Celebrate

Send guests off with leftovers

Thanksgiving is not just about gathering around the table for the main feast. Everybody looks forward to the leftovers, including your guests. Prepare ahead so you can send them off with care packages filled with all the fixings, such as in the nifty meal-in-a-box below—complete with a slice of pie. This will also lessen the load on your refrigerator while leaving plenty for your own next-day rummagings.

• Stock up on coated (so they’re food-safe) kraft takeout boxes; the kind shown here can be found at many craft-supply stores and also online.
• Spoon cranberry, stuffing, and any other side dishes into small lidded jars or tins (or compostable “portion” paper cups, available in bulk online).
• Wrap moist foods such as sliced turkey and pumpkin pie in foil lined with parchment paper.
• Tuck in a few slices of toasted rustic bread so people can put it all (but the pie!) in a sandwich.
• Tie each box with colorful twine for a festive touch—and to help keep the flaps sealed tight during the drive home.

Clean

deep-clean the oven

Your oven works overtime during the holidays. Use this eco-friendly method to get it looking spotless.

1. Make a paste using three parts baking soda to one part each salt and water; three cups paste should do.

2. Remove oven racks and soak in warm soapy water; use paste on any tough spots (not on aluminum).

3. Fill openings with crumpled foil. Brush paste over interior, avoiding bare metal spots and oven door. Leave overnight.

4. Use a plastic scraper to remove the dried paste (wet the surface if needed), then wipe until clean with a damp cloth. Replace oven racks.

5. Clean grease from the oven door with a 50-50 solution of water and white vinegar, wiping with a soft cloth. Avoid wetting the gasket.