Thanksgiving Potluck Guide

Get Thanksgiving potluck recipes, transporting tips, a planning chart, and more solutions for a trouble-free Turkey Day.

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Thanksgiving Potluck Checklist

Let’s face it, whether you’re the host or a guest, a potluck needs guidelines: Who determines the menu? Who keeps the leftovers? These tips from etiquette consultant Susan Fitter Sloane and Jennifer Rubell, author of Real Life Entertaining (William Morrow, $27.50, amazon.com), will minimize Turkey Day confusion.

• It’s your party, so feel free to ask some of your guests to bring specific dishes. Busy people often like being assigned recipes; it eliminates the guesswork of what to make. Just say, “I found this great dish that goes well with our menu. Want to give it a try?”

  Related: Host a Thanksgiving Potluck

• Let guests know at what temperature you will be roasting the turkey. They’ll want that information in case they need to use the oven for reheating.
• Assign the noncooks other ways to help out with the meal. Ask that they take care of the wine or other beverages. Or request that they bring extra plates or folding chairs.

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