Thanksgiving is my perfect holiday. No gifts, no guilt, no religion, just FOOD!  My husband hoards chicken carcasses all year for stock to make his sublime gravy that I drink like soup. Eight loaves of Challah (ordered from Stop and Shop) get chopped up for his famous stuffing (click here). I tend to the sides: mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (some with marshmallows, some without) and a version of Brussels sprouts. Last year they were shredded in the food processor and sauteed with garlic. Delish.

My daughter does most of the baking: a fantastic pumpkin cornmeal cake that’s even better for breakfast the next day and a rustic apple tart (both recipes from dog-eared Fine Cookingmagazines). If I’m feeling ambitious (or my sister is coming) I’ll make a pumpkin cheesecake with a bourbon sour cream topping, from an ancient issue of Gourmet that turns out perfectly wicked every time. I tear recipes from magazines for months, but we end up making the exact same thing every year. After all, this perfect feast comes around but once. I hope you enjoy yours.
I sent intrepid The E List reporter, Shawn, out to hunt down the best turkeys, take out and (for those of you who can’t face the cooking and clean-up) restaurants that are serving on Thanksgiving Day.

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