Thanksgiving Countdown: Pseudo-Gourmet Menu on a Budget

Hosting Thanksgiving in your rental and looking for the free-range turkey experience on a oven-stuffer-roaster budget?

We've got you covered. Impressing the guests is all in the subtlety. Add a few flashes here and there and they'll never notice you got your bird at Walmart. Start off with a festive cocktail to put everyone in a good mood and you're already off and running. Hit em with a five-dish meal then seal it up with zippy dessert and pow! You're a winner. (But warning: You may get stuck hosting again next year - so maybe burn at least one dish.)

And now, may we present our simple menu for a pull-the-wool-over-their-eyes, pseudo-gourmet Thanksgiving.