MY FAVORITE DAY OF THE YEAR: Thanksgiving Eve. Actually, if I’m being honest, the EVE of Thanksgiving Eve is probably my favorite.

It’s literal perfection. The anticipation, the planning, the prepping, the cleaning, the CAFFEINE. We don’t stop drinking coffee until way, way after the kids are in bed. By this point, I’m peeling potatoes like a machine and Paul has decided not to involve himself with kitchen activities, so he starts putting a puzzle together at the dining room table.

We’re talking about desserts for our Thanksgiving night bakeoff, we’re texting friends and family to solidify plans, we’re listening to Christmas music and letting the kids stay up way too late. We’re on Foodnetwork.com, I’m frantically searching for a new and incredibly innovative recipe for Brussel sprouts or carrots (it never fails. Last year, the bourbon maple carrots I found were a hit). I’m gagging at turkey prep (will I ever be mature enough to clean/cook my own turkey?!)

Do you have any day-before-Thanksgiving traditions that you love? What about tried and true recipes? I need some more for my arsenal! There are only so many veggies I can transform with brown sugar, maple syrup and bourbon.