When it comes to preparing the Thanksgiving meal, there's a lot to consider: where to find the perfect bird, how to prepare it, how long to cook it, and what to serve for side dishes and dessert. Hoosac Valley Elementary School kindergartners shared their best recipes and advice.

Mrs. Robin Poirot’s class

Anestasia H.: We will go to the grocery shop to get the turkey. It will be medium size like a duck, probably about 8 pounds. I would stuff it with lettuce, a baby chicken, a little salt and pepper. I will cook it for 2 minutes for just 6 degrees. We will also have tomato soup, orange juice, cotton balls and my mama’s cherry pie. OK, now I am just hungry thinking about it.

Raelynn R.: I would go to the new Adams market because my sister works there. She would take me to the fridge aisle and help me pick out a small one, probably just 6 pounds. When I bring it home, I will stuff it with tons of Double Stuff Oreos and cook it for 5 minutes at 7 degrees. I will eat it with vanilla cupcakes with chocolate frosting. I will eat it all.

Charlotte H.: We wouldn’t hunt for my turkey because I don’t like hunting. It’s boring and plus you have to walk too much in the cold and you would have to wear sweats. That wouldn’t work because I like wearing dresses. I am a dress girl. No hunting for me. It’s just for boys. I would go to new Adams market and get a big turkey because sometimes we even have friends over so it would have to be at least 20 pounds. I would put some salt and seasoning on it because I don’t like spicy turkey. Turkey is my favorite. I don’t like thick turkey, I like the skinny little turkey shaped in a circle. I mean, I would stuff it with more and more turkey. I don’t like gravy. I don’t like how it looks or tastes. I tried it when I was a baby and I didn’t like it then and I don’t like it now. I would cook it for 30 minutes in between hot and cold degrees. I don’t even want to wait for it to cool off because I love it! It has to be the round kind though.

Aubrey H.: I would get a big giant turkey at Walmart. It would have to be about as big as the chair I am sitting in. It will be big, like a 50 pound turkey. I will just throw it in the cart and bring it to the car. When I get it home, my mom and dad will salt and pepper everywhere, even on the legs. It will be stuffed with normal ham all sliced up with BBQ sauce on it. It will cook for 15 hours to get it nice and crispy. I like crispy ham and turkey. We will also have corn and rice and watermelon for dessert because it is healthy and it is my favorite fruit. After, everyone will say Happy Thanksgiving!

Savannah H.: I will go to Target next to the toy section to get my turkey. I will get a little one that weighs 1 pound. My whole family will eat it. Before I cook it, I will put pancake syrup and a little ketchup on top. Then I will stuff it with strawberry jam and butter too. After that I will cook it for 5 minutes at 4 degrees. My gramma also makes chicken soup that day. It is so delicious, I eat a lot of it. For dessert, I will have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. After I eat that, I will play Spongebob with my brother Eliiot.

Kynlee M.: My turkey would come from a turkey farm. I would pick out the fattest one because I have a lot of family to feed. When I get it home I will put salt on it. I would put gravy on it. Mommy makes it out of stuff but I forgot what it is called.

Evelyn M.: I would hunt for my turkey on a farm. When I cook it, I would put a little turkey inside of a big turkey. I would cook it for 100 percent. The little one would be 5 pounds and the bigger one would be 100 pounds. I would put some salt and mashed potatoes all over it and then pour gravy and peanut butter and jelly on it. I would make it 500 percent fast cooking. It would take 500 days to cook them because there are 2 of them. Then I would buy everything that makes it a feast. That would be french fries, chicken tenders, pepperoni pizza, plain chicken and more peanut butter and jelly sandwiches on top with grapes, strawberries and carrots. Dessert would be ice cream sandwiches and a giant cake with those frosting flowers on it. I would eat it all and then I would have bedtime.

Lex C-B.: I would just get a little turkey and it would weigh only 100 pounds. I would go to the Pizza House next to my house and get a large cheese pizza and put it on top of the turkey. First, I would stuff it with spaghetti inside. Then I would cook it for 3 minutes at 3 degrees. When I take it out, I will eat it with my family. There will be about 100 people. For dessert, I would have MORE spaghetti.

Benjamin: I would buy my turkey at Target. I will look for a turkey that is 5 feet tall. Since it is big, I might have to smush it down a little and put it in the cart to bring it out to the car. When I get in the house, I will stuff it with Legos. I will put it in the oven for 952 degrees for 900 minutes. When I take it out I will put Sour Patch Kids on top and they will melt all over it. I will eat it with hot dogs and more watermelon Sour Patch Kids. For dessert, I will have an ice cream pop shaped like Mickey Mouse and I will give one to everyone!

Nicco F.: I would go hunting for my turkey on Mount Greylock. I would try to find a big giant blue turkey and try to scare the teachers and my class. When I bring it home and weigh it, it will be 100 pounds. I would put a dress on it so it would look like a princess and people will think it is my sister, Gianna. I will stuff my turkey with a cake and then cook it HOT HOT degrees for 100 minutes. Then I will eat it with pizza.

Olivia P.: We will shop at Walmart for our turkey. The turkey will be about 19 pounds. I think Nana Mo will get it when she gets the ingredients to make the pies. She will get a turkey that is as big as my dog, Logan. Papa Bill will cook ours for 19 minutes in the smoker at 18 degrees. The turkey will be stuffed with crispy chicken. We will know it is done when all the smoke clears away and he pulls it out of the basket. My dad will help Papa Bill pull it out. If you look at the table and it is all set, that means that the turkey is done!

