When I was 12, for some mysterious reason, my dad put my little brothers and me in charge of cooking the Thanksgiving turkey. Naturally, my brothers and I spent the rest of the day playing hide-in-seek in the backyard and forgot all about the humble bird defrosting in the sink ...more
For those of us living in any of the 49 states other than New York on Thanksgiving Day, checking out the famous Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade at New York is more a dream than reality. While the parade airs every Thanksgiving on television, it's also possible to catch the fest ...more
How often do you make a pie from scratch? If your answer is "only during the holidays," you're not alone. Unless you're an experienced baker, homemade pies can be pretty tough to tackle. And the most common problems are the crusts coming out of the oven soggy or scorched. I'v ...more
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and the belts are already loosening in preparation. Besides the copious amounts of turkey, stuffing, greens, and pies, you may have enough room for some classic cake. Now, in the spirit of T-day, if you're a guest, you definitely want t ...more
Ah, turducken. The fondest of all portmanteau words and the tastiest of all Thanksgiving day meals. Turducken is a turkey stuffed with a duck stuffed with a chicken—three glorious poultry meats molded into one marvelous, boneless hunk of flesh that any sane carnivore wouldn't ...more
If you've found yourself visiting a few too many fast food restaurants, you've probably forgotten the beauty that napkins can amount to when given the proper fold and tuck. When throwing a dinner party, it's important that your entire tablescape match and look polished, inclu ...more
Turn an Oreo cookie into a delicious turkey cookie! Aside from the Oreos, you will need some thick chocolate frosting, candy corn for the feathers, a malt ball (like a Whopper) for the body and a cinnamon candy for the wattle.
I've never been a huge fan of the traditional roasted turkey at Thanksgiving. Different parts of the bird finish cooking at different times, so by the time the legs are cooked through, the breast meat is totally dry. If you don't want to go the deep-frying route, how can you s ...more
The edible turkey doesn't have to be the only turkey on your Thanksgiving table this holiday season. We know that when it comes to turkey day, food is probably the most important attraction. But it's also vital to create a welcoming atmosphere for your guests, which means add ...more
Autumn is a time of year when everything looks, smells, and tastes good. The scents of cinnamon and spices are everywhere you go, and even the dead leaves that fall off the trees are pretty. In particular, the fruits and vegetables of the season are gorgeous. But let's get se ...more
What's better than stuffing yourself during Thanksgiving dinner? Gorging on leftovers the next day, of course. Everybody loves a good turkey and cranberry sauce sandwich, but what are some other creative ways to re-purpose all the leftover turkey meat, mashed potatoes, stuffin ...more
It's bad enough messing up in the kitchen when it's just for you or your family, but when you're cooking for a big event with a lot of guests, it can be mortifying. And on a holiday like Thanksgiving, that's all about the food, the last thing you want is to botch a key compone ...more
This video tutorial explains how to use Adobe Illustrator to create a Thanksgiving turkey. The tutorial delves into tools such as shapes, gradients and Bezier Curves inside Illustrator CS4. An extensive walk through on how to draw and great a Thanksgiving turkey. A fun creatio ...more
Serve your friends and family turkey this year in a nontraditional way by baking and decorating these turkey cupcakes. Turning ordinary and very blah chocolate cupcakes into feathered birds requires only some chocolate icing, candy corn, and sprinkles. You can prepare these c ...more
Turkey cookies— what dessert would be better for Thanksgiving? And no, this isn't another ingenious idea on how to use turkey meat for leftovers, but it is an ingenious way to make cookies—cookie turkeys—which can easily be "gobbled" up by the whole family during your Thanksgi ...more
Why can't Thanksgiving be a celebration of fireworks, too? This year, it can be with an innocent looking pumpkin pie that erupts an insane fountain of flames and fire! In fact, the pie filling is actually a flammable mixture of sugar and potassium nitrate, which was made usin ...more
Amy Wisniewski’s Thanksgiving Turkey Cake looks like a yummy carrot cake with fluffy pumpkin pie frosting, but it's not. SO not. Amy's creation may be shaped like a cake, but its ingredients include ground turkey breast, yams, and mashed potatoes. "Whether this Thanksgiving c ...more
Thanksgiving is pretty much the only day out of the year when you can be a complete fatass. It's totally expected, if not encouraged. In fact, if you aren't stuffing your face with a bunch of delicious and unhealthy food, people start to look at you funny. While turkey is the ...more
Betty Crocker does it again. These beautifully decorated cupcakes are perfect for a Thanksgiving project. Watch this video and learn how to make your own turkey cupcakes. Don't forget to use the candy corn to make the turkey's feathers and beak. Your kids will love this creati ...more
Roasting turkey is a topic that inspires endless debate among cooks. How do you get the perfect mixture of juicy meat, crispy skin, and flavor? Everyone has a favorite technique, whether it's brining the bird or spatchcocking it. However, if you're ready to move onto Ph.D. lev ...more
When making Turkey, just like chicken or any other sort of poultry, you have to make sure that you clean it well. On top of that you have to make sure that the area that you clean it in as well as all the utensils and dishes that were used in the preparation. In this video you ...more
A turkey baster is one of those single-use kitchen items that most people only need once or twice a year (although you can use it for a few other things). You never seem to miss having one until the holidays roll around when it's time to cook your Thanksgiving turkey. But do y ...more
Not going turkey this year for Thanksgiving? We understand. It's a lot of work for just one meal, but this year's most anticipated family meal can still be as satisfying with something a little simpler— ham! A nice honey baked ham is sure to please even the hungriest of bellie ...more
Here's a fun alternative to using bread crumbs in your Thanksgiving stuffing - make it with rice in a rice cooker! Use rice, almonds, butter, a tart red apple, onion, celery, poultry seasoning, thyme and chicken stock. Then mix them all up and cook them in a rice cooker!
