Websites and Recipes to Help You Plan Thanksgiving

Take a deep breath.  Oh, and don't forget to let it out a few seconds later.

It's true that there's less than a week to go before what is arguably the most food-centered holiday in the United States.  But here are three reasons to relax:

1. Planning is the fun part! The heat and frenzy of the day are a far-off abstraction, so take an hour or two now to have a cup of tea and plan the menu and the time required to prepare it.
2. Resources abound: Now is really the best time in history to learn how to cook.  You have millions of recipes at your fingertips as long as you're connected to the Internet (and I know you are, or how would you be reading this?)  Read on for specifics.
3. Stick it to the Man: This is my favorite American holiday not because of the food (although it's certainly a plus!) I am amazed, year after year, that it remains a simple celebration of family and friends gathering to express thankfulness for all they have, even as the culture arounds us shouts to rile us up about what we don't have.  So revel in the subversiveness of a grateful heart.

And now, the best online resources for preparing and enjoying your feast:

• A Seven-Day Plan: Order your turkey, set out some bread cubes and you'll be all caught up with this step-by-step guide, which will be especially useful for anyone cooking the whole meal alone: Melissa Clark has a logical timetable that leaves room for enjoying each step of the process.
• Turkey Confidential: Lynne Stern of NPR fame has compiled quite a few resources from her program, "The Splendid Table."  You'll find assorted menus (including a three-hour version that covers all the bases,) tips regarding beverage pairings and equipment, and, of course, lots of recipes.
• Smitten Kitchen: This one of my favorite food blogs, so now's as good a time as any to discover it.  You won't believe a 42-square-foot New York galley kitchen could churn out such breathtaking photos of such mouthwatering dishes, but you'll want to click on every single one just to keep gawking.
• The Easiest Thanksgiving: Published by Everyday Food, the less militant wing of the Martha Stewart Empire, these dishes are simple but flavorful and just as homemade.  (If you find yourself wanting to make something a little fussier, trythese.)
• Turkey Talk: Do you need a therapist more than a chef?  Every year the professionals of Butterball's holiday hotline answer questions about etiquette and family dynamics on top of their sage advice about how to stuff a turkey.  Yes, I just made that joke.
• 101 Head Starts: My hero Mark Bittman comes to the rescue with, yes, over a hundred side dishes that can be prepared ahead of time and explained in a sentence or two.  I'm hosting for the first time this year, and several of these dishes will grace my table. (Choosing is the hardest part!)
• Thanksgiving Live: It's more entertainment than information (par for the course when it comes to the Food Network) but I'm sure Alton will have plenty to say, and hey -- there's always the chance we'll see Paula Deen knocked out by a ham again!