Turkey, potatoes, stuffing — oh my!

Thanksgiving is not only a time to be thankful for our loved ones, but a day to splurge on delicious food.

Whether your dinner consists of a traditional feast, or a not-so-typical meal, preparing food for the holiday can be easy and fun.

Thanksgiving is a day to watch the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, eat, watch football, and then hit the stores for Black Friday.

Most families start cooking early in the morning, filling the house with warm, cozy scents of pumpkin, turkey, and cranberries the entire day.

Senior Liam Grathoff always looks forward to eating turkey and mashed potatoes (with corn on top, of course), especially since he does not do the cooking.

“My grandparents do all of the cooking,” Grathoff said. “I like being with all of my family and sharing our stories.”

This year, joining in on the cooking can be simple and fun.

Browsing Pinterest for a few minutes will inspire you and your inner chef. Several easy recipes include salads, casseroles, and desserts.

Taking a trip to the store with some friends and family does not take too long and does not have to be expensive. Besides clipping coupons, it is easy to find a recipe that everyone will love.

Browsing the aisles for some apples, honey, walnuts, and romaine lettuce, is all it takes to put together a crisp, fresh salad to take to grandma’s house. Not only is it effortless, it is also inexpensive.

Making a delicious cobbler or dessert only takes a few ingredients: pecans, pumpkin puree, and a little sugar, butter, and flour. These items are just the start of making a warm, gooey pumpkin pecan cobbler. Most baking ingredients can be found at home.

If you are celebrating Thanksgiving in a more modern fashion, there are many ways to spice up traditional dishes.

Taking the cranberry sauce and turning into a cranberry salsa will not only be more popular than the bowl of glop that grandma loves, it only takes a few minutes to update. Many recipes can be accessed on Pinterest.com

Saving leftovers for the next day is a must for most families. Eating turkey, stuffing, and potatoes can be just as yummy the next day.

If you own a waffle maker, putting stuffing in it from the day before is tasty and time efficient.

In addition, combining leftover mashed potatoes, some cheese, and a pinch of seasoning makes a mouthwatering potato pancake out of leftovers.

Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy the company of others, so spend some time in the kitchen fulfilling family traditions or helping to make some new ones.