Thanksgiving Do and Don'ts from Martha

The Team at Martha Stewart sent me this list to share! 

Enjoy! 

2011 Thanksgiving Do’s and Don’ts

From The Experts at Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia

This Thanksgiving …

Check out our inspiration board on Pinterest and keep these tips in mind!

1.    DO Take It Easy:  Traveling? Make life easier with apps like TripIt, which organizes all your reservations into one itinerary for you. A great cocktail always helps take the edge off—get ideas from our Cocktails App for iPad & iPhone. –Pilar Guzman, Editor-in-Chief, Martha Stewart Living

2.    DO BYOD:  Bring Your Own Dish.  Whether you’re spending the holiday with friends or family, consider going potluck. Head to the Thanksgiving Center on MarthaStewart.com for recipe inspiration—with full menus you and your loved ones can use to divide and conquer. Dress up your dish with this ceramic Pumpkin Shaped Baking Dish or serve your turkey on thisFrench Cupboard Turkey Platter from Martha Stewart Collection only at Macy’s.

3.    DON’T Ditch Flavor, Ditch the Fat:  The typical Thanksgiving meal contains about 3,000 calories, and it’s not the turkey’s fault. Blame it on the sides! Try our healthy and delicious takes on popular sides like Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Grapes with Walnuts, Creamy White Bean & Vegetable Mash and more in November’s Whole Living—they’ll make your vegetarian and gluten-free guests happy. And kick start your day with a 5-minute or 15-minute workout with plans from WholeLiving.com.  –Alanna Stang, Editor-in-Chief, Whole Living

4.    DON’T Spend a Fortune, Use What You’ve Got:  It’s bound to happen on Nov. 24, the odd kitchen tool you never use but now need is missing. Tip: Use what you have—substitute drinking glasses for a biscuit cutter to form perfect biscuits! And get creative with table décor! Update your tablescape and transform ordinary objects into something special with Martha Stewart Living™ Project paint for The Home Depot.  Available in 33 colors and six finishes for added texture, sparkle and shine.

5.    DON’T Break Down, Break It Down:  Planning your menu in advance reduces stress when it comes to preparing holiday meals. From a Turkey with Brown-Sugar Glaze to Brandied Pecan Pie, November’s Everyday Food has easy, delicious menus for the holidays complete with shopping lists and plan-ahead schedules. –Sarah Carey, Editor-in-Chief, Everyday Food

6.    DO Make a Pie (and Watch the Parade While it Bakes):  90% of MarthaStewart.com users polled recently said they will have pie this year. Why not serve it in this festive Pie Dish from Martha Stewart Collection only at Macy’s?  And if you want to watch TV while your pie is baking, you’ll have plenty of company:  57% of those polled said they will spend time on the couch watching football and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.  For great pie recipes, go online or pick up a copy of Martha Stewart’s Pies & Tarts.

7.    DON’T Forget to Be Personal:  Nothing’s more personal than a name. Simple place cards at the Thanksgiving table can add a special touch.  Martha Stewart Crafts™ Glitter set of 24 assorted colors are a fun and festive way to make your place cards sparkle!

8.    DO Ask For Help:  Wondering how to carve a turkey or pair wine with your menu? Martha Stewart and 30 of the nation’s top chefs (Mario Batali, Eric Ripert, Rick Bayless) are hosting the Fifth Annual Martha Stewart Living Radio Thanksgiving Hotline live on Sirius/XM 110 from Nov. 21-23. Call in with your questions and our experts will help you solve your T-day dilemmas. For more inspiration, download our free Thanksgiving Hotline Cookbook filled with more than 40 mouthwatering recipes! And on Nov. 23 at 10 a.m. ET/9 a.m. CT, tune in to The Martha Stewart Show on Hallmark Channel for another chance to ask Martha your last-minute turkey questions!

9.    DO Preserve Memories:  This year, don’t just make memories, preserve them. In December’s Living, Martha created easy and adorable personalized story books for her granddaughter Jude, which you can easily replicate with help fromPinhole Press.  Need more inspiration? Go online to check out fun scrapbook templates and scrapbook ideas.  For scrapbooking tips, watch & learn from Martha Stewart Weddings Editorial Director and Celebrations Expert Darcy Miller. Or create family recipe cards that you can pass down from generation to generation.

10.  DO Be Thankful for Leftovers:  Transform two of the day’s most common leftovers—turkey and mashed potatoes—into a comforting Turkey Pot Pie (Everyday Food, November).  For more ideas on how to turn your leftovers into a Thanksgiving encore, check out our gallery with more than 30 recipes, including Turkey Banh Mi, Cranberry Tartlets, Turkey Chili, Turkey and Sweet Potato Hash and more.

- Thanks Martha Stewart and Team!