We have one of those three in one crock pot servers and that is great for at least three sides. You can always keep the gravy hot in a thermos bottle.

You can break the chill on the sides by microwaving them first, then sliding them into a hot oven to finish.

Gravy in a thermos, potatoes in one crock pot, whole sweet potatoes in another, hot casserole dishes out of the oven can be covered with bath towels and pre-warmed platters out of the oven.

And started heating sooner than you think you need them on the table.

I invested in 2 Salton hot trays (are they still around ?). I really like how they keep the side dishes warm on the table for 2nd helpings. My sister always has centerpieces so they reside on the buffet.

Even if I could get everything hot, which I suppose I can, I don't think I could get our guests to sit down at the dining room table in a timely manner. And this year it will be buffet so everyone's plate will cool off before they sit down anyway.

Althoooo, I did buy some stoneware serving dishes a few weeks ago just to solve this problem. Also, I am thinking about heating up the granite slab I use for baking bread, and putting that on trivets. Nah, serving buffet and getting them into the dining room will kill the hot dinner concept for me. "Maybe warm" will be fine.

Good luck to you.

An infrared lamp will keep food hot.

An electric hot tray will keep food hot.

I use a large slab of Himalayan salt block which has been heated in the oven, to keep food hot the entire meal.

dcarch

Westsider, I have to agree. "Warm to hopefully very warm" is what works here with at least some of the dishes. I don't have enough oven space to keep everything that other family members bring hot. We try to get our timing pretty much on target and then it just "is what it is." :)

Those hot tray thingies are always at thrift stores. Thinking most likely a gift at one time, rarely used, take up space, so donated. Something I'd consider if feeding a crowd.

I'd also use my outdoor gas grill as a mini-oven... preheated to LOW.

Thanks for all the replies. I love the idea of putting gravy in a thermos. I don't have a crock pot so I went to Target and bought one for $20. That will work for the potatoes. While there, I was eyeballing a 3 part warming tray but I'm not sure I want to go to that kind of expense.

For everything else, I think I need to pop stuff in earlier and have patience.

Another thing I do:

I have a couple of those inexpensive butane stoves ($20.00?)

I put the food on a ceramic plate and the butane stove will keep the food hot or warm. I have never cracked a plate.

The stoves are not big, and the butane bottles are not expensive.

You can even grill your food on the dinning table with a cast iron grill.

dcarch

Here is a link that might be useful:

This is when I really like my aga.i make everything put in different till needed.

bulldinkie,
If I lived in a cooler climate, I'd be right there with ya'. As it is, I am near kellyeng and have virtually given up on expecting to serve hot dishes on Thanksgiving. My warming drawer doesn't hold enough to be that effective for the quantities I make. Lacanches have those nice warming cupboards, but I am not enamored of the rest of their performance characteristics. I relented and bought another crockpot this month, after one went to DS1, one went to DS2, and one became a small engine parts receptacle for DH's model airplane engine cleaning projects many years ago. DS1's girlfriend is bringing a loaner, too, so I will have two. I do plan to use the "hold" function on my wall oven, and my two Salton warming trays that are now, ahem, 30 years old. We shall see if they hang in for another year. What doesn't manage to stay hot just won't be hot. I had hoped the lowest setting on my induction hob could be pressed into service, but it is not low enough.

I'll use my toaster oven to keep extra sides hot. Have a warming drawer that is about 5" tall. I'd have to empty it to use it .... toaster oven will do. There's only 2 of us.