Reply to Help! Hosting Thanksgiving for the first time, where to start, and... I cannot cook!

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[quote=Anonymous]Make ahead as much as possible!  Have an oven schedule of what needs to be heated when (the turkey will need to sit after it comes out, so you can pop the other stuff in then).  We don't host actual Thanksgiving but we do have a "Fakesgiving" party every year with our friends. This is our usual menu:

- Turkey (http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/good-eats-roast-turkey-recipe/index.html - this was the first time my husband had ever roasted a turkey and it was a huge success!) - husband makes day-of.

- Mashed potatoes - husband makes day-of.

- Stuffing (I love this stuffing SO MUCH: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/dan-smith-and-steve-mcdonagh/sausage-dried-cranberry-and-apple-stuffing-recipe/index.html) - husband makes day-of, but could be made in advance.

- Butternut squash apple cranberry bake (this is so easy and you can buy pre-chopped butternut squash at trader joe's:  http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/butternut_squash_apple_cranberry_bake/) - I make this the day before.

- Cranberry chutney with apple and ginger (http://www.thebittenword.com/thebittenword/2011/11/thanksgiving-2011-cranberry-chutney-with-fennel-and-golden-raisins.html) - I make this a day or two before.

- Buy a pack of dinner rolls.

- I make a different dessert every year, but usually a pie or something else that can be made the day before.  Or buy a pie, no one'll know.

We usually crowd-source from the guests to bring a vegetable side or dessert because everybody loves contributing to Thanksgiving.  For appetizers we'll just put out some baguette slices and cheese.

I second Pioneer Woman for easy-to-follow recipes.  I also am the type of cook who needs to follow recipes to the letter and none of the recipes I've linked to have ever failed me.

Have plenty of drinks, alcoholic and non.  Our last party, we had a punch of apple cider, ginger ale, and Jack Daniels that was a HUGE hit.  [/quote]

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