Today's the T-1 day mark for Thanksgiving, and if you're expecting a hoard of holiday feasters at your home tomorrow, you'll want everything to go smoothly. Between finagling oven and refrigerator space, prepping cocktails and appetizers, and ensuring there are enough place settings at the table, there's plenty to juggle, but it's very doable — if you keep a few things in mind! — we promise. Read more

Did your pumpkin pie never set properly? Did the dog knock over the cheesecake you slaved over? Did you forget about dessert entirely because you were too busy planning an epic feast this Thanksgiving? First of all, take a deep breath. Laugh it off, then take a look at these quick and easy dessert recipes. Some of them require a little more time than others, so depending on your particular Read more

Generally, I stick to basting or butter rubs to ensure a moist bird, but many Thanksgiving cooks swear by brining. The Culinary Institute of America certainly does: they recommend brining as the very best method to ensure bold flavor and moistness. Essentially a brine is a seasoned aromatic liquid in which the turkey bathes before roasting. This technique is often used in preparing all kinds of Read more

Thanksgiving typically involves appetizers, a cornucopia of vegetables cooked every which way, a huge turkey, stuffing, and inevitably some kind of pie. This can result in a majorly stressful oven situation considering many (if not all) of these items require oven-cooking. How do you avoid such a traffic jam and make sure that all of your delicious dishes are done at the same time? Plan ahead! Read more

Want to get on the family's good side this turkey day? Then bake a pie! Sweet, buttery, and comforting, these pastries are a wonderful closing statement to an all-out meal. While it isn't too late to bake up your favorite recipe, pie can be a delicate balance of art and science. So to help you get started, we enlisted Tim Nugent, pastry whiz at San Francisco's Scala's Bistro and Top Chef: Just Read more

Relaxing with loved ones while giving thanks over good food and drink is what Thanksgiving is all about, but hosting it can also be stressful if you're doing it for the first time. Want to impress your guests with more than just a well-executed meal? Set a table to match, using this easy cheat sheet. Set plates first to determine spacing (they should be about 2 feet apart from center to Read more

Given just how much has to go down in one day over the course of Turkey Day, I'm all about planning ahead — and cooking ahead. Less craziness in the kitchen, after all, means more time to spend giving thanks with family and friends. I'm also a huge fan of soups, which not only can be made ahead, but also imbue the entire house with an intoxicating aroma. But former Top Cheffer Dale Talde Read more

Want to make sure your cranberry sauce is perfect? Here's what you need to remember: the jelly needs to be cooked down with enough sugar and have sufficient time to set and chill. Boil the cranberries for at least 10 minutes — this will allow the berries to release the fruit's pectin. For maximum firmness, include the full amount of sugar in a recipe; it helps the sauce set. (You can use less Read more

Of all the year's celebrations, Thanksgiving often is the most expensive. In 2008, roughly a quarter of you said you were spending $150 or more. This year, to help you stay well within your budget, we've enlisted the help of Melissa d'Arabian, winner of the Next Food Network Star and host of Ten Dollar Dinners With Melissa d'Arabian. On her Food Network show, Melissa makes dinner for four for Read more