Tradition says slice the turkey at the table, but we think your guests will just as happy with a pretty, plated presentation. Watch this video to learn how to properly carve a turkey this Thanksgiving! You will need: a serving tray cooked turkey cutting board carving knife L ...more
Start planning your Thanksgiving feast before it's too late! And if you're looking for something besides the usual turkey fare, but can't stand the idea of a turkey-less Thanksgiving, then we've got the perfect solution for you… TURDUCKEN! This is NOT your standard turkey di ...more
The turkey is the A-list star of your Thanksgiving table, so it only makes sense to make sure it's as savory and enjoyable as possible, right? Take a look at this Thanksgiving tutorial to learn how to season a turkey. Starting from an initial salt layer, you'll move on to a r ...more
Celebrate the Thanksgiving holidays in style! This tutorial shows you how to create an autumn style manicure. You will need base and top coat, nude polish, nail polishes in golden yellow, red, orange, brown, mid-tone green, dark green and red, orange and yellow nail rhinestones.
Part of the fun of Thanksgiving is getting to eat the turkey. Before you do that, though, you need to get some prep done first. Chef Eric shows you the best way to debone a turkey. It's similar to deboning a chicken, but with some significant changes.
Thanksgiving is almost here, so now is the perfect time to figure out how you're going to cook that Turkey Day bird for dinner. Choosing a high-quality turkey is important, but if you haven't even gotten yours yet, the pickings may be slim, so do the best you can. Brining the ...more
With T-Day on the horizon and approaching rapidly, you are probably in one of two camps. The one that is eagerly awaiting the holiday feast with barely-contained drool. Or the one that involves breathing heavily into a paper bag while worrying about your lack of oven and stove ...more
Take the stress out of your Thanksgiving dinner showpiece when you roast up a moist, golden bird. Learn how to cook the perfect Thanksgiving turkey. You will need: 12-14 lb. kosher or self-basting turkey roasting pan with rack aluminum foil large plate instant-read thermometer ...more
If you love the creamy flavor of mashed potatoes, but need a healthier option to appease your health-conscious relatives this Thanksgiving, try making mashed cauliflower, mashed celery root, or mashed carrots and parsnips using a food processor and seasonings of your choice. ...more
That Thanksgiving turkey isn't anything without the right kind of gravy to accompany it. A great turkey gravy makes your feast better for everyone. It's especially great to have if your turkey is dry— it's a lifesaver. But like we said— you need the right kind of gravy! Chef ...more
Lumpy gravy? Gluey mashed potatoes? Dry turkey meat? So many things can go wrong when you are bestowed the honor (and burden) of cooking Thanksgiving dinner. Thankfully, some culinary mishaps that you encounter in the kitchen can be reversed or craftily disguised right before ...more
Looking for something a little more exhilarating this Thanksgiving? Something with a bit more kick? Forget traditional roasted turkey. If you've got the stomach for it, try turducken, a wonderful triplex of turkey, duck and chicken with sausage stuffing and Cajun seasoning. Or ...more
To some people, Thanksgiving is merely quality time with family and friends that they can't get throughout the rest of the year. To others, it's that one time when it's okay to be a greedy hog and get hammered all weekend long. In that spirit of eat-and-drink-until-you-drop, ...more
From choosing the right potato to the movement at which you mash your cut and boiled spuds, making the perfect mashed potatoes requires more attention to detail than you might think. First things first — choose the right potato based on your personal preference for whether yo ...more
Thanksgiving is just around the corner, but there's no need to spend a lot of time or money on a fancy centerpiece for the dinner table. With a few clear glass jars and simple objects you can find either in your backyard or your local supermarket, you can quickly put together ...more
There are those who prefer Thanksgiving leftovers to the actual official meal, much like people who prefer cold pizza over hot. I'm definitely in the latter camp. There's something luxurious about enjoying your perfectly cooked turkey and stuffing while wearing sweatpants and ...more
This how-to video from a Piece of Craft shows a way to take some fall seasonal gourds to make a decorative centerpiece for you Thanksgiving tabletop. You will need artificial leaves and berries, candles, and gourds. Watch this video hosting tutorial and learn how to craft a tu ...more
Serve your friends and family an alternative turkey this year with these cute as a button turkey cupcakes. We know you're probably already up to your hairline in planning for the big Turkey Day celebration, so lighten up your baking load by baking simple vanilla cupcakes and t ...more
