Not able to get together with family and friends this year? That’s ok, there are still plenty of good reasons to head to the kitchen and whip up your favorite Thanksgiving recipes. After all, your grandmother’s green bean casserole or Aunt Martha’s pecan pie might just be the ticket to a happier, healthier you.

According to experts, our favorite foods and beverages have the ability to trigger positive emotions, not just from taste, but from all of our senses. In addition to typically being food we find comforting, traditional holiday dishes often have strong memories associated with them, memories of joyful moments with those most special to us. Even the aromas and flavors of your Thanksgiving favorites can help induce feelings of positivity, happiness, and optimism.

Not exactly a pro around the kitchen and need a little help? No problem, we’ve gathered up a collection of sites to make even the least experienced cooks look like a seasoned pro.

How to cook a turkey.

Yep, let’s start at the beginning, cooking a turkey. Here are a couple of resources. First, this step-by-step guide – Cooking a Turkey for Beginners – is terrific, full of tips and hints from the size turkey to get and how to safely thaw one out, to how to carve it up and store leftovers. This World’s Simplest Thanksgiving Turkey recipe and short video from the Food Network gives you a recipe anyone can master.

Old school sides.

Rich and creamy mashed potatoes. Homemade cranberry sauce. Amazing mac and cheese. You name it, this Taste of Home article of 60 Traditional Thanksgiving Sides covers pretty much any side dish you might be craving.

Save room for dessert.

What Thanksgiving feast is complete without a yummy, scrumptious, delicious dessert? It’s the perfect way to top off the meal and here’s an article to help you hunt down the perfect choice for any sweet tooth, 25 of Grandma’s Best Thanksgiving Desserts. Check out this amazing collection of pies, cakes, tarts, crisps, and puddings.

Something to whet the appetite.

Want to kick off the pre-meal celebration with something a little different? Check out Esquire’s 10 Thanksgiving Cocktails That Are a Hell of a Lot Easier to Make Than a Turkey (also our choice for most creative article headline). Just remember, too much pre-meal celebrating might make some of the above recipes a bit harder to pull off!

Thanksgiving, the sequel.

Sure, turkey sandwiches are fine, but for those who are interested in taking a more creative approach to leftovers, here are some amazing ideas from Chef John, the resident Food Network cooking guru.

This year, more than ever, it is important to spend time looking for, and recognizing, those things in our lives we are thankful for. We hope each of you safely enjoy the holiday and use it as an opportunity for celebration and inspiration…and good eating.

Stay well.