Shop for non-perishable goods now. You can buy flour, sugar, brown sugar, corn syrup, canned pumpkin, rice and cranberries, all before the crowds descend. Wait until the day before Thanksgiving to buy fresh vegetables, seafood and bread.

Let the Thanksgiving Countdown Begin — 2 Week Checklist

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Whether it’s your first Thanksgiving or your 15th, making a meal this big can be stressful. Keep your cool with Ted Allen’s top tips for a freak-out-free holiday.

Make This the Smoothest Holiday Ever

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Should you drink red or white with turkey? Don’t fret if you’re new to wine, there’s no wrong answer, but we’ve got some picks to get you started.

10 Ways to Be the Wine Hero of Thanksgiving

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There’s no question that a Thanksgiving plate is not complete without a piping hot scoop of silky smooth mashed potatoes nestled next to a few slices of juicy turkey, a heaping mound of stuffing, a small pool of cranberry sauce and a buttery roll. However, the way to make the perfect bowl of mashed potatoes isn’t so obvious. Which kind of potato yields the creamiest mashed mixture? What size should the potatoes be when you cook them? And what about butter, cream or milk — which is best and at what temperature should you incorporate them? We have the answers, plus tips, suggestions and easy recipes to make this Thanksgiving’s starchy side dish better than ever.

Select a Spud: Thanks to their high starch content, russets or Yukon Gold potatoes will be your best potato picks and yield an extra fluffy finished product. I’m partial to Yukon Golds for their natural, slightly buttery flavor, though regular baking potatoes mash up nicely as well.

To Chop or Not? »

If you’re using homemade pie crusts, make the dough now and freeze it in freezer bags. Defrost the dough and bake your pies the day before Thanksgiving.

Start making your Thanksgiving desserts with the help of these video tutorials.

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In honor of Thanksgiving, Food Network is getting the entire food community together to celebrate a Virtual Thanksgiving, called The Communal Table, on Wednesday, November 16 at noon EST.

We have to admit, it’s our favorite holiday of the year and we’re highly anticipating all of the delicious recipes and photos that we’ll come across on our favorite websites and blogs.

Want to join us at the table? We’re opening up this event to the entire food community: Next Wednesday, we’ll be launching our first ever Communal Table on the blog and we want you to be a part of it. Whether you write for a popular food website or you’re the owner of a small food blog, help us spread the word and pull up a chair.

Find out how to participate »

It’s already the middle of November, and Thanksgiving has snuck up on you yet again — despite landing on the same Thursday every year. Not to worry: We’ve drawn up a nifty do-ahead guide to help you get organized from now until November 24. Check back with us as we lead you into Turkey Day, helping you with everything from apple pie to Zinfandel.

While it may be too soon to get a jump-start on roasting the turkey, two weeks still gives you plenty of lead time to plan your best — and least stressful — holiday feast yet. It’s all about setting the wheels in motion.

Get started now with these tips »

Plan on each guest drinking three drinks, and be sure to provide both non-alcoholic and alcoholic beverage choices. To spike this family-friendly cocktail, substitute champagne for the sparkling water.

Get the recipe: Non-Alcoholic Pomegranate Bellinis

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Quick breads freeze well; just wrap tightly in foil or freezer-wrap and freeze for up to three months. To thaw, let stand, wrapped, at room temperature for about 1½ hours. Serve on Thanksgiving, or the next morning for breakfast.

Try making: Anne’s Cranberry Orange Quickbread (pictured above)

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Try roasting a few pumpkins, then freezing the puree — that’s what Alton does. You can thaw it to make pie just before Thanksgiving, and the rest will store up to 6 months in the freezer.

Try making: Michele Albano’s Maple Pumpkin Pie With Pecan Streusel

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