Stress-free Turkey Day

Thanksgiving dinner can come with a great deal of pressure — especially if you're the host.

• But the holiday is about gratitude and gathering, not impressing your guests.

Why it matters: Thanksgiving often feels like the "Super Bowl of food holidays," CNN's Casey Barber writes. Barber's holiday prep starts in early November.

• If the planning, cooking and tablescape-designing brings you happiness, that's wonderful — and this is your time to shine!
• But if you're overwhelmed, here are ways to make next week a little less stressful and a little more joyful.

1. Shortcuts are fine — and delicious. Store-bought pies and dinner rolls are great, canned cranberry sauce is a classic, and Butterball even has a new cook-from-frozen turkey that comes pre-brined, so all you need to do is unwrap it and cook it.
2. Make it up! Don't feel limited by the traditional Thanksgiving lineup. If there's a side dish you often prepare and that feels easy and comfortable, add it to your menu. Tweak tradition, as Food Network puts it.
3. Summon the troops! Whether you throw a BYOB dinner, ask guests to bring appetizers, or put them in charge of reheating the sides, lean on them to make your job easier. If you're a guest, ask what you can bring or if you're needed in the kitchen during crunch time.
4. Focus on the fun. If you're hosting Thanksgiving, there's probably one or two things about it that you especially like — maybe that's roasting the juiciest turkey, making a favorite family dish or decorating the table. Put extra care into the parts of Thanksgiving that make you happy, and use tips and tricks to get through the rest.

📬 We want to hear from you! What are your Thanksgiving hacks? Your easiest, quickest recipe that's always a hit? Your go-to trick for stress relief? Send us a couple sentences, along with your name and hometown, to [email protected] to share your tips with other readers.