Test run each recipe in the month before you host!

I've been hosting Thanksgiving every year since COVID and this is my number-one tip. I try to vary the menu a bit, at least with the sides, to make things a little interesting. Each year during the first two weeks of November, I test-run each recipe and CAREFULLY record how long each step actually takes, instead of relying on the cookbook guidelines. Sometimes it's faster! A lot of the time it's slower! In any case it's really good to know so that I can accurately make a cooking timeline for the actual day. Linking to the cookbook which, although it's for Christmas, I used extensively for last year's Thanksgiving, because the Brits tend to do a turkey for Christmas so all the wonderful sides etc are included in this :)