How to Pull Off an Epic Thanksgiving Without Losing Your $h!t!


Hello there Reader,

Thanksgiving doesn't have to leave you cursing like a sailor. (Although, if you ever heard Mama Leite muttering in Portuguese while wrestling a 22-pound turkey into submission, you might think otherwise.)

As someone who's hosted more holiday dinners than my youthful countenance would suggest―some of which ended with me hiding in the basement, clutching a bottle of wine, and questioning my life choices―I've learned a thing or two about keeping my sanity intact. The One will back me up on this, especially after That One Year We Shall Never Speak Of Again when I nearly burned down the house. But I digress.

What I've learned is mastering Thanksgiving is all about strategy. And, unlike how I usually cook―which The One likens to a tornado in an apron―this requires that dreaded word: planning.

Allow me to share with you my hard-won five-day plan that'll keep you from ending up in the fetal position behind the washing machine. (Not that I know anything about that.)

My Free Foolproof Five-Day Countdown
to a Fuss-Free Thanksgiving

It's a five-day email series that tells you exactly what to do each day for the five days leading up to Thanksgiving:

Day 1 – Saturday Sanity-Saving Session
Get organized and prep essentials to set yourself up for a relaxed week.

Day 2 – Sunday's Strategy
Plan your menu, finalize your grocery list, and prep non-perishables.

Day 3 – Monday's Mash-tacular
Tackle make-ahead mashed potatoes and other sides to save time.

Day 4 – Tuesday's Vegetable Victory
Prepare vegetable dishes and salads to keep things fresh and simple.

Day 5 – Wednesday's Wisdom
Last-minute tips and tasks to ensure your Thanksgiving day goes off without a hitch.

Note: These are bonus emails in addition to what I usually send.

Ready to breeze through Thanksgiving prep? It's free—so grab your guide now!

Leite's Culinaria

Why, hello! Leite's Culinaria is the James Beard Award-winning site that helps home cooks and bakers put dinner on the table and laughs in the kitchen. Hungry for more? Join more than 30,000 food lovers and subscribe.

Read more from Leite's Culinaria

Hi Reader, There comes a moment—usually around 6:17 p.m.—when I stand in the kitchen staring into the refrigerator as if it might suddenly reveal the meaning of life. Or at least dinner.This typically happens after a long day of writing, editing, testing recipes, photographing, answering emails, and generally pretending I’m the sort of organized adult who plans meals in advance. Ha! NOT! Thank you, ADHD! By the time evening rolls around, I have the energy of a damp sponge.Now, Vovó Costa...

Hi Reader, I love my inbox, under the right circumstances of course. Not when it’s clogged with the usual nonsense. But when it’s you—writing to say, “I made this again,” or “We can’t stop eating this,” or my personal favorite, “It’s April, so I had to.” That’s when I pay attention. Because every year, right about now, the same recipes start popping up. Different people, same dishes. No big campaign, no reminder from me. Just something in you that says, It’s time. And I’ll admit, I find that...

Hi Reader, Yesterday at breakfast, The One put down his yellow Fiesta coffee cup and nestled it in the blue Fiesta saucer. (He's resolute that the joy of colorful vintage pottery is in mixing...never matching.)“What are we doing for Easter?” he asked.Now, you’d think that would be a pretty easy answer. But Easter in the Portuguese world has never been a modest holiday. It’s not the kind of meal where you quietly roast a chicken and call it a day. No. Easter is a production. A Wagnerian opera...