As you plan ahead for Thanksgiving dinner, don't forget your freezer. It could be your ticket to a memorable feast - without sacrificing time with family and friends. Here's a guide to what you can make ahead so you can breathe easier when it counts. More Thanksgiving recipes
As our amuse-bouche for Thanksgiving, we asked three local chefs to deconstruct that Turkey Day icon, the green bean casserole: Nana executive chef Anthony Bombaci, Lola the Restaurant executive chef David Uygur and Screen Door executive chef Fitzgerald Dodd.
Pecan pie is a staple of the autumn table, particularly at Thanksgiving and in Texas. But even the standards can use a new edge, a different flavor to keep diners coming back for more. Food stylist Karen Elizabeth Watts assembled this collection that takes basic pecan pie and adds flavor boosters from coconut to chocolate. You'll also find ways to dress up a bakery or frozen pie.
To prevent all the food preparation from piling up on Thanksgiving Day, Pete Loren, director of culinary development for Nino Salvaggio International Marketplace in Michigan, offers some tips.
What could be more satisfying than remodeling your kitchen? Using it! And Thanksgiving is one of the best times of year to be in the kitchen, especially with the expectation of a visit with hoards of friends and family.
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Defrosting guide
Video: How to carve a turkey 
