Guide on how to celebrate and host Thanksgiving like a pro, courtesy of tips from Ina Garten
If you’re a longtime fan of “Barefoot Contessa,” you’re probably well-acquainted with Ina Garten’s signature and iconic catchphrase: “How easy is that?” It underscores Garten’s prevailing mission to simplify even the most daunting tasks with style, whether that’s preparing a spatchcocked chicken for weeknight dinners, savoring a jumbo glass of Cosmopolitan during an at-home cocktail hour, or hosting the perfect Thanksgiving dinner. In anticipation of the annual holiday, we could all use some of Garten’s expert tips and tricks to whip up the perfect menus for a smooth sailing, memorable Thanksgiving celebration.
In her recent Substack post titled “Thanksgiving at my house, part 1!” Garten shares how she puts together and plans her make-ahead menu before turkey day. She also shares her favorite Thanksgiving wines.
Here’s how to celebrate Thanksgiving, Garten style.
Perhaps the cardinal sin in Garten’s Thanksgiving guidebook is waiting until the very last minute to prepare and serve your Thanksgiving meal. “There’s no such thing as an effortless Thanksgiving,” Garten told Bon Appétit in 2022. “You just have to be strategic about it.”
Prepping your menu doesn’t have to — and shouldn’t — be an arduous endeavor. Garten recommends dry-brining your turkey at the beginning of Thanksgiving week. She offers her tried-and-tested recipe for Make-Ahead Roast Turkey, which also includes an easy Gravy with Onions & Sage. “There are more important things to think about on Thanksgiving than worrying about a lumpy gravy!” Garten writes on her Substack.
For sides, Garten suggests her Leek and Artichoke Bread Pudding and Make-Ahead Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, which can be covered and refrigerated for up to two days, then baked before Thanksgiving day.
