Thanksgiving is on Thursday, November 26th this year, which gives us just over three weeks. It may seem like a ways away, but believe me...it sneaks up on you.

For the next few weeks I'll send one email a day, in the evenings, with all of my best Thanksgiving dinner recipes, tips, and tricks I've learned while hosting for the last decade. We'll cover the turkey, the ham, the sides, the desserts, and a day-by-day plan for Thanksgiving week. Today is the easy part: start thinking about your must-haves for the menu.

Start with your headcount.

Plan on about 1 pound of whole turkey per guest, or 1.5 pounds if you want leftovers. Then pick one main, a handful of sides, and one or two desserts. You don't need ten sides. Five or six is plenty as long as the potatoes and the stuffing are good. And if someone offers to bring a dish, say yes and hand them one.

Every holiday recipe I've shared is on my Thanksgiving Recipes page. Open it, pick what sounds good, and keep a running list.

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Tomorrow: the turkey.