(StatePoint)

For home cooks, preparing a Thanksgiving turkey is a rite of passage. Not only do snafu opportunities abound, but there is added pressure on the holiday to prepare and serve a perfect meal for family and guests. Whether you’re a seasoned Thanksgiving chef, or a newbie in the kitchen, these tips can help eliminate the stress associated with prepping your meal’s centerpiece:

Prepare Ahead

It’s hard to perfect a turkey when you’ve got endless side dishes to worry over simultaneously, so accept guests’ offers to bring some favorites. Assemble accompaniments to your meal in advance, especially sauces and dips, which actually improve in flavor over time. Remember, you only have so much space in an oven, so schedule cooking accordingly to ensure everything is ready at mealtime.

Talk Turkey

You may not have aced home economics when you were in school, but the folks at the Turkey Talk hotline are experts in the field. You can get most turkey conundrums solved by giving them a call at 1-800-BUTTERBALL, or by emailing them at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .

Work Smart

Maintaining your knives streamlines kitchen operations, especially the formidable task of carving your Thanksgiving turkey. But knife sharpening doesn’t need to be daunting. In fact, every home cook should get comfortable doing this regularly. With the right tools, your knives will last longer, and be safer and more efficient. Generally, you should hone or polish knife edges after each use and sharpen knives regularly with a high-quality sharpener. Look for a sharpener that offers diversity. For example, Edgeware’s adjustable knife sharpeners include coarse and fine sharpening slots for dull and damaged knives and regular maintenance respectively, and are ideal for sharpening a variety of knives from straight edge blades to serrated. For how-to videos and other tips on restoring your knives to their original factory angle, visit www.edgewareproducts.com. When preparing the Thanksgiving meal, make sure your knives are sharp in the kitchen and to sharpen any knives that will be used to carve your bird at the table. Do this before setting the table so you won’t forget.

Getting it Right

The general wisdom is to allot 1 to 1 1/2 pounds of turkey per person. Just be sure your turkey is big enough to provide you with leftovers! There’s nothing more satisfying than a turkey sandwich for lunch the day after Thanksgiving. Ready your bird for the oven by following the National Turkey Federation guideline on thawing: for every 4 1/2 pounds of frozen turkey, thaw for 24-hours in the refrigerator. You don’t need to be Julia Child to master the art of turkeys. By maintaining your kitchen tools and preparing ahead, you can make Turkey Day successful and stress-free.

(StatePoint)

Supporting the troops is an important thing to do -- but sometimes it’s hard to figure out how. Here are four easy ways to thank those who keep us safe every single day -- even if you don’t personally know someone serving. And with the holidays coming up, it’s the perfect time of year to do it, as many of service men and women are away from family.

Send A ‘Thank You’ Gift

This holiday season, some retailers are making it easy to give a personal “thank you” directly to the men and women serving the country. For instance, national retailer, Things Remembered, is helping people -- even those on a budget -- send unique, personalized gifts to deployed service members. Things Remembered shoppers purchasing gifts for deployed military personnel will receive 25 percent off and free shipping on any personalized gift sent to an APO/FPO address. The promotion will run through November 20, giving plenty of opportunity to personally thank those protecting our nation in time for the holidays. Even shoppers who don’t personally know any deployed servicemen or women can show their support. All Things Remembered stores will be featuring local deployed military members to receive gifts from their hometown neighbors.

Volunteer Your Time

Former service members stateside should also be recognized. Show your appreciation for those who have helped protect our country by volunteering at your local Veterans Affairs hospital or nursing home this season, even if only for a few hours. You are sure to meet some fascinating men and women and you’ll be bringing holiday cheer to those who may not have many visitors.

Give Blood

Giving blood through an organization like the American Red Cross can actually help troops hundreds and thousands of miles away. Military units may depend on rush shipments of blood during times of need, and maintaining an ample supply of all blood types is crucial. Host a blood drive at your workplace or community center, encouraging others to give the gift of life this holiday season. To find a blood drive or donation location near you, visit www.redcrossblood.org.

Be Vocal

Encouraging others to remember our deployed troops is one of the most wide-reaching ways to support the active military during the holidays. By reminding neighbors that our men and women overseas may need a boost of holiday cheer, you could touch hundreds of service members' lives this season. Talk to people, post on Facebook, send out Tweets or include a reminder in your holiday cards. Although the holidays can be a difficult time for deployed service members and their families, there are countless ways you can show your gratitude and appreciation this season. Whether it’s a personalized gift, visit to a veteran, or blood donation, you can give back to those who give so much to our country.

(StatePoint)

Better than any toy, trinket or fruit basket, what if you could give a gift that would actually make a profound difference in someone’s life? The holidays are the perfect time to reach out to the less fortunate. Here are a few ways you can help this holiday season: Work at a Soup Kitchen Many people have made it a yearly tradition to volunteer at a soup kitchen during the holidays. You can help the homeless and hungry get a hot meal and give them the small gift of a full stomach. Contact your local soup kitchen to see how you can help. If you don’t have time to volunteer, consider donating non-perishable goods, as many soup kitchens have a food pantry as well.

Help a Family in a Crisis Zone

A gift from the mall is nice, but donating to a philanthropic organization on behalf of a loved one is a much more meaningful way to celebrate the holidays. There are an estimated 40 million people around the world who have been uprooted from their homes by war and disaster. They live in limbo, struggle to survive and have no place to call home. By purchasing a “Rescue Gift” to honor friends and family in lieu of store-bought presents, you’ll be contributing to critical supplies and services for vulnerable families. The International Rescue Committee’s Rescue Gifts offer a wide variety of gifts at various price points. For example, you can opt to help fund a year of school for girls in Afghanistan, contribute to gardening tools and seeds to help families in need grow food, or help train Burmese refugees, to deliver basic health care. In so doing, both you and your recipient gain a true sense of the kind of work your gift is supporting. “These gifts have a tangible impact on the lives of refugees and others who have been displaced by conflict, political upheaval and natural disaster around the world,” says Kay Bellor of the International Rescue Committee. “They help families to survive and thrive and last a lot longer than a box of chocolates.” For more information or to give Rescue Gifts visit www.Rescue.org/gifts.

Donate Toys

Unfortunately, there are countless children out there whose families can’t afford a gift-filled holiday that many of us take for granted. By donating unwrapped toys and books to charity, your generosity will undoubtedly brighten up a child’s season. As you enjoy the holidays, take the time to help out someone less fortunate. Just a small bit can go a long way.