food and nutrition

When I once wrote that you can keep your turkey as long as I get dressing at Thanksgiving, many readers generously submitted their family recipes, just like I asked.

"Growing up, I never cared for my mother's dressing, it was too dry," said Beth Frizzell. "I developed a recipe that I have used with my own family."

Dear Lynne: My fiancee hates making people uncomfortable, so when she's a guest she doesn't say anything about not eating meat.

The thing that really upsets her is a whole cooked animal, so Thanksgivings are tough. This is the turnaround Thanksgiving; it's our first as hosts and cooks, and I want her to be the queen for a change.

Millions of Americans will partake in Thanksgiving feasts. But along with the turkey and all the trimmings, you also get to share the occasion with relatives -- who you may or may not get along with. Grandma Sue is always so critical and Uncle Bill never helps clean up.

The bounty of Thanksgiving soups keeps growing. There's the pre-holiday soup, such as oyster stew; the Thanksgiving Day favorites for anyone who wants to serve a soup course, and then there's the post-feast tureen of soup made with leftover turkey or stock.

Oyster stew is a seasonal favorite.

Pickle, or relish, trays have a place at holiday dinner tables that's as central as the turkey's, in their own way. They are the calling card for the meal to come, and a welcome for your guests.

Once the Thanksgiving turkey has gone from drumsticks to a pile of sticks, the bone of contention begins -- toss the carcass or make something of it?

The answer may have been easy when IPOs came often and SUVs were the car of choice. But in these more frugal times, consider putting the remains of the day into the stockpot.

Isn't this the year to master the fluffiest, best-ever mashed potatoes?
"How to Cook a Turkey," from the editors and contributors of Fine Cooking magazine, offers this recipe for fluffy mashed potatoes.

It involves two basic truths and one tangy addition.

1. Russets are the best choice for mashed potatoes because of their high starch content.

Just after the Thanksgiving meal, most people feel as if they never want to eat again. But the truth is that it won't be long before food sounds appealing again, even if cooking doesn't.

If you're lucky enough to not be hosting the big Thanksgiving meal this year, you're probably going to be a guest at the home of friends or family.

Don't arrive empty-handed. It's good etiquette, and just plain good manners, to acknowledge your host and hostess with a small gift. Here are some ideas to take the guesswork out of choosing what to bring.

Classic gifts

Thanksgiving is about tradition. Old habits die hard, and when it comes to cooking the holiday meal, many of us return to what we know, even if that calls for topping sweet potatoes with mini marshmallows or scooping jellied cranberry sauce out of a can.