The Host with the Most: Thanksgiving Edition

Hosting this years Thanksgiving feast and feeling overwhelmed with all the cooking that has to be done? Thanksgiving is a time for people to get together and enjoy great food, but it takes a lot of work and sometimes a lot of stress to make the dinner perfect. Thankfully, Reader's Digest, has tips and tricks to make this years Thanksgiving stress-free.

If this is your first time cooking Thanksgiving dinner, keep it simple! Stay with the basics, Turkey, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, and cranberry sauce. Stick with what you know! Make the dishes you are comfortable making, don't try a new recipe on Thanksgiving. If you do want to try a new recipe, try a test run of the dish a couple of days before.

The key to a smooth dinner is not being afraid to ask for help. This does not have to be a one man show. You can also make dinner a potluck, have everyone can bring their favorite dish. Have people come over early to help, or people can stay later to help out cleaning dishes. I know one of my favorite things to do at Thanksgiving was to help out in the kitchen as much as I could. You can pass down your favorite recipes to the children in your family, have them help you make them.

When picking out a turkey, allow about a pound per person. Buy your turkey a few days before dinner and allow it to start thawing in your refrigerator. Visit the USDA website to find out the proper way to thaw, cook, and store your turkey. Use a thermometer when cooking your turkey! I personally have had the pop up thermometers on my turkey be faulty more times than not. It is always a smart idea to have a meat thermometer in your turkey to ensure it is cooked long enough but won't be overcooked.


I have been helping my Mom cook Thanksgiving dinner since I have been able to stand. Cooking has always been a passion of mine. Now that I am older I am in charge of making the turkey and all the devious sides. Using all of these tips I was able to get though Thanksgiving with ease.