Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday. Mid-week football, four days of quiet family time and the kick-off of the holiday season — signified by the repeated showing of National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on USA Network. With a new little dude here (Sam, he was born Nov 6) who likes to feed every couple of hours and a somewhat crazy 2-year-old, most of the turkey dinner preparation is falling to me this year. I’m planning on doing some dishes in advance and cooking a simplified menu — but it will still involve a fresh turkey. Click here for the holiday meal food safety infosheet.