This is NPR's life kit. I'm Lauren McGockey.

Cooking writer Eric Kim doesn't just like Thanksgiving.

I love, I love Thanksgiving.

He's been cooking at himself since he was 13 years old.

As the child of Korean immigrants in Georgia,

Eric says the adults and his family didn't know how to make American Thanksgiving dishes,

but all the kids wanted to indulge in all the goodness of the day.

Which is why those early Thanksgiving's had like five different pies and a banana pudding.

Remember this is from the mind of a 13 year old?

Turkey was too expensive, so two roast chickens were the main dish, some stove top stuffing.

And over the years, the kids got better at cooking it and then the adults looked forward to it,

and they became this beautiful kind of moment for once a year where the adults could

like sit back and relax. And so it really became our own.

These lovely memories of Thanksgiving seem so idyllic, right?

That is, until you have to start making it yourself.

Spachcock, buttermilk, dry brine, it's easy to get overwhelmed with all the different ways you

can cook a turkey. And what about stuffing?

One recipe site, both 34 recipes for delicious stuffing, each with about a thousand ingredients.

How are you supposed to make everything magically appear on the Thanksgiving table without

totally collapsing into a heap by turkey carving time?

Thanksgiving Day doesn't have to be such a crazy parade of dishes and cooking.

Our Thanksgiving expert, Eric Kim, says with a few strategies, you can actually enjoy time with

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