When it comes to holidays that are stressful to prepare for, Thanksgiving probably ranks No. 1 on the list. For one thing, roasting a turkey isn’t exactly the easiest thing to perfect. Not to mention the fact that other staples like impeccably seasoned stuffing and rich homemade gravy rank pretty high up on the difficulty

Most Southerners are a little bit in love with their slow cookers. The small appliances have an honored spot at holiday meals, they come along to tailgates, and when filled with hot appetizers, they are the life of the party.

Instead of churning out the classic Thanksgiving feast, I’m turning to shortcuts and easy recipes to help me plan a still-satisfying, but stress-free meal.