Thanksgiving is one of the most favorite American holidays, and it’s a great chance to bring your family together. You’ll get to see all your favorite people and spend some time relaxing, laughing, and, of course, having some delicious food. An amazing Thanksgiving menu is one of the most important things in the lives of so many people, which is why they spend months and months working on their menu and trying to make it perfect. If you too are looking for some wonderful ideas for your Thanksgiving dinner, here are five classy meals you might want to look into.

Turkey/chicken roast

This idea might seem too simple at first, especially if you’re used to eating poultry every single week, but it’s still a delicious meal you need to look into. Every home cook has their own recipe for the best Thanksgiving turkey, which is why there are so many variations out there. You can make your turkey juicer or leaner, depending on your own taste and your family’s preferences. You can also use a few extra ingredients as well – anything from apples and cider to garlic and basil can make your turkey even more special. If you’re not a fan of turkey meat or don’t need that much meat, you can always roast a chicken instead. Again, give it all the love and attention it deserves, and your Thanksgiving menu will have the greatest centerpiece you could’ve imagined.

Mushroom gravy

This is another star of your menu – although turkey roast is still the main act – and it’s a dish that’s going to make your turkey taste even better. Everyone loves a good gravy, and every family has a recipe they love the most. Making gravy from mushrooms is an option all vegetarians in your surroundings are going to love, especially if you spice it up with some tasty herbs. Adding thyme, sage, basil or even rosemary into the mix will make all the difference, and show everyone what an amazing cook you really are. Making this gravy shouldn’t be too hard and you probably won’t spend too much time or money on it, but it’s still going to take your Thanksgiving dinner from ordinary to spectacular.

Tapas

This might not be your classic Thanksgiving meal, but with so many cultures and nationalities living in the USA, it’s only natural to try something else and extravagant from time to time. Tapas might be just the thing you were looking for, and this amazing appetizer will make this year’s dinner amazing on more levels than one. Luckily, there are lots of ideas and ingredients you can try out – from olives, cheese, and garlic, to beef, squid and turkey – so be sure to make lots of these for all your guests. If you’ve never done that before, ordering some might be a good idea as well, especially if you live in major cities like New York, for instance. Checking out wonderful catering in NYC will help you out quite a lot, and you’ll have more time and energy to spend on your loved ones.

Mashed potatoes

This is another Thanksgiving classic, and it’s a dish you simply can’t ignore. In short, matter where you live, how old you are, and how many people are coming to your dinner party, you need to have some mashed potatoes! But, if you want to enhance your dinner experience a bit and make it more unique, experimenting with potatoes is always a good thing. From ricotta cheese to basil and thyme, taking your potatoes to the next level is easier than it sounds. All you need to do is find an idea that’s unusual and new, and then figure out a way to incorporate it into your Thanksgiving dinner menu.

Apple pie

Now that your guests are full of turkey and everything else you’ve prepared for them, it’s time to send them home with a bang. No Thanksgiving dinner can be perfect without a perfect dessert, and your all-American apple pie is one of the classiest and tastiest ways to finish a meal. What’s even better is that you’ll need only about half an hour to prepare it, which means you can do it while your turkey is in the oven. This classic pie is full of those rich and juicy Granny Smith apples, so it’s not as fattening as you’d think. All you need to do is get all the ingredients beforehand, in case you realize not just one pie is going to be enough for all your guests.

Preparing a tasty Thanksgiving dinner sounds like a lot of work, and most people spend days and even weeks preparing a huge amount of food. What you need to do is change the paradigm, though, and insist on quality instead of quantity. Stick to these five ideas, and you’ll create a menu that’s going to make all your guests happy and satisfied.

QUEERGURU Correspondent PETER MINKOFF is  a gay health and lifestyle writer at QUEER VOICES magazine. Besides writing, he worked as a freelance fashion stylist in Europe and Australia. A true craft beer and soy latte aficionado, he loves spending his days at the beach and visiting second hand stores on a daily basis. Follow Peter on TWITTER for more tips.