The first time you host Thanksgiving dinner at your house there are so many things to consider. After a week of preparing delicious side dishes and baking scrumptious Thanksgiving pies carving the turkey may be the farthest thing from your mind. However, when you remove your perfectly roasted Thanksgiving turkey you will be faced with the inevitable turkey carving.

If you ask advice from friends and neighbors you will get as many recommendations as you have friends. To ease confusion here are four recommendations on carving the perfect Thanksgiving turkey.

Recommendation One: Remove the roasted turkey from the oven 20 minutes before you are ready to serve. The turkey will remain hot and this resting time will allow the juices to incorporate into the turkey meat. Otherwise the turkey juices will flow all over the platter.

Recommendation Two: Be sure to choose a platter large enough to hold the turkey and any garnish you will serve next to the turkey. If you are serving a small group and plan to rest carved turkey on the platter be sure to leave ample room.

Recommendation Three: Remove stuffing from turkey cavity before carving. The stuffing can be placed on the platter with the turkey or in a separate serving dish.

Recommendation Four: If this is your first Thanksgiving plan a practice turkey carving session. Use a small roaster chicken and carve as you would the turkey.

Shauna Hanus is a gourmet cook who specializes in creating gourmet recipes. She has extensive experience cooking with easy to find grocery items to create delightful gourmet meals. She has put together a special Thanksgiving report that gives you 73 recipes to use with your leftover turkey as well as a special holiday ice cream cookbook that includes favorites like pumpkin pie ice cream and pecan pie ice cream. She has also put together a holiday planning guide to help you have the most enjoyable Thanksgiving ever. You can find all of these at http://www.turkey-leftovers.com

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