Thanksgiving On The Run

(Image courtesy of John Morgan)

We know you’re excited for a great dinner this Thanksgiving, but if you’re like us you may be a little behind on your shopping and cooking for the big day.

We know the time constraint around the holiday can get a little stressful, but if you’re not prepared yet you don’t need to panic. Using a few of these simple tips from allrecipes.com you’ll have your Thanksgiving meal prepared in less time than you thought possible. Keep reading to learn more.

Turkey: You might not have time to defrost a whole turkey, but that doesn't mean you have to take it off the menu all together. There are many ways to prepare turkey that don't involve a whole bird:

• VIDEO: Slow Cooker Turkey Breast
• Stuffed Turkey Legs
• Cranberry Stuffed Turkey Breasts
• Marinated Turkey Breast
• Citrus Turkey Roast 

Stuffing: Stuffings and dressings don’t necessarily need to be prepared inside a turkey. Bake your favorite stuffing in a casserole dish--covered for 30 minutes, then uncovered for about 10 minutes to brown the top. Voila!

• VIDEO: Pecan Apricot Stuffing
• Wild Mushroom Stuffing
• Bread and Celery Stuffing
• Slow Cooker Stuffing
• Awesome Sausage, Apple, and Cranberry Stuffing 

Cranberry Sauce: There's always the option to buy it canned. But these recipes are so easy, it's worth it to make one from scratch:

• VIDEO: Tangerine Cherry Cranberry Sauce
• Cranberry Sauce II
• Cranberry Sauce I 

Gravy: Here's a recipe that simply calls for turkey broth and a few other magical ingredients (chicken broth can be substituted)--easy peasy! And if you can make gravy ahead of time, you'll cut down on the chaos in the kitchen.

• VIDEO: Make-Ahead Gravy
• Savory Turkey Gravy

Mashed Potatoes: Try these recipes for some extra-special mashed spuds:

• VIDEO: Perfect Mashed Potatoes
• Holiday ONLY Mashed Potatoes
• The Best Mashed Potatoes
• Red Garlic Mashed Potatoes
• Garlic Mashed Potatoes Secret Recipe

Salad: It doesn't take much time to make a great salad. Cases in point:

• Super Easy Spinach and Red Pepper Salad
• Hot Bacon Asparagus Salad
• Green Bean and Feta Salad
• Garden Vegetable Salad
• Apple Avocado Salad with Tangerine Dressing
• Spinach and Strawberry Salad

Store-Bought Short-Cuts: Don't overload yourself by trying to bake everything from scratch. Here are some things you can pick up at the store and no one will be the wiser:

Pies: hit the local bakery or grocery store for some pumpkin, apple, or berry pies. Add homemade touches by serving with real whipped cream and a cup of freshly brewed coffee.

Dinner rolls: Whether they are frozen or fresh from a bakery, you can still get that "right from the oven" effect by wrapping them in foil and warming them at 350 degrees F for 10-15 minutes, while you’re baking the stuffing.

Easy appetizers: put out some fresh veggies, chips, or crackers with a delicious dip:

• Artichoke & Spinach Dip Restaurant Style
• Baked Onion Dip I
• Louisiana Crab Dip
• Amy's Cilantro Cream Sauce
• Dill Vegetable Dip

Need help with the timing? Here's a handy checklist to keep you organized:

Last-Minute Thanksgiving Timeline