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Thanksgiving Planning Calendar

Hosting Thanksgiving dinner and not sure where to start? Relax: Getting ready for the holiday is easy with our daily tips and recipes.

Decide What to Serve

You'll need to know how many guests you're having so you can plan on the right amount of food and drinks. If you're having a crowd, consider setting up a buffet so guests can serve themselves.
Buffets Make It Easier

Don't Wait On the Bird

If you're ordering a fresh turkey, do it now; if you're buying a frozen turkey, you have time, but don't wait until the last minute.
Turkey Buying Guide

Make This Your Best Thanksgiving Yet

Planning an epic meal is easy when you use our all-star menu. Choose the dishes you'll make, but when guests ask what they can bring, be honest and tell them what you need. Non-cooks can bring a bottle of wine.
Dishes From Alton, Ina, Paula and Guy

Everyone Loves Spinach-Artichoke Dip

Spinach-artichoke is a crowd-pleaser that will have guests busy nibbling while you prepare the main meal. Bonus: This no-bake recipe is ready in 15 minutes.
21 Other Thanksgiving Appetizers

Hey, Bartender

Plan on each guest drinking three drinks, and be sure to provide both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage choices. To spike this family-friendly cocktail, substitute champagne for the sparkling water.
Non-Alcoholic Pomegranate Bellinis

Apple, Pecan or Pumpkin?

A 9-inch pie or tart (after a large meal) will serve 8 to 10 guests. Consider a mix of family favorites, and a new recipe or two.
Which Will You Serve?

Impress Your Guests With Homemade Crust

When one of Paula's fans admits to being intimidated by homemade pie crust, Paula walks her through the process – it's easier than it sounds, y'all.
Paula Shows You How

Make-Ahead Pumpkin Puree

Try roasting a few pumpkins, then freezing the puree – that's what Alton does. You can thaw it to make pie just before Thanksgiving, and the rest will store up to 6 months in the freezer.
Alton Brown's Pumpkin-Roasting Know-How

Load Your Freezer With Baked Goods

Quick breads freeze well; just wrap tightly in foil or freezer-wrap and freeze for up to 3 months. To thaw, let stand, wrapped, at room temperature for about 1½ hours. Serve on Thanksgiving, or the next morning for breakfast.
Fill Your Freezer

Paula's Pumpkin Cheesecake

Paula's pumpkin cheesecake is a fan favorite on Foodnetwork.com. Surely it will be a hit with your family, too.
500+ Great Reviews Can't Be Wrong

Make and Freeze Pie Dough

If you're using homemade pie crusts, make the dough now and freeze it in freezer bags. Defrost the dough and bake your pies the day before Thanksgiving.
Start Your Thanksgiving Desserts

Wine Will Keep Well; Buy It Early

Should you drink red or white with turkey? Don't fret if you're new to wine, there's no wrong answer, but we've got some picks to get you started.
Stock Up on Wines Today

Ted Allen's Tips

Whether it's your first Thanksgiving or your 15th, making a meal this big can be stressful. Keep your cool with Ted Allen's top tips for a freak-out-free holiday.
Make This the Smoothest Holiday Ever

Make Room in Your Cabinets

Shop for non-perishable goods now. You can buy flour, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, canned pumpkin, rice and cranberries, all before the crowds descend. Wait until the day before Thanksgiving to buy fresh vegetables, seafood and bread.
Buy Ahead, Save Money

Something for Chocolate's Best Fans

Thanksgiving is all about pumpkin, apple and pecan pies, but make sure there's something for chocolate lovers, too.
Deepest, Darkest Chocolate Cheesecake

TV Chef vs Turkey Expert

Which will come out on top: Bobby Flay's chili-infused turkey or former Butterball employee and cookbook author Renee Ferguson's traditional bird?
Which Turkey Would You Pick?

In Season: Cranberries

Try fresh cranberries instead of canned this year, and buy an extra bag when you're in the produce aisle; they keep in your freezer for up to a year.
Try Fresh Cranberries This Year

Brush Up on Basics

Thanksgiving is less than a week away; do you know how to carve the bird?
Be a Thanksgiving Hero

Perfect Gravy, Every Time

Forget about the canned stuff; homemade gravy is easy to make. And don't worry about lumps – they happen, so just strain the gravy before serving.
Learn to Make Gravy Like a Pro

Safe Defrosting

Thawing a frozen turkey takes a lot of time. The safest method is to thaw turkey in the refrigerator. Be sure to plan ahead: It takes about 3 days for a 20-pound turkey to fully defrost.
Top Turkey Tips

A Simple Way to Get Ahead

If your stuffing recipe calls for stale bread, cut the bread now and set bread cubes on a baking sheet to dry out.
Which Stuffing Are You Making?

Start Your Side Dishes

Assemble casseroles (like sweet potato or green bean); they can be stored uncooked in the fridge and baked on Thanksgiving Day.
Save Loads of Time on Thanksgiving Day

Alton's Good Eats Roast Turkey

With more than 3,300 reviews and a 5-star rating, Alton's ultra-moist, brined, roasted turkey is our most-requested bird. Start brining the turkey today, or very early in the day tomorrow; it should sit in the brining liquid for 8-16 hours.
The Juiciest Turkey You'll Ever Make

Enjoy a Leisurely Feast

How long can you leave Thanksgiving dinner out on the table? Take your time and enjoy the meal but start packing up and refrigerating the leftovers within 2 hours.
The Dos and Don’ts of Thanksgiving Food Safety

Safely Store Your Leftovers

You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 4 days. Try to reheat only what you'll be serving at one time rather than reheating the entire portion. It's safe to heat it all and then re-store what you don't use, but the food will continue to lose
Or, Turn Your Leftovers Into a Sandwich