TAHOE/TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; Itand#8217;s hard to believe Halloween has come and gone and Thanksgiving is next week. Hosting Thanksgiving dinner for a hungry crowd may seem like a daunting and budget-breaking task, but with proper preparation and a few helpful tips, Thanksgiving dinner will be a feast to remember.

Host a tasteful Thanksgiving on a tiny budget

Plan: Gather the recipes you will be using and take an inventory of your pantry. Keep a list of ingredients and watch for them to go on sale. Keep things simple and stick with tried and true traditional dishes. To help reduce costs, consider making assignments to dinner guests to bring beverages, side dishes and desserts.

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Shop smart: Many stores give away turkeys or hams. These free promotions usually involve spending a set amount on other groceries; so plan appropriately and shop for all your groceries at one time. Plan to shop for groceries several days prior to Thanksgiving, when most stores run sales on popular Thanksgiving foods. Shopping early also ensures the stores are fully stocked. To help reduce your shopping bill even more, keep an eye out for coupons that match sale items and consider preparing dishes from scratch and that use fresh, seasonal produce.-

Decorate with nature: Make beautiful, inexpensive centerpieces by using leaves, pinecones, and acorns to fill baskets and bowls you have on hand. Allow children to color pictures of turkeys or cornucopias to use as placemats. Avoid pricey paper goods and use dishes from home instead.

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Make memories and give thanks. Keep in mind that while Thanksgiving centers around a big dinner, it is really about giving thanks and showing love and appreciation for family, friends, and the blessings in our lives. Keeping this in mind, will guarantee a wonderful Thanksgiving gathering to be remembered!

Looking for a flavorful Thanksgiving side that wonand#8217;t break the bank? Try this easy and delicious recipe for Easy Sausage Stuffing!

Easy Sausage Stuffing

Prep Time: 15 minutes

Cook Time: 20 minutes

Serves 6

1/2 pound breakfast sausage

1 small onion, diced

2 stalks celery, diced

2 garlic cloves, minced

1 (8 ounce) package cubed stuffing mix

1/2 teaspoon poultry seasoning

1 1/2 cup chicken broth

1/4 cup melted butter

In a large skillet over medium heat, crumble sausage. Add onion, celery, and garlic. Cook, stirring occasionally until sausage is brown. In a large bowl, place cubed stuffing. Add sausage mixture. Sprinkle with poultry seasoning. Pour broth and butter over the mixture. Bake for 15-20 minutes, or until golden brown.

and#8212; Chef Heather Hunsaker attended and graduated from Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, but has been developing family friendly meals since she was nine years old in her motherand#8217;s kitchen. She is an avid crockpotter and knows how to get food on the table in a pinch. She currently serves as a writer and recipe developer for meal planning site http://www.foodonthetable.com.