A totally calm and doable feast for Turkey Day newbies

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If you're cooking Thanksgiving for the very first time this year, guess what? It doesn't have to be a stressful proposition. This easy menu, which includes our simplest roast turkey recipe and a few foolproof sides, will take you from cocktails to dessert with your wits intact.

TO START

Warmed Spiced Olives

Kick off the meal with a cocktail—a Scotchy Boulevardier, batched for a crowd, would be perfect—along with olives that have been gently warmed with lemon, bay leaves, and chile flakes.

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THE MEAL

The Simplest Roast Turkey

All you really need for a great Thanksgiving turkey is salt, pepper, and a solid cooking method. (We’ve got instructions for bone-in breasts for small crowds, too.)

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Smashed Green Bean Salad With Crispy Shallots

Pair the bird with a bright salad of smashed green beans.

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“Simple Is Best” Dressing

Complete the meal with an essentials-only dressing, and a make-ahead cranberry sauce. Don't forget the gravy!

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DESSERT

Apple Pandowdy

Imagine an apple crisp, but topped with shards of crispy puff pastry instead of oats. (Store-bought puff pastry is perfectly acceptable, by the way.) Scatter the pieces across apples that have been tossed with lemon, ginger, cinnamon, and sugar. Bake, and then serve with ice cream or whipped cream.

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Want even more ideas? Take our Thanksgiving quiz to build your own custom menu. 

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