Advice on how to put food safety on the menu as Thanksgiving approaches

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — With Thanksgiving approaching, kitchens across Northwest Arkansas and the River Valley are about to get a lot busier, even for home cooks who rarely turn on the oven the rest of the year.

With the annual rush to prepare a picture-perfect meal comes an equally big need for food safety.

At the Brightwater Center for the Study of Food in Bentonville, Lead Butchery Instructor Travis McConnell works with students daily on the fundamentals that home cooks will need this holiday.

“Keep it simple,” McConnell said. “Try not to go too big, too overboard.”

McConnell said the best way to avoid Thanksgiving stress is to avoid overcomplicating the meal. He said the simplicity starts with early prep, especially for those not used to cooking for a crowd.

“If you're not used to it,