Thanksgiving can be a very stressful time, from the meal to family, to shopping on Black Friday. Here are a few of my tips for creating a stress free Thanksgiving holiday. First off, take a deep breath, and remember, this holiday is about spending time with family. All of the other stuff is just there to keep you on your toes. The holiday season can be a tricky time, like waiting for a slow cooker when everyone is hungry.
How to Have a Stress Free Thanksgiving Holiday
Speaking of everyone being hungry, let’s talk food. It can be a lot of work to create a full Thanksgiving dinner. Here are a few of my suggestions when it comes to feeding everyone.
My First Thanksgiving as a Mom Was Traumatic and Stressful
The reasoning for some meal options is that I tried to make a big Thanksgiving dinner one time. My son was 3 months old, yeah, it was 30 years ago. Anyhoo, my son was 3 months old, and I was going to be that mom who made the big Thanksgiving dinner. Everyone told me to put on kitchen gloves to take the inner part of the turkey out. I stuck my hand in there, and the raw turkey juices got into the glove. It freaked me out, and I tried to yank my hand out, which caused the turkey to fly across the kitchen, and yep, juice went everywhere. I cried for an hour and have never tried to make a big Thanksgiving dinner again. But that is ok, and that is also why I have these meal suggestions for you to have a stress-free Thanksgiving day meal.
Breakfast at PJ’s Coffee
Though they won’t be open on Thanksgiving morning, PJ’s Coffee, will be open on Black Friday. And if your black Friday is anything like mine, you are going to need a lot of caffeine to get through it. Whether you are going to shop from the comfort of your home or head out into the crowds, I highly recommend stopping by your local PJ’s Coffee shop and grabbing some yummy beignets and holiday coffees.
I tried a few of their holiday-themed coffees, and they were all spectacular. Don’t forget to pick up a bag of PJ’s roasted coffee beans to take home for the holidays, or as a great gift idea.
Lunch Catered by Jason’s Deli
Jason’s Deli is known for its amazing sandwiches, like the muffaletta and the turkey club. Mix that with a large salad bar and yummy desserts, and you have the perfect solution for a stress-free Thanksgiving.
So why not grab a sandwich tray and a dessert tray to go for the holidays? Or better yet, get your whole Thanksgiving meal catered and add their hearty soups and a charcuterie box.
Dinner at Boudro’s on the Riverwalk
A San Antonio staple is Boudro’s Texas Bistro on the Riverwalk. They are open 365 days a year, which makes them the perfect choice for fine dining on Thanksgiving. The steak selection is amazing, and they are very well known for their tableside guacamole. They will be offering an amazing Thanksgiving meal along with their regular menu on Thanksgiving Day. I had the pleasure of dining at Boudro’s with my friends, and here are just a few of the menu items we enjoyed.
Great Wait Staff at Boudro’s
Our waiter, Allen, was amazing and started us off with the table-side guacamole and chips. We enjoyed cocktails and wine; the Old Fashioned was spot on, and three of us had that. The guacamole secret is orange zest, in case you were wondering and want to make it at home. Another surprise was that they used roasted tomatoes.
A Little Bit About Our Meals
I had the grilled Gulf fish with mashed potatoes and squash as my side dishes. The mashed potatoes were some of the best I have ever had, and the mustard sauce on the fish was spectacular.
My friend Cindy enjoyed the shrimp and grits, which is one of Boudro’s signature dishes.
My husband and our friend Jack had steak. Vern had the 16-oz center-cut strip with roasted potatoes. It looked amazing, and he is still talking about those potatoes.
Jack chose the blackened prime rib steak, which also came with the roasted potatoes. He said it was cooked perfectly, and it was very delicious.
We decided to end the meal with dessert, coffee cocktails, creme brule, and the double chocolate brownie.
Related – DIY Thanksgiving Made Easy
Creating a Thanksgiving Meal Without All The Stress
Though I have never cooked a full Thanksgiving dinner since the raw meat juice incident, I have created a makeshift Thanksgiving family dinner that was quick and easy. Here is what I got, and the biggest cooking tips I can give are to buy the Butterball Turkey Breast, instant mashed potatoes, and Stove Top Stuffing. The turkey breast comes with seasoning and gravy, no inner guts to remove, and you can easily jazz up the boxed potatoes and stuffing to make them just like grandma made them. My biggest tip is to cook the turkey breast in a pressure cooker for 30-40 minutes, depending on how big it is. This is a great way to save time, money, and enjoy a yummy holiday meal. The whole meal should be done in under 1 hour. You’ll have a Thanksgiving feast with little Thanksgiving prep time.
