Have you started to panic that Thanks­giv­ing is almost upon us?  Have you final­ized that menu, planned the gro­cery list and started to prep?  Don’t worry – I haven’t either – but I’m in panic mode now.

Here are a few links to some fab­u­lous reads that will help you get your hol­i­day plan in order.

First up:  Bliss­fully Domes­tic has a Thanks­giv­ing Cook­ing Check­list that is a must read.

Lana at Never Enough Thyme has some ideas for Thanks­giv­ing Menu Plan­ning.

Jen at One Curly Fry In A Box Of The Reg­u­lar has her pri­or­i­ties set with Thanks­giv­ing Cock­tails.  I know I’ll also be serv­ing Sunny’s Bour­bon Cider Twist – love that cocktail!

Megan from This Girl Can Eat has you cov­ered with Wine Pair­ing Ideas for Your Thanks­giv­ing Din­ner.

If you watched Food Network’s Thanks­giv­ing LIVE! yes­ter­day – you prob­a­bly noticed that the chefs all talked about the impor­tance of appe­tiz­ers (and cock­tails) to keep hun­gry guests from dri­ving you nuts.  Sue over at Food Net­work Mus­ings has a great idea for Tiny Thanks­giv­ing Tarts that will have your guests “ooh-ing and ahhh-ing” over these stun­ning (yet sim­ple) appetizers!

Michelle from Taste As You Go has a great idea for Bacon Wrapped Brus­sels Sprouts that also would make a great appetizer!

Thanks­giv­ing isn’t always just about the turkey –the sides play a vital role, imo.  Kick­ing off the sides spot­light is Susan over at Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy with her Killer Can­died Sweet Pota­toes that not only sound deli­cious but, thanks to the pho­tos, look scrumptious!

If you like a lit­tle spice in your sweet pota­toes, why not try Alli – n– Son’s Chipo­tle Mashed Sweet Pota­toes instead?

Loralee at one of my favorite mag­a­zines, Where Women Cook, has a great recipe for a Broc­coli Salad.

Do you serve soup as a starter?  Instead of the typ­i­cal but­ter­nut squash soup, why not try this Pump­kin Black Bean Soup from Ali Girl Cooks.

Gina at Skin­ny­Taste has a Make-Over Corn Casse­role which is a cross between a corn pud­ding and a corn­break that is waist­line friendly.

Thanks­giv­ing also requires that stuff­ing (or dress­ing) must be on the menu.  Brown Eyed Baker has a Sausage Fig & Cran­berry Stuff­ing which was adapted from the Bare­foot Con­tessa that will def­i­nitely be on the menu in addi­tion to my Bampa’s Chest­nut Dressing.

Mother Thyme also has a Wild Rice and Cran­berry Stuff­ing which is another great stuff­ing idea.

Chi­nese Grandma has a quick & easy recipe for a Easy Cran­berry Sauce that will have you put away the canned stuff for good.

I’m going to attempt to make my own gravy (that is hope­fully LUMP FREE) this year.  One idea I have is from Michael Ruhlman and his fool­proof method for a fab­u­lous Turkey Gravy.

Brown Eyed Baker also has a recipe for Home­made Gravy that looks sim­ple yet full of fla­vor.  Did some­one say Brandy?

Instead of the typ­i­cal din­ner roll, why not try Cre­ative Culinary’s  Pump­kin and Sage Bis­cuits with Sage and Caramelized Shal­lot Brown But­ter.

Not Rachael Ray has a fab­u­lous recipe for Pump­kin Ched­dar Muffins that will also be on the menu this week.

Now – turkey prep time and every­one I talked to is all about the brine.  I’m still con­sid­er­ing but, if I do, I’m def­i­nitely going to try Annie Bakes’ recipe for Turkey Brine.

The first turkey I roasted – let’s just say it was a learn­ing les­son.  I have got­ten MUCH bet­ter over the years but I’m always learn­ing new tips and tricks.   Michael Ruhlman comes to the res­cue again with a new method for a Roasted & Braised Turkey.

