Thanksgiving Dishes and Recipes for the Beginner Cook

As a young woman starting your own family, the mere thought of even attempting such a large and important dinner can be absolutely frightening!  The memories of your childhood with the perfect dinner on the table is just something you don't think you can live up to!  This is everybody's fear but remember, your mother, your grandmother and her mother before her all felt the same way.  It's a right of passage.  Once you have your first successful Thanksgiving dinner, it only gets better and the best part is that some day, your children and grandchildren will look back with fondness on the care and love that went into what you made your traditions to be.  

A secret you didn't know at the time is that these dinners were far from perfect.  There will always be something that the holder of the tradition doesn't feel is just as it should be.  Burnt rolls, a dry turkey, garnishes out of place.  Whatever the case may be, the trick is in the attitude and how you project your dinner to be.  For the beginner or new holder of the tradition, it's in your hands to make it memorable.  This article is to help with simple yet delicous ideas that will get you through the day.  

The first thing one has to realize is that this isn't a one day event.  For the holder of the tradition, it's a marathon cooking week!  People start at least a couple days in advance with everything that can be done then. 

COOKING SPACE

If you don't have one, get a roaster!  I cannot stress enough how important this is.  You are going to need your oven for side dishes.  A turkey takes up a lot of room and takes quite a bit of time to cook.  Utilizing a roaster frees up oven space so everything can be done together.   You will use a roaster year round.  It's a investment you will appreciate and they do not cost a lot of money.