Holiday dinner help me please!!!!!!!!!!!!?

If you are really that worried about cooking for the family you could check and see if your local grocery store offers pre made Thanksgiving dinners. By the time you buy everything you need to cook dinner it really doesn't cost that much more to buy it pre made and then you don't have to worry about cooking. Or you can get the turkey pre made and just make the side dishes since it seems you are most worried about making the turkey.

ETA: How to cook a turkey if that is what you decide to do.

First, if you buy a frozen turkey you will need to thaw it out before you cook it. You can thaw it out either by placing it in the fridge, but that takes some time. Allow about 24 hours per 5 pounds of turkey. Or you can thaw it by submerging it in ice cold water. Allow 30 minutes in the water per pound of turkey. You will need to change the water every 30 minutes with this method. Do not thaw by just sticking it on the counter as this will cause bacteria to grow quickly inside your turkey.

Once your turkey is thawed and you are ready to cook, you can ready the turkey for roasting. Reach inside the turkey and pull out the giblets. Rinse the turkey inside and out and pat dry with paper towels. Place the turkey breast side up on a roasting rack inside a roasting pan. Usually I rub the outside of the turkey with a little butter and add some salt and pepper. Don't add too much salt or you may dry the turkey out a bit. You can also add salt and pepper to the inner cavity. You can also add any other spices you like to the turkey. Stuffing would probably be best cooked on the stove or if you are making your own bake it in a separate dish in the oven. Place the pan on the bottom rack of your oven (move the oven rack to the lowest level). Roast the turkey at 325 until a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the thigh registers about 180 degrees. A meat thermometer is a good investment to help you know when the turkey is done. Roasting your turkey will take approximately:

8 to 10 pounds:

2 hours, 45 minutes to 3 hours

12 to 14 pounds:

3 hours to 3 hours, 45 minutes

14 to 18 pounds:

3 hours, 45 minutes to 4 hours, 15 minutes

18 to 20 pounds:

4 hours, 15 minutes to 4 hours, 30 minute

20 to 24 pounds:

4 hours, 30 minutes to 5 hours

These are times for turkeys that are not stuffed. If you do decide to stuff it, it will take a little bit longer to roast. Maybe about a half hour or so. Remember a meat thermometer is the best way to determine if your turkey is done.

Good luck with whatever you decide.

Buy a bird that has a pop up timer if you make sure it has plenty of water (about 1/2 full) you'll be fine. Now cooking the bird is going to have to depend on if you stuffed it or not I would say NOT. Only because you then have to be concerned with making sure everything is fully cooked. Check the bird for 1. weight 2. how many minutes per pound it should say all this either on the package or inside. I lay the bird on top of celery stalks, it helps it from sticking. Take out the pouch of stuff it will be the neck, heart, liver. I cook this up also, but in a pot just in case you need the juice for gravy. Put the stuffing in a bread pan or even a casserole dish while the turkey is cooking put some of the juice in the stuffing to give it some of that flavor, about the only thing you have to worry about is keeping the stuffing from drying out. The important thing is to RELAXE, stress will only make it worse

The turkey is pretty easy. There are instructions on the package. Dont be afraid to get creative with it... as long as it stays moist, it will be good and you do that by basting it often. You can even tuck butter and garlic under the skin to add more flavor. Everything else, stuffing, cranberry jelly, mashed potatoes, etc.. buy in a box and make it easy on yourself. The turkey takes a few hours to cook so you will have time to make all those. Good Luck!

lol, you already got pies!?

hmmmmm, do you know anybody that can cook?

have them come over the night before and cook up some of the food then.

make a salad, this involves no cooking, just get good fresh vegetables. canned cranberry sauce is also an easy out. make some rolls real quick before dinner, the ones you bake up real qucik, (like pillsbury) make a jello salad the night before as well, put some fruit in it, make sure the fruit and jello go together. a vegetable or two should be easy, some cans of peas, corn, etc, or a frozen veggie, won't take too long to make, and shouldn't be too hard to make. An antipasto salad would be pretty easy and you could make it the night before.

you could try and impress them with a nice little snack tray, (carrots, celery, cheeses, crackers, cocktail shrimp) whatever you and your family like.

you still need like

mash potatoes, the turkey, stuffing, and maybe yams or something, depends on what you like and what your in laws like. I'm sorry I can't be of more help on the main dish, but I suck at cooking too, lol, just thought i'd give you some easy ideas.

try and find out what your inlaws like and ask for help.

Get yourself together woman! go buy a butterball (not a bad turkey) and call the nice people on the instruction card. They'll help you! OR......just look up the best turkey recipe online and go from there! a good thanksgiving meal is really easy! yes it takes time, but it's not rocket science!!!!!! a turkey stuffed, mashed spuds, veggies, dinner rolls, a good red and white wine and even a good bakery (yes , store bought, pumpkin pie) you can splurge and whip your own heavy cream and sugar for a nice homemade touch! Really, I'm a guy and I fix this meal with all the trimmings from scratch every year and it's a piece of cake! go for it!

they make these cooking bags. they are AWSOME i used them when i first started cooking holiday dinner cuz i didnt want to screw it up but i still use them just cuz they are so easy and make an awsome turkey. no basting needed and the bird is oh so moist.

One big hit i always make is green beans and mushroom soup. heat the mushroom soup stir with wire whisk when creamy and hot add green beans. if your scared about the stuffing stove top can always be used. not as good as the real stuff but will help alot. but definatly cook the bird in a cooking bag AWSOME YUMMY

Ingredients

* 1 (12 lb) of turkey

* 4 tsp of butter

* 1/2 tsp of dried tarragon

* 1/2 tsp of dried parsley flakes

* 1/2 tsp of dried thyme

* 1/2 tsp of dried basil

* 1/2 tsp of sage

* 1/2 tsp of paprika

* 1/2 tsp of onion powder

* 1/2 tsp of granulated garlic powder

* 1/2 tsp of salt

* 1/2 tsp of ground black pepper

Directions

1. First you want to remove giblets from both cavities at both ends and set aside.

2. Now rinse the bird all overand pat him down dry.

3. Next you shoud put a rack into a large roasting pan,and then place the turkey onto the rack with the breast and legs up.

4. Now put your palm full of butter in between the skin and flesh.

5. Now take a glob of butter into the palm of your hand and generously rub the turkey with the butter.

6. Next you should sprinkle the entire bird with salt, freshly ground black pepper, onion powder, granulated garlic powder, tarragon, parsley flakes, thyme, basil and paprika.

7. Then pour about 1/4" to 1/2" of water in the bottom of the roasting pan, DONT WASH OF SEASONINGS!!

8. Now make a tent over turkey with aluminum foil and place into a preheated 325 degree oven for approx.1 1/2 hours.

9. Then take off foil tent and wrap foil around the legs and wings.

10. Now make sure to baste the turkey and return it back to oven for the remainder of the cooking time.

11. Note: When the juices run clear and not red when you puncture the bird between the thigh and the breast.

12. Cooking time will vary depending on the size of the turkey.

Try the turkey hotline by butterball.

You can always buy a precooked bird, deep fried Turkeys are actually quite delicious and suprisingly moist.

Roasting a turkey is easy. Just make sure you don't get one that is too big for your oven. If it is frozen, make sure it has a couple of days to defrost completely.

Look up the recipes on www.recipezaar.com and see what appeals to you.

Really, roasting is straight forward. You'll be fine.

Go to www.foodnetwork.com and click on Rachel Rays "Thanksgiving in 60". She makes a complete thanksgiving feast in under an hour and gives great tips for simple, easy cooking. Good Luck