We Are Not Martha also exam­ines How To Cook A But­ter­ball Turkey.

Finally, The Kitchn (which is always a wealth of infor­ma­tion) dis­cusses How To Cook A Turkey.

No Thanks­giv­ing would be com­plete with dessert, right?  I am pretty pos­i­tive that Pump­kin Cheese­cake will be on the menu this week as my dear friend Bec is rumored to be send­ing one down to Philly with my dad.  Her recipe has spoiled me for any and all other pump­kin cheese­cakes and – if she agrees – I might just have to dis­close it here on Cook­ing in Stilet­tos.  How­ever, not hav­ing it here won’t help you this week so I found some alternatives.

When I’m look­ing for tried and true dessert ideas, one of the first blogs I think of is Emily from Sugar Plum and, sure enough, she has you cov­ered with a Lay­ered Amaretti Apple Pump­kin Pie.

I know many are all about the cup­cakes (yes Jen – I also mean you!) and Some­thing Swanky has a delec­table Apple Cider Cup­cakes and Salted Caramel But­ter­cream. (this is SO going in the recipe arsenal!)

Want some­thing chic for dessert at the Thanks­giv­ing table?  Why not try Loralee of  Where Women Cook del­ish Blue­berry Lemon Mini Tarts.

Finally, another idea for a delight­fully unex­pected dessert instead of the typ­i­cal pie comes from Susan of Sticky Gooey Creamy Chewy with her Maple Pump­kin Cheese­cake Bars.

What to do with Thanks­giv­ing left­overs? Jaden at Steamy Kitchen has a great Turkey Gumbo that will be on the menu this year.

Not a gumbo fan?  The Merry Gourmet has you cov­ered with a deli­cious Turkey Tetrazz­ini casserole.

Don’t for­get to make some Turkey Stock.  Emily Malloy’s Clean­li­ness Is Next To God­li­ness has you covered.

Finally – no Thanks­giv­ing would be per­fect with­out a fab­u­lous table.  The Decor Girl has some great ideas on how to dress your hol­i­day table for impact.

What’s on your menu for Thanks­giv­ing this year?

 Finally – because I’ve never done this before but thought “Why Not” – if you have a great Thanks­giv­ing Recipe post, why not link below.

What a week!  Well here are a few things that piqued this gal’s inter­est this week.

• Justin over at Just­CookNYC has a recipe writ­ing cheat sheet that one needs to learn. live. love!
• Jew­els From The Rov­ing Stove dishes on a Red Tie Affair For The Amer­i­can Red Cross, com­plete with pics AND a recipe.  Plus – her new site, JulieAnneRhodes.com is fab­u­lous! Update your book­marks because it’s one of those blogs that is a must read.
• La Phemme Phoodie brings a bit of sun­shine and long­ing for lazy days at the shore with her post about one of my favorite places, Ocean City, NJ. 
• Did you know that Jen over at One Curly Fry In A Box Of The Reg­u­lar hosts 5 Ingre­di­ent Fri­days and this week’s sub­ject – White Pizza.  There’s some­thing to be said for using fresh ricotta!  Looks delish!
• Feast on the Cheap has a del­ish Sweet & Spicy Pineap­ple Pork Tacos recipe – and they are giv­ing away a 5.5 Le Creuset – hurry – enter! I’ll wait.
• Quinoa in a Pizza Crust – Really?  Check out Tasty Eats At Home’s Adven­tures in Pizza.
• Still stumped on an Easter dessert – go no fur­ther.  But­ter My Kitchen has the recipe for a creamy dreamy coconut cream pie that is sim­ple and comforting.
• Finally, The Girl in the Mini has a super sim­ple baked honey but­ter curry chicken that will be on next week’s menu at my house, much to the cha­grin of the Sous Pug who has now been cursed with a bland diet.  Sorry pup!