Grocery List
- Butterball Turkey Breast
- Idahoan Instant Potatoes (I love the 4 cheese)
- 1 Jar of Brown Gravy
- Stove Top Stuffing
- 2 Cans of Green Beans
- Fried Onions
- Campbell’s Cream of Mushroom Soup
- Fresh Sweet Potatoes (see below for the perfect recipe)
- Mrs Smith’s Cherry Pie, Apple Pie, and Pumpkin Pie
- Velveeta
- Minute Rice
- 1 Pkg Steamers Broccoli
- 1 Can Whole Cranberry Sauce
- Packaged Dinner Rolls
Grandma’s Secret
Packaged dinner rolls are my favorite. My grandma, who was an amazing cook, always had great shortcuts when it came to things that made her life easier. Like the packaged dinner rolls. It may not be your traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but I promise, you will wow your guests with this dinner if you follow my steps and delicious recipes. Even though leftovers are great, you don’t always have to make an abundance of food to pack away for later. Go out and support a few local restaurants during the holiday season.
Sweet Potato Recipe
- 2 Sweet Potatoes
- 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar
- 1/4 Cup Butter
- Handful of Mini Marshmallows
Directions
- Peel and chunk the sweet potatoes.
- Boil the potatoes until they are soft.
- In a deep frying pan, melt the butter and brown sugar.
- Add the sweet potatoes and cook until caramelized.
- Top them with the marshmallows and serve hot,
How to Decorate Your Thanksgiving Table
You can add a festive touch for a perfect Thanksgiving holiday table with just a few items you may already have. Reuse the Thanksgiving centerpiece and turn it into a Christmas centerpiece in just a few steps. This little step will really jazz up your dinner table.
Items Needed
- 3 Mason Jars, or Any Type of Jars
- Fall Floral Pics
- Red Acrylic Paint
- Black and White Ribbon
- Wood Tray
- Sponge Brush
- Glitter Paint
Directions
- Paint one of the mason jars with the red paint, leave the other 2 not painted.
- Add fall floral pics to all 3 jars.
- Paint the wood tray brown, or white, whatever color you want to.
- Tie a bow around the top of each jar.
- For an added touch, tie one bow on the middle jar, and tie twine around the other 2 jars.
- Place the jars on the wood tray.
Black Friday Shopping From Home
I love the hustle and bustle of Black Friday shopping, but it’s not like it used to be. When my son was younger, we would wake up at 4 am, have our shopping list ready, and hit the stores to get all the freebies. Mervyn’s (Blast from the past) would give out a teddy bear to the first 100 shoppers. Target would give out a survival kit to the first 100 shoppers, and if you made it through the mobs of people at Walmart, you would get the great electronic deals. Over the years, those fun freebies have gone away, and now it’s just easier to shop from home. Here are a few of my Black Friday picks for this year. Keeping your mental health in check and shopping however you want will help you have a stress-free Thanksgiving holiday.
Gifts For the Traveler in Your Life
Nobl Luggage
I am always on the lookout for a great set of luggage, and I think I finally found the set I’ve been searching for. This NOBL Black Friday Bundle 5.0 is such a great deal and definitely a quality product. The set includes a weekender bag, carry-on all-in-one, check-in all-in-one, compressible packing cubes, luggage tag, and stainless steel water bottle. During the black Friday sale, it is priced at $699 and valued at $1699.
Tinggly Experiences
Want to give the gift of an experience? Tinggly Experiences are the perfect gift for the traveler in your life. I have had the pleasure of going on a few Tinggly experiences, and every one of them has been great. I’ve done an electric bikes & brews ride, a horseback ride, a kayak ride, and more. Check out their black Friday sale here: Tinggly Experience Sale.
Southwest Adventure Tours
I have guided tours for Southwest Adventure Tours for a full season, and I love the adventures that this company puts together. This is such a great gift idea for that traveler in your life, or if you’re looking for a great vacation idea for next year, then be sure to check out their black Friday sale. Be sure to mention that I sent you their way; maybe I’ll get to be your guide.
Spa Gifts For Relaxing
I love a great spa retreat, but I don’t always get to travel to a fancy resort. Why not get a beautiful spa gift for that person in your family who needs a little stress-free time? The Even Keel Spa Products are a perfect gift for your friend, loved one, or even that teacher who just needs a little relaxation.
100 Things To Do In San Antonio Before You Die
Of course, the perfect gift for anyone in your circle would be the book I co-wrote with my friend Jennifer Broome. You can pick up a copy of our book, “100 Things To Do in San Antonio Before You Die”, at the local bookstore, The Twig, Barnes & Noble, or on Amazon.
Related – 100 Things To Do In San Antonio
Enjoy A Stress Free Thanksgiving Holiday
I want to wish everyone out there a very Happy Thanksgiving, and I hope you get to enjoy your family, great food, and a relaxing stress free Thanksgiving holiday.