Recipe for Success: 7 Thanksgiving Hacks to Save You Time in the Kitchen

Although I've been a serious home cook for almost 30 years, I hosted my very first Thanksgiving dinner only a few years ago. My aunt has handled that holiday for as long as I can remember and I was only too happy to let her. But circumstances dictated that I host Thanksgiving, and - well, I panicked. There is so much hype around "the dinner," and I was overwhelmed at the prospect of getting it all on the table - beautifully presented, delicious, and as much "from scratch" as possible. It was like the New York City Marathon of cooking. I researched, took notes, created timelines, and stayed up late every night for the week leading up to the big day. It was awesome - and though my family was as impressed (and appreciative) as I hoped they would be, I was too exhausted to enjoy it. My aunt took over again the following year, and then again the year after. And sure enough, last year I found myself hosting Thanksgiving again. This time, I was prepared. Yes, I would still need to plan, prep, and make dishes in advance. And yes, the dishes would all be "wow" worthy and delicious. But I had a few shortcuts and tricks up my sleeve to help save time, cut corners, or just make life easier in general. And I'm sharing them all here! - By Sheri Silver

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