Thanksgiving, Open House Style: Tips and Tricks for a Successful Dinner

I live quite a distance from my family, so for the last six years, I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinner myself, inviting area friends and colleagues. However, while planning my first Thanksgiving, I realized that a formal sit-down meal in my tiny apartment is impractical, and since many of my friends have other commitments on Thanksgiving Day, setting a specific dinner time is impossible. Therefore, I opted for an open house style Thanksgiving - and now, my Thanksgiving Open House is one of the most anticipated events of the year. Here's how it's done!

Setup
With people arriving in waves, you will inevitably dirty more dishes at an open house than at a sit-down Thanksgiving meal. I keep a supply of plastic utensils and paper plates on hand just in case, but I also make sure to load the dishwasher as soon as the first wave of people have finished eating and run it right away, even if it's not completely full, to keep the clean dishes coming. If possible, set up all the food on a buffet area away from the main dining area, and place coffee tables and/or TV trays near sofas and other seating. I know my open house guests always start at the table but end up on the couches watching football!

Drinks and Nibbles
Many of my friends attend additional parties on Thanksgiving, and use my open house either as a starting point or a nightcap. Either way, they may not be interested in a huge meal, so I make sure to have lots of interesting drinks and appetizers around. Nibbles like nuts, olives and cheese are always popular, but I also make at least one type of canapé for something a little more substantial, and small cookies or truffles for those who want something sweet. I serve one white and one red wine that will go with everything, plus plenty of soda, beer and a fall drink, like mulled cider. Add a pot of coffee and everyone is happy!

Traditional Foods
Having an open house for Thanksgiving doesn't mean that you can't serve all of your traditional favorites, but it's tough to keep everything at the right temperature all day. I make butternut squash soup and leave it on the stove, so it's always hot and ready to serve. For dishes like stuffing and green bean casserole, I make two small pans instead of one large one, and bake one early and one later for stragglers. You could even make two small turkeys instead of a big one. Anything that must be served hot, like mashed potatoes and gravy, can be kept in a crockpot on low. If you have space, chafing dishes are a great alternative.

Dessert!
For a Thanksgiving open house, you can never have too much dessert. Many people make my open house their last stop, and all they have room for at that point is a "sliver" of pie. Desserts can be served at room temperature, so they're the perfect thing to leave on the buffet all day. If you end up with too many leftovers, desserts are also easy to wrap in single servings and freeze or give to your guests to take as a souvenir.

Leftovers
Speaking of leftovers, I have lots of friends who prefer Thanksgiving leftovers to the original dinner! At an open house, everything can be a "leftover," since the buffet has been open all day. For late-arriving guests, I have sandwich bread and condiments available for turkey sandwiches, and I make sure my microwave is ready to go. I keep disposable containers around to send leftovers home with guests, but I make sure not to send too much food with those who depart early, to ensure that I won't run out of food before the end of the open house.

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most tradition-laden events in America, but changing the format doesn't mean you can't enjoy all of your favorite foods and traditions. An open house Thanksgiving offers the opportunity to indulge in all the dishes and activities you love, while spending time with even more of your friends and family. Sounds like a perfect tradition to me!