{Tips & Tricks} Preparing for Thanksgiving + Recipe Roundup

Whether you're hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time or you are a seasoned veteran, preparing for the big feast can be overwhelming to say the least. With so many ingredients, varying cook times and tricky techniques, it takes a lot of planning and preparation in order to put together a successful dinner that leaves your family and friends with smiles on their faces and bellies full of all the flavors of the season.



With less than a week until the big day, now is the perfect time to start putting together your menu. With the help of many wonderful food bloggers, I've compiled a list of some amazing dishes that would have your family and friends begging for seconds...and maybe even thirds.



Appetizers

Bacon Sweet Potato Pomegranate Salad from Family Fresh Cooking
Butternut Squash Soup from How To: Simplify
Olive and Cheese Puff Pastry Squares from How To: Simplify
Prosciutto, Asparagus and Goat Cheese Puff Pastry Tart from How To: Simplify
Smashed Potato Skins from How To: Simplify
Spicy Pumpkin Soup from If You Can Make That You Can Make This
Main Dishes

Butter Herbed Juicy Turkey from Picky Palate
Savory Turkey Brine from Add A Pinch
Stuffed Pumpkin from Bread & Putter
Side Dishes

Acorn Squash with Cranberry Apple Stuffing from My Kitchen Addiction
Bacon and Onion Pan-Fried Potatoes from Picky Palate
Caramelized Squash from How To: Simplify
Cracked Wheat Rolls from Sugarcrafter
Cranberry Sauce from Sugarcrafter
Cranberry Sauce with Pear and Pomegranate from Family Fresh Cooking
Corn Bread Stuffing from My Kitchen Addiction
Green Bean Casserole from Brown Eyed Baker
Green Beans with Balsamic Roasted Shallots from Cookin' Canuck
Red Skin Garlic Mashed Potatoes from How To: Simplify
Roasted Brussel Sprouts with Balsamic Vinegar from Two Peas and Their Pod
Savory Bread Stuffing with Herbs and Sausage from Cookin' Canuck
Scalloped Potatoes with Creme Fraiche from Kitchen Monki 
Sweet Potato Casserole with a Pecan and Gingersnap Praline Topping from Bakers Royale 
Sweet Potato Rosemary Biscuits from Two Peas and Their Pod
Twice-Baked Sweet Potato (Yam) with Chipotle Pecan Streusel from Cookin' Canuck
Turkey Gravy from How To: Simplify
Turkey Stuffing from How To: Simplify
Whipped Sweet Potatoes with Honey from Kitchen Monki 
Sweets

Apple Cider Spice Doughnuts from Kitchen Monki 
Apple Cinnamon Puff Pastry Twists from How To: Simplify
Cinnamon Spice Ice Cream from Sugarcrafter
Cranberry Coffee Cake from Sugarcrafter
Cranberry Pie from Souffle Bombay
Impossible Pumpkin Pie from Kitchen Monki 
Old-Fashioned Apple Pie from How To: Simplify
Pear, Apple and Currant Crisp from Three Many Cooks
Pecan Pie from Brown Eyed Baker
Pomegranate White Chocolate Mousse Pie from Sugarcrafter
Pumpkin Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting from How To: Simplify
Pumpkin Caramel Cheesecake from She's Becoming Doughmesstic
Pumpkin Pie from Brown Eyed Baker
Pumpkin Pudding from How To: Simplify
Pumpkin Spice Muffins from How To: Simplify
It's important to remember that Thanksgiving is a day to spend time with loved ones...and not the entire day in the kitchen. By writing down your menu, shopping well in advance, preparing dishes ahead of time and creating a cook schedule, you'll be able to enjoy a stress-free Thanksgiving. Here are some helpful links to help you plan and prepare a successful Thanksgiving feast:

Preparing the Menu: The theme of the day is enjoying time with family and friends and to express thankfulness and gratitude. By following these tips, you?ll be able to enjoy stress-free time in the kitchen and more time with loved ones.
Following the Thanksgiving Guide: Knowing that this holiday can be stressful for the hostess with the mostest, Mandi from Life...Your Way put together this fantastic Thanksgiving Your Way eBook complete with 64 pages of ideas and recipes to help make Thanksgiving less stressful and more enjoyable. In a collaboration of more than 15 bloggers, this eBook is filled with family traditions and activities, dinner recipes, pies and other dessert recipes, decorating ideas and even printables to help keep the planning organized.
Thawing a Turkey: Unfortunately, you can't just run to the store the morning of Thanksgiving, buy a frozen turkey and immediately throw it in the roasting pan in the oven. This post is filled with tips on how to thaw a turkey safely.
Setting the Table: With some very special holidays right around the corner, you might be hosting a few social gatherings at your house. One of the most feared tasks to do when planning a dinner party is setting the table. Many people initially think that properly setting the table is extremely difficult and oftentimes tricky. I'm here to show you that it's not with these simple guidelines.
Freezing the Leftovers: If you find yourself surrounded by a ton of leftovers, it might be a good idea to freeze the food in order to keep it safe from bacteria so that you can enjoy it in the days ahead.
What are some of your favorite tips that you use when preparing for the Thanksgiving feast?