Host Thanksgiving

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Thanksgiving: Recipes, Traditions and More

If you enjoy celebrating the fourth Thursday in November, give thanks to Sarah Josepha Hale: In 1863, she wrote to President Lincoln advocating the declaration of Thanksgiving as a national holiday. Today, the Internet offers a cornucopia of information. Use our Thanksgiving Web Guide to find Thanksgiving traditions recipes and other Thanksgiving resources. You'll also find links to the menu from the Pilgrims' first Thanksgiving, learn ways to keep your guests entertained while you're doing the dishes, uncover the mystery of turkey brining and much more.

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Thanksgiving History and Tradition

You may take Thanksgiving for granted as a day to watch football, spend quality time with your ... read more »

Host Thanksgiving

When you offer to host Thanksgiving, you're guaranteed to avoid the holiday traffic, but you are saddled (or privileged!) with numerous other responsibilities. What's the easiest way to get out invites? Will you have a kids' table? Is there a way to make sure nobody bickers at the table? These questions, and more, are answered by the sites recommended below.

Dulcinea's Insight

Calm your fears by reading about, and laughing at, some Thanksgiving fiascos experienced by professional foodies at the San Francisco Chronicle.

For more specific ideas on what to cook, explore the "Where can I get advice about turkey?" and "What else should I serve?" sections of this guide.

Dulcinea's Picks

For advanced preparation and planning tools ...

Evite is your virtual party planner and available for as little or as much help as you need. Create an invitation, enter the e-mail addresses of your guests, and Evite will e-mail the invitations, send reminders, and keep track of the RSVPs. You can design a custom invitation or choose from the selection of Thanksgiving-themed invitations. For more party-planning help, visit "Entertaining" for ideas and tips, or the "Party Store" for supplies.

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MarthaStewart.com teaches you how to make Thanksgiving easy (and if she can't, nobody can). This printable Thanksgiving planner tells you what to do and when to do it, ensuring that you have all your ducks (or turkeys) in a row before the big day. And don't forget to use Martha's calculator to help you figure out how big a turkey you need.

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For an easier holiday ...

Real Simple promises you a "No-Stress, Less-Mess Thanksgiving" with this article on how to stop bad family behavior before it starts. The tips are provided by Stephen R. Covey, author of The 7 Habits of Highly Effective Families.

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eHow shows you an alternative solution to cooking Thanksgiving dinner: catering. If catering seems too nontraditional, but you're still loath to slave over a hot stove, check out the site's advice for having a potluck Thanksgiving.

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For a guide to hosting Thanksgiving ...

TheNest.com , a magazine devoted to newlyweds, promises that hosting Thanksgiving doesn't have to be difficult. Although the article is aimed at young couples, the advice it provides for navigating the day is widely useful. For more guidance and fun ideas, explore "10 Things to Know About Hosting Your First Holiday."

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FoodNetwork.com 's Thanksgiving page includes substantial advice on anything you might be cooking, or thinking about cooking, this year. Look for links to all the television programs on Thanksgiving, or visit your favorite Food Network host's page of recipes and advice.

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For something extra ...

Kaboose 's craft page has a cornucopia of fun, creative, and useful projects you can do with your kids (or any young dinner guests). Kaboose, one of the top five family destinations visited online, offers much more than suggestions for projects: you can also download clip art, including invitations, that help the whole family contribute to hosting the holiday.

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