Hosting Thanksgiving dinner this year? It can be scary. From recreating classic holiday dishes that meet everyones expectations to making sure everything is ready in a timely manner, it's enough to make any cook pack up and run for the hills.

But don't stress just yet. Equipped with a good plan, some organizational skills and proper recipes, you"ll be able to make Thanksgiving an easy and memorable occasion. Thats right: easy and memorable. So get out that turkey and tie up your apron because we've put together a guide with some of the best tips and recipes to ensure your cooking and entertaining impresses even the pickiest of guests.

CAREFULLY DECIDE ON THE MENU

It's easy to get excited before hand and bite off more than you can chew when it comes to creating your menu. Instead of trying to make lots of elaborate dishes, focus on making only a few items that are more difficult and take more time and a few others that are simple and quick. This will save you time and reduce your chances of making any mistakes.

For a simple and quick recipe that will still impress your guests, try making delicious no-fuss appetizers from household ingredients.

TRY THIS: Cucumber Cups with Caramelized Onion and Bacon by Lemon & Anchovies

PREPARE SOME DISHES IN ADVANCE

The ultimate stress preventer on the day of is incorporating some dishes you can make a head of time. If you start preparing for Thanksgiving days in advance you will save yourself much needed time and energy and get to spend more time relaxing with your family and friends. I mean, it is a holiday after all.

Tip: Vegetable soups can be prepared up to a week in advance and easily frozen as long as they have no eggs or milk in them. Serve it up as a delicious and warm appetizer your guests will love.

TRY THIS: Roasted Red Bell Pepper and Heirloom Tomato Soup by Vanilla and Bean

AVOID GIVING YOUR GUESTS "CARB-COMA"

I think the word "carb-coma" was created in connection with Thanksgiving dinner. Often times there is just too much food on the table during the holiday. If you really want your guests to enjoy their meal with out the pain and suffering of overeating, avoid making too much of the same type of food. For example, if you're serving sweet potatoes and stuffing maybe avoid serving any other type of potato. Likewise, too many casseroles can often be a major no-no.

Tip: By reducing the amount of casserole you have or types of potatoes you make, you can really focus on one and make it the star of the side dishes.

TRY THIS: Super Easy Sweet Potato Casserole With Pecan Crumble by Pinch of Yum

SAVE OVEN SPACE

Without a doubt your oven is going to be a hot commodity on Thanksgiving. Make sure to keep this in mind when planning your menu. The last thing you want is to purchase the ingredients for a variety of dishes only to realize your short on oven space. To avoid this, try dishes you can make ahead of schedule but also dishes you can make on your stove top.

Tip: Potatoes and vegetables can easily be prepared on the stove top as Thanksgiving side dishes.

TRY THIS: Pan-Seared Brussels Sprouts with Cranberries & Pecans by Rachel Schultz

THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS MAKE ALL THE DIFFERENCE

When it comes to taste, nothing can beat fresh ingredients. Whether it's meat or fresh produce, the flavour in the food you cook is best when you use freshly grown ingredients.

Tip: Ditch the additives and preservatives in your salad dressing and make your own for a healthier alternative boosting with natural flavour.

TRY THIS: Ultimate Greek Chopped Salad by The Garden Grazer

Be sure to add in some Select One Grape Tomatoes for some extra juicy goodness!

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