Food

One Week Ahead

• Review recipes. (That's what today's paper is for.) See all the recipes you'd love to make, then scale them back. Keeping it simple and organized will keep it stress-free.

• Make a cooking schedule, including an hourly timetable for Thanksgiving Day.

• Check thawing time for frozen turkey. (Also in today's paper.)

• See if you need to have some games or movies to entertain folks. There are three NFL games on Thanksgiving this year, but football won't satisfy everybody.

Four Days Ahead

• Use the 'fridge to begin defrosting turkey.

• No icemaker? Make cubes now and store in freezer bags.

• Put up nonperishable decorations such as wreaths.

Two Days Ahead

• Chill beverages.

• Shop for perishable items.

• Make cranberry sauce.

• Finish decorating.

One Day Ahead

• Clean vegetables. Peel potatoes; place in a pot of cold water. Keep all in fridge.

• Make dishes that can be prepared ahead. Prepare stuffing.

• Set the table. Yes. Get it over with.

Thanksgiving Day

• Get out serving pieces.

• Fill condiment dishes; cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate.

• Remove turkey from fridge for one to two hours. It'll cook more evenly (and quicker) than if it goes straight from the 'fridge into the oven.

• Preheat oven. Add turkey and cook according to your recipe (or use ours).

• Let turkey rest, covered, for at least 20 minutes before slicing.

• Heat food in microwave if all burners are busy.

• Make gravy and last-minute vegetables.

• Set out refrigerated dishes, including condiments.

• Heat bread or rolls.

• Pour drinks.

• Carve turkey