Thanksgiving/Christmas dinner?

My Thanksgiving dinner is super easy. If you have a Trader Joe's in your area, go get one of their brined turkeys. Plan on about 2 pounds per person, that will tell you what size turkey to get. Since Thanksgiving is tomorrow, you'd need to thaw it on the counter or in the kitchen sink, so that it's ready to cook tomorrow. When you're ready to cook it, separate the skin from the breast without tearing it. It's easy, just slide your hand under the skin. Then, rub some butter and crushed herbs (sage, oregano, thyme, rosemary) on the breast meat. I'm not sure what temperature to cook it at, or for how long. Our oven literally has a perfect turkey setting. Check out some recipes on marthstewart.com. You'll need some kind of roasting pan (I got a nice one from Target for $20, or you can use a disposable one from the grocery store), and you'll need to tent the turkey with aluminum foil ( take a big piece of foil, make a crease in the middle, and cover the turkey with it without touching it).

Then, I make a cranberry compote using an Emeril Lagasse recipe from foodnetwork.com. I make mashed potatoes, green beans (steamed for about 10 minutes, then sauteed in butter with minced garlic and a little salt and pepper), and crescent rolls and apple cider from Trader joe's. Oh, and I make Martha Stewart's leek and celery root stuffing. And for dessert, I make a cheesecake using a recipe from Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook (I could not live without that book!)

I was pretty intimidated the first time I cooked Thanksgiving dinner. It was for me and my husband, my family, and his family, and I had a one month old baby. But, everything turned out really well, and I've been making the exact same meal every year since. It was much easier than I expected, and all I did was follow the recipes. Don't be scared. If you want to cook yourself, you can do it!