then dinner at 4:30 or 5:00 PM. (Personally, I think 1 PM is a bit early to have people over, but I DIDN’T say one word about that.)

What amazes me is how much math involved in the preparation for a Thanksgiving dinner party! This would never be something I ever think twice about, but did because of what I wrote yesterday in my blog.

I suggested she decide which definite time she wants to start the buffet, and then to work backwards to figure out when to start preparing certain items, setting tables, etc. including time to get dressed and ready. She also needs to figure out what she wants to have prepared by 1 PM before the company arrives-including putting fresh hand towels for the bathroom, and having ice for the drinks ready. (I reminded her, the frozen turkey needs to have been thawing out already.)

Even though I know my daughter didn’t need me to do this for her, I am a mom, and so I gave her suggestions for “THE LIST.”

The key to a successful Thanksgiving Dinner is “THE LIST.”
This list includes;
Times to start preparation for each menu item
What and how much will be needed
Times to remove items from stovetop or oven
Number of serving bowls, platters, pots, measuring cups, serving utensils needed…
The menu of each item and time it goes on the buffet table.

This “LIST” is also important, so that when the guests are leaving, you don’t first discover that the huge bowl of fresh fruit you prepared is still in the refrigerator or you forgot to put out the pickles!

By the time I was done writing up “THE LIST” with suggested time frames, I was exhausted just reading all we have to do, and how much math is involved!

Look at just a few examples of the numbers to consider for a Thanksgiving dinner:

1. When to start preparing the turkey: Number of pounds the turkey weighs multiplied by 15 minutes per pound divided by 60 minutes = actual baking time in hours and minutes. Add on minutes to first wash and season the turkey, and time at the end to carve the turkey. Get total time. Subtract that time from the time you want to serve the turkey, and you get your start time.

2. Estimating the amounts of vegetables to buy. Figure 1/2 cup per person x number of people divided by 2 = number of cup amounts. Or 1/4 pound per person x number of people divided by 4 = number of pounds to buy.

3. How many packages of rolls to buy? Figuring on only 1 roll per person, because there will be so much other food, x 11 people = 11 rolls. Bread rolls might come in packs of 4, 6, 8 or 12. Have to do the math to figure out best packages to buy.

4. Then there’s estimating the cost, particularly if someone is on a budget. Need to look at pricing and do some division. If say, and let’s use the 11-needed bread rolls example: A package of 6 rolls cost $3.00 on sale, but a package of 12 rolls might be only $5.50. Then the 12-pack would be a better bargain for the same number of rolls. What if an 8-pack was selling for $3.25? This would be an even better price per roll for your money, but you would spend more in the long run to purchase enough rolls. (By the way, I have no idea how much packages of ready-made rolls cost!)

5. Another math problem to consider is logistics. What size is the oven? How much space is in the interior and can both a turkey and a casserole dish fit in at the same time?

(I did email my daughter this question last night. If not, we’ll have to figure out how we are going to heat the casserole dish-which will have the stuffing in it- and have it hot enough to eat in time with the rest of the food.)

Not to worry, even if you didn’t do the math, you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving meal, because it will be about the enjoying the people you are with, and appreciating what you have!