The most common mistakes people make cooking a turkey for Thanksgiving dinner

CTVNews.ca called on professional home economist and cookbook author, the self-professed 'turkey lady' Mairlyn Smith to share her words of wisdom and encouragement for all those doing battle in the kitchen over the Thanksgiving weekend.

CTVNews.ca turned to cookbook author and professional home economist Mairlyn Smith to get some turkey advice to help turkey chefs everywhere get dinner on the table without being slaves to the stove.

“I used to call myself the turkey lady because it drove me crazy that people kill themselves,” says Smith, who is also an alumnus of the Second City comedy troupe, and a former teacher.

She says many people don’t know how to cook anymore because there’s no mandatory home economics in school, and many don’t learn at home either. Yet, they expect to transform into Martha Stewart during Thanksgiving and the holidays.

“You do everything for everyone and end up having a really crappy day. My message is: simplify where it will not be a sacrifice.”