Tampa, Florida-Thanksgiving is still a week away, and we want to make sure you have a reliable game plan to complete the perfect holiday meal.

We contacted chefs in the Tampa Bay area to learn about their proven techniques to help you reduce your time in the kitchen and spend more time with friends and family.

What is the first thing to remember when preparing for Thanksgiving dinner? You don't have to do all this on Thanksgiving!  

Jeff Conley, the planning chef of Publix Aprons Culinary School, said, figure out your dinner menu now so you can avoid going to the grocery store at the last minute. 

"Start shopping bit by bit, so you don't panic to make sure you get everything in one go. You can go on each shopping trip bit by bit, collect everything, and then start preparing a day or so," Conley said.

If you want to make mashed potatoes, Conley said, starting the day before, peel the potatoes and put them in water. For homemade cranberry sauce, make it a day or two in advance to reduce stress. 

"This will save you from headaches. Doing things ahead of time will help you feel happy and calm before Thanksgiving, which is an important thing," Conley added. 

Related: How to Carve the Perfect Turkey

If this is your first Thanksgiving or your first time cooking a big meal for many people, Conley says you may not realize that timing will be something you need to consider. Make sure all dishes come out at the same time. 

No one wants these potatoes to get cold while waiting for the turkey to come out of the oven. Anything prepared in advance should be taken out 30 minutes before cooking. Conley recommends putting it on your counter and letting it reach room temperature so that it will cook more evenly and faster at a better speed.

After coming out of the oven, be sure to give your turkey time to sit on the counter and absorb the surrounding liquid for 25 minutes. Conley said that if you go straight from the oven to carving, you will dry the bird.

After removing the bird from the oven, you can now place any other noodles or casseroles in the oven, which may take 30 minutes to heat up. When they come out, you slice the turkey and everything is served immediately.

2. Do too much at once 

Remember, you are not cooking for 30 people. Even if you are, you don't need 30 dishes. Conley recommends focusing on dishes that are important to you and your Thanksgiving. 

Conley said: "If you try to do all of this, especially if this is your first or second Thanksgiving, you will be overwhelmed. You will eat a lot of food that no one eats... There are still many plates to Clean up.".

3. Prepare a big turkey for small gatherings

If you are hosting a small feast for 2-4 people, Conley says turkey tenderloin may be a better choice, and it's just as delicious.

"You can still season the turkey like you did for Thanksgiving, you can still roast it, and it still goes well with all these sauces and everything you like to put with the turkey."

For a small group of people, Conley also recommends sticking to a dessert.

Thanksgiving is not the time to try new recipes—especially if this is your first time hosting. 

"Keep it simple and simple, don't worry about the various techniques or the large number of ingredients that will make it easy for you, especially if you haven't done a lot of Thanksgiving in the past, maybe this is your first try one or two," Conley said.

Gravy, cranberry sauce, and side dishes can all be simple recipes that don't require a lot of ingredients.  

"We are not trying to surprise people with a lot of technology. This is a family holiday. It will be a lot of family recipes, a lot of very simple recipes, and the wonderful taste of autumn can promote us," Conley added.

Do you have any questions for the chef? Text them 727-577-8522. Chef Connley will join 10 Tampa Bay from 6 to 7 am the day before Thanksgiving to answer these questions as you prepare your meal.

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