My favorite recipes - Nov. 19, 2009

Tips for Thanksgiving dinner

Thanksgiving dinner is one of the most anticipated meals of the year, carrying with it long standing traditions among families and American culture. Some menu traditions, like turkey, stuffing and cranberries, are almost universal while others are unique.

For those facing their first Thanksgiving cooking experience or those with some trepidations about facing the feat, here are some tips and ideas from cooks with experience.

“People think cooking a turkey is difficult, but it isn’t,” said Helen Appel of Dusty who hosts about 30 people, most of them family members,...