Remove giblets and neck from turkey; reserve for making Giblet Gravy, if desired. Rinse turkey with cold water; pat dry. Place turkey, breast side up, in a greased broiler pan. Combine salt and next 8 ingredients. Using fingers, carefully loosen skin from turkey at neck area, working down to breast and thigh area. Rub about one-third of seasonings under skin. Rub skin with softened butter; rub with remaining seasonings. Tie legs together with heavy string, or tuck under flap of skin. Lift wing tips up and over back; tuck under turkey.

Add water to pan. Cover turkey with aluminum foil. Bake at 325° for 3 to 3 1/2 hours or until a meat thermometer inserted into meaty part of thigh registers 180°, uncovering turkey after 2 hours. Transfer turkey to a serving platter, reserving pan drippings for gravy. Let turkey stand 15 minutes before carving. Garnish, if desired.

Tip: If you buy a frozen bird, remember to allow about 3 days for a 12- to 14-pound turkey to thaw in the refrigerator.

Combine first 4 ingredients in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 2 hours, removing liver after 20 minutes to prevent overcooking. Remove from heat. Pour broth through a wire-mesh strainer into a bowl. Remove neck meat from bone; chop, and set aside. Chop remaining giblets, and set aside.

Stir 3 1/2 cups broth into reserved turkey drippings in broiler pan that turkey roasted in, or in a large saucepan. Bring to a boil. Combine flour and 1/2 cup water, stirring until smooth; gradually whisk into boiling broth. Add salt and pepper. Reduce heat to medium, and cook, whisking constantly, 5 minutes or until thickened. Stir in chopped neck meat and giblets; cook until thoroughly heated.

Spread biscuit and cornbread crumbs in an ungreased pan. Bake at 300° for 15 minutes or until crumbs are toasted, stirring twice.

Sauté celery and onion in butter in a large skillet over medium-high heat until tender. Remove from heat. Combine sauteed mixture, toasted crumbs, parsley, and next 3 ingredients. Stir in broth and milk. Spoon dressing into a greased 13â€� x 9â€� pan. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour or until browned.

Shortcut Solution: Six frozen biscuits, baked, or six fast-food biscuits will give you 4 cups crumbs. We tested with Pillsbury frozen biscuits and Pioneer cornbread mix. You could also use frozen baked cornbread and warm it in the microwave oven before crumbling. Or buy cornbread from a cafeteria or deli.

Make Ahead: Spoon prepared dressing into pan; cover and chill overnight. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 1 hour. Let stand at room temperature until almost serving time. Just before serving, reheat at 350° for 10 to 12 minutes.

Bring broth to a boil in a saucepan; add lima beans. Return to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 15 minutes or until tender. Stir in peas and 1/2 teaspoon sugar; cook 2 minutes. Drain.

Sauté pine nuts in 2 tablespoons butter in a large skillet over medium heat until golden. Add bean mixture, green onions, and next 3 ingredients; cook 1 minute or until thoroughly heated. Stir in remaining 3 tablespoons butter until melted.

Place baguette slices on an ungreased baking sheet; spread evenly with 1 tablespoon butter. Bake at 400° for 5 minutes or until crisp and golden. Let cool. Process in a blender or food processor until crumbs form. (This will yield about 1 1/2 cups crumbs.) Set aside.

Place squash, onion, and bay leaves in a Dutch oven with a small amount of water. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, and simmer, uncovered, 10 minutes or until squash is tender. Drain, discarding bay leaves. Sprinkle squash with salt and pepper.

Melt 6 tablespoons butter in a 4-quart saucepan over medium heat. Whisk in flour until smooth. Cook 1 minute, whisking constantly. Gradually whisk in milk; cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until thickened and bubbly. Remove from heat; stir in seasoned salt and next 3 ingredients. Gradually stir about one-fourth of hot white sauce into yolks; add to remaining hot white sauce, stirring constantly. Stir in 1 cup cheese.

Combine squash and cheese sauce. Spoon into a greased 2-quart baking dish. Combine remaining 1/2 cup cheese and reserved breadcrumbs; sprinkle over squash. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 40 minutes or until browned.

Note: If you can't find fresh yellow squash, substitute frozen sliced squash.

Cook sweet potatoes in a Dutch oven in boiling water to cover over medium heat 30 minutes or until tender. Cool; peel and mash potatoes.

Combine mashed sweet potato, 1/2 cup brown sugar, and next 4 ingredients in a mixing bowl; beat at medium speed with an electric mixer until smooth. (Or mash with a potato masher until smooth.) Spoon into a greased 2 1/2-quart or 13" x 9" baking dish.

Combine 1/2 cup brown sugar and flour. Cut in 1/4 cup cold butter with a pastry blender until crumbly. Stir in crushed gingersnaps. Sprinkle streusel over sweet potato. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 25 minutes or until streusel is lightly browned.

Make Ahead: Prepare sweet potato filling, and spoon into a greased 2 1/2-quart microwave-safe dish. Cover and chill overnight. Microwave at HIGH 10 minutes or until hot. Prepare streusel, and sprinkle over filling. Bake, uncovered, at 350° for 20 minutes or until streusel is lightly browned.

Combine all ingredients in a saucepan over medium heat. Bring to a boil and cook, stirring often, 2 minutes or until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Cover and chill.

Beat first 4 ingredients at medium speed with an electric mixer 2 minutes. Pour batter into 3 greased and floured 8-inch round cakepans. Bake at 350° for 15 to 20 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pans on wire racks 10 minutes; remove from pans, and cool on wire racks. Wrap cake layers in nonstick aluminum foil and freeze 30 minutes. (This step aids in frosting the finished product.)

Unwrap layers. Spread Raisin-Nut Filling between layers, reserving about 1 1/3 cups for top of cake.

Beat frosting mix and 1/2 cup boiling water at low speed 30 seconds. Scrape down sides of bowl; beat at high speed 5 to 7 minutes or until stiff peaks form. Spread frosting on sides of cake. Spread reserved filling on top of cake. Let stand at least 1 hour before serving. Garnish, if desired.

Combine all ingredients; pour into an 8� square dish. Cover and freeze overnight or until firm. Cut frozen mixture into small squares. Process in a food processor, in 2 batches, until smooth. Place slush in a plastic container; cover and freeze at least 3 hours or until firm. Serve small scoops with sugar cookies or Christmas cookies, if desired.