Maybe it’s just me, but preparing for the Thanksgiving meal had me at my wits end by the time the family were ready to eat. It was a day long affair, starting off with prepping the turkey at the crack of dawn and winding down with a flurry of last-ditch bustle.

Checking each course for proper flavoring, I felt like I had been sampling and nibbling all day long. At long last, after so many years of this routine, I found a do-ahead recipe book, which filled my head with loads of thanksgiving dinner menu ideas! Now, the only thing that worries me on Thanksgiving Day is putting the turkey in the oven and making a pot of coffee when dinner is over. Below are some tips for easy and scrumptious Thanksgiving dinner party ideas.

Instead of tackling the mammoth job of shifting all the food in your fridge to free up some space for that big turkey, try this idea from a seasoned Marine chef. Only collect the frozen turkey at the store the evening before Thanksgiving. (Make sure to order in plenty of time!) Fill up a large picnic style cooler with plenty cold water to cover the turkey. Replace the lid and right before you go to bed, turn over the turkey. The bird will be ready to cook by morning. This technique has been made use of for years and requires very little effort.

Have you ever wondered why your turkey didn’t cook according to the time allotted on the wrapping directions. It’s because we have to continually open the oven to baste the turkey. This thanksgiving recipe idea is a treasure. Melt a stick of butter and add your seasonings. Slide your fingers between the skin of the breast and leg, tenderly separating the skin from the meat. Position the bird on it’s end and pour the butter down between the skin and meat, with your (washed!) fingers to distribute the butter. Rest the turkey breast facing up on the oven rack, wrap with thin-foil and set it in the oven. The bird should baste itself. Fail-safe.

A large amount traditional Thanks Giving pastries, such as mincemeat and pumpkin pies, are great do-aheads. Just freeze, remove and defrost a day ahead of time and bake the evening before Thanksgiving Day. The same applies for rolls and cakes.

As your pies are baking, prepare any vegetables you will be using with your stuffing. Flavor and bag up in the frig until morning. Clean and bake potatoes, then place them in a bag for mashing the next day. Sauces? This can be cooking while the veggies are being chopped.

Great Thanksgiving dinner preparation ideas share one thing in common - a reduced work load and more thanks giving on T-Day! Do-ahead cocktail snacks are normally the most complex and tasty. Search for recipes on the Net that suit your dishes and tastes. Shop for these items a couple of weeks ahead of the big day and spend a Sunday prepare these treats. Freeze them and forget until the day its self. As you prep the turkey, cook your snacks.

These Thanksgiving dinner recipe ideas leaves plenty of time for meet & greet and entertaining, with a scrumptious feast everyone will love!