Tomorrow is Thanksgiving, leaving holiday cookers scrambling for turkey recipes the whole family will love, without taking up the whole holiday in the kitchen. One thing's for sure though— a nice Butterball turkey is sure to be the main dish on everyone's table this feast-ive ...more
A cornucopia is a classic Thanksgiving tradition. Nothing says fall like a beautiful cornucopia arrangement. In this tutorial, learn how to make a quick and easy cornucopia for your Thanksgiving table, that is beautiful and sure to impress. You Will Need: *Fall roses *Lavender ...more
Comedian and actor Adam Sandler may be famous for his irreverant Jewish holiday hymn "The Chanukah Song," but he's also written several other holiday tunes that are of festive interest. If you want to get your Thanksgiving dinner guests or kids into the holiday spirit, take a ...more
Still baking your turkey all traditional-like in the oven? Why not try a new way of serving turkey this year for Thanksgiving that doesn't even involve the oven? It may sound odd and even a bit difficult, but deep frying a turkey is one of the best ways to eat a turkey. If yo ...more
What's better than melted marshmallow goodness on top of sweet potatoes? This great Thanksgiving dinner side is delicious and easy to make! Follow along with this cooking how-to video to learn how-to bake sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. Thanksgiving Day sweet potatoe ...more
The debate over whether to deep-fry or roast a Thanksgiving turkey can get pretty heated. Both have their merits, but it's hard to argue with that crispy, golden brown skin and moist texture that the fryer gives. But what's better than a deep-fried turkey? An entire deep-frie ...more
Who says you have to cook on Thanksgiving? If you need a break, have surprise guests in town, or simply don't want to be in the kitchen cooking all day long, never fear: you have options. Plenty of places large and small will make a meal for you and your loved ones this year. ...more
Beer can turkey? Sounds like a joke, right? Well, it may have started off as one, but now shoving a beer can up the butt of a turkey is a much favored cooking technique in lieu of the traditional Thanksgiving turkey. With the beer can up its butt, it helps steam the turkey to ...more
Oven space is scarce on that fated fourth Thursday of November. Even if you can find a spare space for pumpkin pie on the bottom shelf, you risk turkey drippings overflowing from above and ruining your beautiful dessert — not to mention a burnt crust from different temperature ...more
You probably decorate your dining room table for Christmas, but what about Thanksgiving? We realize that the big turkey, mashed potatoes, and various other sides take up most of the room on the table, but that doesn't mean you can't add some non-edible flavor. Make your dinin ...more
When we think of holiday songs, usually "White Christmas," Bing Crosby, and lots of fake snow falling on Bing Crosby while he sings "White Christmas" come to mind. Thanksgiving songs are often neglected or get lost in the shuffle during the very Christmas-centered holiday seas ...more
This guy looks a little nervous - as well he should be, for it's Thanksgiving season and someone might be wondering how he'll taste in a deep fryer! All you need is some paper, pencils, ink pens and an eraser!
Serve your rolls and bread sticks in style! Take a basket and turn it into a Thanksgiving-themed breadbasket. You will need a basket, a glue gun, googly eyes, food safe skewers, a wooden spoon, scissors, colored construction paper and a block of florist foam. Video: .
Don't just throw some paper napkins next to your plates and call it a day this Thanksgiving. Put some thought into your dinner table preparations and your guests will greatly appreciate it. Check out this crafting video to learn how to put together standing Thanksgiving turke ...more
This crafts idea is a great project to do with your kids - create personalized Thanksgiving placemats for all your dinner guests, and then laminate them to keep them from getting dirty (and so you can use them for next year's Thanksgiving, too!)
Turkey is undoubtedly the main dish in a Thanksgiving meal, but no turkey is complete without gut-bursting cornbread stuffing, buttermilk mashed potatoes, and yummy heaps of turkey gravy. Watch this episode of "The Martha Stewart Show" to see how to make a delicious turkey gr ...more
If your family isn't quite the size of the Duggars yet and you're planning what to put on the menu for Thanksgiving, a 30 pound bird is probably not the best choice. Yeah, we know that having a big fat bird in the center of your table is tradition and whatnot, but we seriously ...more
Think you can't carve a ham? Think again. This free video cooking lesson will have you carving your Thanksgiving or holiday ham like a skillful pro cook in no time flat. Watch the clip for the complete lowdown! Happy cooking!