Whether you are nervous about cooking turkey, can't find a recipe for home side dishes, or forgot an ingredient in the store, we can help you. 

Here is a brief overview of all things Thanksgiving to get your holiday on track:  

Turkey is the main attraction for Thanksgiving dinner, so it’s important to be prepared to cook it.  

In order to help any turkey novice, even an experienced holiday chef, we have prepared a cheat sheet to ensure that you will spend the day from start to finish. 

The rule of thumb for thawing turkey is to allow every 5 pounds of turkey to thaw in the refrigerator for 24 hours. To be on the safe side, you can even add an extra thaw day. 

"To speed up this process, you can thaw it in water," said Chef Michael Heaps of Harry's Savoy Grill and Ballroom. "Other than that, timing is really the only thing." 

Heaps recommends putting the turkey in a pot of water in the refrigerator.

If time permits, he recommends soaking the turkey in brine for a few days before roasting to increase moisture.

If you plan to marinate the turkey in brine, remember that it will take 8 to 18 hours. At any time, the salted bird may have a spongy texture.  

To make salt water, add salt to hot water, then simmer until the salt is completely dissolved. You can add other aromatic ingredients to your liking, including vegetables, herbs, and citrus fruits. Before submerging the turkey, cool the brine to room temperature.

More: Thanksgiving Dinner: How do inflation and rising grocery prices affect your holiday meals?

After the turkey is thawed, you can prepare it for the oven by filling it-before you ask, here is a chef-approved position on the filling versus condiment versus filling debate.  

"Where I come from, we always call it stuffing," said Heaps, a native of Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. "As long as it is good, it is really important to me."

 Due to food safety risks, the USDA does not recommend that you fill turkey. Instead, they recommend baking the fillings in casseroles.

Heaps abandoned the traditional fillings and chose to use mirepoix inside the turkey, mixed with carrots, celery and onions, and added lemon, bay leaf and thyme. 

He said the mixture keeps the inner cavity moist and allows the juice to seep into the water droplets.  

To further prevent the turkey from drying out, Heaps has some reliable tricks... well, the chef's coat. 

Is there any gravy? : Expert Rick Rogers’ Thanksgiving: The Secret of Delicious Gravy

The turkey should be cooked for 13 minutes per pound. If stuffed for 15 minutes, the temperature is between 325 and 350 degrees. The cooking time can be adjusted according to the oven temperature, but be careful not to use too high a temperature to avoid scorching the inside of the turkey while it is still raw.  

"Don't bake too high. You want to make sure you apply it. Low and slow is a good way," he said. "If you want to make the skin brittle, you can always adjust it to the end." 

Before eating, all internal temperatures of poultry must reach 165 F, so it is planned to check their temperature several times with a meat thermometer.

Once your turkey comes out of the oven, let it rest for about half an hour before you start carving.  

To do this, you need to break down each part and slice it as you go. It starts with the chest, wings, and thighs, and ends with the legs, usually intact. Heaps said that the remaining meat can be picked from turkey.  

Worried about the last-minute turkey emergency? There is a hotline-Butterball's "Turkish Talking Hotline" started in 1981. There are only six people and can help you solve any day's misfortune, no matter what the problem may be.  

You can call 800-288-8372 (1-800-BUTTERBALL) or send a text message to 844-877-3456 to contact the Turkish telephone hotline. You can also contact them via email to send an email, but the response may be delayed during peak holiday periods.  

Crazy Turkey Story: This hotline may be your lifeline for Thanksgiving

Did you forget to take the turkey out of the refrigerator? You are not destined. A fully frozen turkey can be cooked on the same day, but it takes about 50% longer than normal. Partially thawed turkey takes slightly less time, but it is still longer than usual.  

If you encounter the worst and give up your bird, Heaps has some familiar suggestions.  

"I don't know, I guess it's the 3 second rule," he said. "If you eat around family and friends and they don't mind, I want to go." 

However, we are not heretics, so Heaps recommends removing the top layer of meat that touches the ground.  

Everyone knows that Thanksgiving dinner is incomplete without a series of side dishes.  

Among the many choices, mashed potatoes is the most popular dish at the festival. Whether you like whipping or mashing, unsalted or buttered, there is always a recipe for you. 

Perfect Thanksgiving: Affirmative Thanksgiving from expert Rick Rodgers: Make mashed potatoes and chutney in advance

For those who want to try something new this year, Heaps recommends a less traditional sweet potato gnocchi side dish.

He threw away the sweet potato gnocchi, which is usually made of russet potatoes, brown butter, cranberries, spinach, and fried red peppers, and made a dish that would be delicious. 

It is also a good idea to strike a balance between the color, texture, and flavor of the noodles you choose to make. Adding simple side dishes featuring fresh local ingredients can add interest to your plate.  

Think about a dish that is easily made on the stove, and it will also create more space for baked goods and desserts in the oven. 

A few days’ side: Mashed potatoes: This holiday staple may have its roots in 17th-century British cooking

Speaking of desserts, you may want to make pies and freeze them as early as possible to eliminate some of the noise in the kitchen, you will have more time to make other dishes, and you only need enough time to heat each pies in the oven. 

One ingredient is missing? One of these alternatives might get you through the day.

Remember that alternative ingredients always depend on the food being cooked. 

In order to obtain whole milk, melted butter can be blended into a lower milk percentage to fatten it. To completely replace 2%, skimmed or low-fat milk, almond milk and coconut milk can solve the problem. You can make buttermilk at home by adding a little lemon juice or white vinegar to whole milk. 

Orange juice, unsweetened applesauce, and pumpkin puree are simple egg substitutes that can be found in your pantry. Flax and chia seeds are also popular substitutes. 

Instead of mayonnaise, plain Greek yogurt is often used, which will not affect the taste too much. 

For people who make boxed cakes and are exhausted from measuring ingredients all day long, try a can of soda instead of the oil, eggs, and water that are usually listed. Fruit flavors such as grape or lemon lime work best.  

Forgot to buy cranberry sauce? Out of salt and pepper? Most grocery stores will shorten their business hours to celebrate the holidays, but other stores will be closed. 

The opening hours of some stores have not yet been announced, so please be sure to call your local supermarket to get the latest information when the holidays are approaching: 

Giant at Concord Square in Talleyville is open from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m. 

The ACME at Wilmington Tram Square is open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.  

Shoprite at Christiana Crossing in Wilmington will be closed.  

Food Lion, located in the center of Salem on the Bear Pulaski Highway, is open from 7 am to 5 pm  

The Walmart Supercenter in Middletown will be closed. 

Food Lion in Milton is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Safeway at Rehoboth's Shops on the Sea Coast is open from 6 am to 7 pm  

Food Lion in Milton is open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

Frozen Pies: Thanksgiving Guide: Making and Baking Frozen Apple Pies. seriously.