Recipe(tried): First Thanksgiving Dinner - Keep it simple, make lists, accept help, relax and enjoy!

Ashley ~ You can do this and have fun at the same time!

Plan your menu so that many of your foods can be made ahead. Do not get caught up trying to match some fancy and complicated menu of an experienced family member cook. Complicated does not mean better.

When deciding on your menu, remember that most of us have only one oven. You cannot cook a turkey, muffins, and 3 or 4 dishes in the oven at the same time. You will find many make-ahead tips here on recipe link for dishes such as mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, veggie dishes, etc.

Cranberry salad is one item that is popular in the holidays and can be made days ahead. There are many make-ahead salad recipes posted here on the Recipe Link.

If you are cooking a turkey, I highly recommend you bake it in a turkey cooking bag. This way you can put it in your oven and almost forget about it. I always add a couple of quartered onions and garlic in the bag with the Turkey. Turkey cooked in these bags are very moist and flavorful. Cleanup is much easier, too. Begin cooking your turkey early enough so that it will be done an hour or two before serving. The turkey needs to rest before being carved, and your oven will then be free for other dishes.

If you do have turkey, I recommend you do not try to stuff the turkey this year. Stuffing the turkey takes quite a while, increases cooking time, and adds to the time it takes to prepare the turkey for serving. Make your dressing in a casserole dish. I have done this for years.

After you decide on your menu, figure how much prep time and cooking time is needed for each dish.... then add some time to that. This will tell you how early in the day you need to start each dish IF you are doing all of the work the day of your dinner. Write it down so you have your day scheduled. Again, many dishes can be made ahead of time.

Accept help from friends and family members. These holiday dinners can be a lot of fun if some of the guests bring one of their favorite dishes (already prepared) to the event.

Everything does not need to be made from scratch. You can buy dinner rolls and/or pies at good bakeries.

Set your table the day before. If you are having a buffet style, set out your serving dishes and serving pieces ahead of time. This way you are not looking for these items just before serving. Again, accept help from friends or family who might like to help with all of this.

Remember the holiday is about gathering with friends and family.. NOT just food. If something happens and one of your dishes to does not work out CROSS IT OFF OF YOUR LIST and smile.

Most of us have great -- and funny -- memories from our first home-cooked holiday meals. Back in 1965 I served my first Thanksgiving dinner to my family in the second bedroom of my tiny apartment. My dinner table was made of a door placed on saw horses. I borrowed chairs, dishes, silver, glasses, etc. Everyone had a good time. Those are lovely memories for me.

I am sure many more RecipeLink folks will post ideas here for you Ashley. This site is filled with very talented folks.

And, if you give us an idea of your menu thoughts, we can help further.

You CAN do this and have fun at the same time.

Kel