Here's why I love desserts so much: when they're really good, they have the power to move people. Everyone remembers a really great dessert. A truly memorable meal begs for a fantastic dessert to make it complete-to give you an excuse to linger at the table just a little longer. Whether you're hosting the whole shebang this Thanksgiving or just bringing a dish to share, these special Thanksgiving desserts will make a lasting impression (and it doesn't hurt that they're healthy too!)

Cranberry Upside-Down Cake (recipe below)
This gooey cake is insanely delicious and makes for a very pretty presentation. The basic recipe uses one of the tastiest fruits of the fall harvest-cranberries-but can be made with apples, pears, peaches or plums too.

Glazed Chocolate-Pumpkin Bundt Cake
You don't have to have pumpkin pie to still enjoy pumpkin and spice in a Thanksgiving dessert. This tender, moist cake uses pureed pumpkin to replace much of the fat and is delicately seasoned

A recent report from the American Farm Bureau Federation suggests that costs for some Thanksgiving staples will be down slightly this year compared to 2008. The AFBF, a farm advocacy organization that has conducted an informal annual survey of Thanksgiving food prices since 1986, suggests that lower costs for milk (down $.92 per gallon from last year) and turkey (down about 3 cents per pound from last year) may add up to a more wallet-friendly, if not waistline-friendly, holiday dinner for grocery shoppers in 2009.

A few other items that may be on your shopping list are expected to cost a bit less this year. Packaged rolls are down 12 cents per dozen, and fresh cranberries are down 5 cents per 12-ounce package. But the prices for pumpkin pie mix and pie shells are up a bit: 11 cents and 8 cents, respectively.

As the saying goes, mind the pennies and the dollars will mind themselves. The American Farm Bureau Federation's report suggests that the average, classic Thanksgiving

perfect thanksgiving turkeyIt all started 8 years ago. Fresh into a new house that was finally big enough to host the whole extended family, I decided to host Thanksgiving.

Having never cooked a turkey before, I wanted to experiment before the big day.

At the time, brining was big among food writers. It looked good on paper. Until I tried to find a container big enough to hold the turkey and the brine and enough room in the fridge to hold both until roasting. Scratch that.

That year, I also tried high-heat roasting, low-heat roasting, basting, not basting, oil over the skin, oil under the skin, and just buying a kosher turkey (pre-brined).

Then Year 2 rolled around and my oldest child said to me, "Are you going to wait until Thanksgiving to cook the turkeys this year?"

Notice the plural -- turkeys -- as if everyone cooks five or six turkeys in a single month.

Turkey Cooking Methods Galore

Always one for a challenge and not feeling satisfied that I found the perfect method the year before, I decided to

Nutrition guru Lisa Young, R.D. reveals 4 easy tricks to keep you in your sexy skinny jeans while still enjoying all of the yummy foods Thanksgiving has to offer.

Fancy Photography/Veer

1. Don't arrive famished. Instead of saving your appetite for the big four o'clock feast, make sure to have a healthy breakfast and a light lunch (such as fruit and yogurt). Starving yourself earlier in the day will just lead to major bingeing - and uncomfortably tight pants - at dinner.

2. Limit hors d'oeuvres. Rather than blowing your calories on finger foods - after one mini quiche, a cracker with cheese, and a Swedish meatball you've already downed 230 calories - pace yourself. Dig into the crudités, have one or two of the must-try nibbles, then wait for the main event.

3. Keep portion size in mind.
Knowing what a serving really looks like will help you to set limits. Some useful visuals to keep in mind: one serving of turkey measures about the size of a deck of cards (tip: white meat has less fat than dark); one

Hosting your first holiday feast? It can be daunting: A menu of familiar dishes for which everyone will have expectations, plus the pressure of executing a complicated meal in a timely manner, can make even the most experienced cook wish someone else would take over.

But there's really no need for this trepidation. Armed with good planning and some delicious, dependable recipes, you can calmly serve a wonderful holiday meal to friends and family. I've put together this menu of solid classics, plus I've shared tips drawn from my years of cooking, teaching, and writing about Thanksgiving. Finally, I've added a shopping list and a timeline to help you pull everything off with ease. Who knows-even seasoned cooks might pick up a few pointers here.

EASY THANKSGIVING MENU FOR EIGHT

• Assorted Cheese and Crackers
• Neopolitan
  (aperitif)
• Mushroom and Leek Soup with Thyme Cream
• For soup: 2006 Beringer Pinot Noir (Napa Valley) or dry sherry such as

I love pumpkin-flavored anything - pies, muffins, cheesecake, even ice cream! But gorging on too many sweet pumpkin treats can leave me with a sick stomach full of unhealthy fats and sugars. One way I've been satisfying my pumpkin cravings is by making my own pumpkin-flavored yogurt at home.

It's really easy to do, just mix plain yogurt with canned pumpkin puree. If you're trying to cut back on sugar, use 100 percent pure pumpkin puree and add your own spices and sweetener. If you want the instant flavors of pumpkin pie, mix yogurt up with canned pumpkin pie puree that's been sweetened with sugar and spices.

I sometimes use vanilla yogurt with the pure pumpkin mix just to give it a little sweetness, and if I'm craving the texture of pumpkin pie, a nice sprinkling of healthy granola or oats seems to do the trick.

Related Content:

Healthy Recipe: Oatmeal, Dark Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins

Thanksgiving Side Dish: Apple Squash

Healthy Recipe: Apple Pear Oatmeal

Preparing the Thanksgiving feast is stressful, even if you're a pro in the kitchen. To help this year be as seamless-and delicious-as possible, we're offering a range of quick and easy Thanksgiving classics, with a fresh twist, from Better Homes and Gardens. This way, you'll spend less time in the k

What's better than a cozy casserole for your Thanksgiving table. From creamy scalloped potatoes to the classic green bean casserole, these recipes from Taste of Home are sure to compliment any holiday meal.Thanksgiving Casseroles Holiday Green Beans Baked Creamed Onions Dijon Scal