Bill MacKenty

Enjoying the moment

Cooking large meals can be fraught with anxiety. Here's how I battle it

Nothing especially tricky here. We've 14 people coming over for a slightly delayed thanksgiving, and today is the big day!

1. We spent time to carefully plan what, when and how of the meal prep
2. We pre-cooked the creamed spinach yesterday
3. We got some things ordered via caterer (pies and a green salad)
4.  We've already started setting the table a day prior

Other than that, honestly engaging with "what's the worst thing that could happen" is a fun way to manage anxiety around large meals, and I find myself relaxing through meal preparation and enjoying the process of cooking (and preparing food for people I love). 

A quote from the Joy of Cooking:

We can offer reasoned counsels and repeat the lessons of experience and tradition, but the truth is that if the table is attractive and clean, the food and drink honest and good, the company amiable and interesting, and the host generous and calm, an affair can be a resounding success no matter where the glasses go or who is sitting where. And that is our last word on entertaining.