Addison L.: Maybe my brother would hunt the turkey somewhere in the woods. He would hunt for a little one that was about 50 pounds. When he brings it home, we would cut and pull the feathers out. When my mom and dad cook it, they will put some salt and pepper all over it. They will stuff it with Starburst and cook it for 59 days at 90 degrees. When we take it out we will put sprinkles on top and we will eat it with strawberries and cake. I hope my family has lots of pasta too!

Hudson B.: My grandpa might hunt and get one for us. He would have to go far to get it. He would probably get a 10 foot high one that weighs about 100 pounds. He is strong so he can carry it to the car and stick its head out the open window. My mom and dad will cook it if it fits in my house. Before they put it in the oven, they will put pepper and salt on top of it and they stuff it with bananas because I like the taste of bananas. It will get cooked for 20 minutes at 4 degrees. When the turkey is done, I will eat it with ham and two hot dogs.

William P.: I would go hunting by myself because I have a lot of woods around me so that is where I would go. You have to be really really quiet. You just have to look around somewhere until you see a bunch of turkeys. That is how you get a turkey. It will be about 10 pounds. When I cook it, I will pour some gravy and melted butter on top. I would stuff my turkey with spaghetti with meat sauce and I will set the timer for 10 minutes. When I take it out I will say, “WA LA!” I will eat it with fruit and we will have chocolate cake for dessert.

Avery H.: I would go to Walmart with my mom and dad. I will get a three foot, 3 pound turkey. My dad is a chef so I learned how to cook a turkey from him. I will salt it and then sprinkle some pepper on it. I will stuff it with candy and call it chocolate turkey. I bet you would like it. I would cook it for 15 minutes at 8 degrees. When I take it out, the chocolate will be all melted. I will mix a little pepperoni and cheese in with the chocolate. It is totally good!

Ziyad S.: My gramma would get it at Big Y. I would get a big 5 pound turkey and cook it at my house. I will pour lots of BBQ sauce, sweet and sour sauce and hot sauce all over it. I will cook it for 20 minutes at 18 degrees. That is really, really hot. After, I will stuff it with buttered noodles. While it is cooking, I will bake an apple pie for dessert.

Nyla T.: I will go to the store with Davon to pick out our turkey. It will weigh 50 pounds so that my whole family can have some. Mama will come pick us up when we pick it out. Davon is strong so he can carry it to the car. When we get it home, Dad, named David, will cook it. He will pour potato sauce on top of it and then he will stuff it with vinegar, scrambled eggs and potato chips. It will cook for 100 days for 100 degrees until it is burnt. I like burnt turkey.

Amy W.: We will get our turkey from the turkey store. I wonder what it will cost. I don’t know how much money it has. I want a really big one so that I can eat it all. It will probably be 5 pounds. When I cook it, I will have to ask Mom for help. I think she sprinkles it with sugar and salt and then pours water on it. It takes a little bath then she dries it off. I will put it in the oven for 20 degrees for Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. It should be done then. We could all eat it on Friday.

Ms. Sarah Leidhold’s Class

Elliana C.: First get a turkey from Walmart. It costs $50. Put seasoning and powder and salt and regular water on it. Put it in the oven for 50 hours. It should be 12,345 hot. On the side, eat some mushrooms and applesauce. For dessert, have some ice cream with sprinkles and cookies with milk.

Jackson B.: So buy a turkey from Walmart or Target or the pantry. Stuff it with bones, skeleton bones. I don’t eat bones. I could choke on bones. You can give them to your dog. Then cook the turkey on the stove for a little bit of hot and a little bit of a while, okay? With the turkey, you can have cake, chocolate cake.

Olivia: Get a turkey from a pan. Put a bone in it! Cook him in a hot pan for three minutes with a timer. Eat it with chicken too! And maybe a toy.

Damien G.: Get a turkey from the farm. Put meat like chicken in it. Burn it by fire and put it on a pan. Then do this (swishing motion with wrist). On the side, I like apples and apple cake.

Lily W.: To get a turkey, you hunt for it, I think. Inside, put some mashed potatoes. Then you chop it up in pieces and put it in the oven for one minute. It should be a little bit hot. On the side, eat some mac and cheese. For dessert, I like brownies with frosting and sprinkles.

Dana B.: You can buy a turkey from Whitney’s farm. You want to stuff it with sugar and avocados. Stick it in the microwave for six minutes. On the side, have some roadkill and blue raspberry cupcakes.

Luis D.: Get a turkey from people, anyone you know; like Steve. Get a turkey from Steve. Stuff it with marshmallows. Then put it in the oven at thirty degrees for forty minutes. On the side, have some strawberry ice cream and chocolate.

Sawyer Z.: So go to the farm and kill a turkey. Put some bacon inside it; that’s my favorite. Then put it in the stove at 100 degrees for 100 minutes. With the turkey, I like sugar, candy, gummy worms, gummy bears and purple gummies. And snacks.

Teagan D.: Go to Walmart and buy a turkey. Put stuffing inside it and then put it in the oven. The oven should be 10 degrees hot. You can have some cucumbers on the side.

Gemma D.: A turkey is at Walmart. Stuff it with tomatoes. Put it in the hot oven for five minutes. Eat it with ice cream! Yum!

Vance R.: Walmart has good turkeys. Crack some eggs in it. Sit it in the really hot pan for 20 minutes. You can have some pizza with it. And chocolate ice cream, strawberries, and watermelon and tomatoes.

Emmet D.: Go hunting for a turkey. Take off all the feathers. Wash it and take the eyes out. Take the bones out. Stuff it with nutmeg and other animals. Eat it with deer.

Rayah B.: You can get a turkey from Walmart for $10. Fill it with chocolate. Cook the turkey in the medium hot oven for three minutes. You can eat your turkey with mac and cheese and brownies on the side.

River S.: Go buy a turkey at Walmart. First, take out the bones and then you put some chicken inside of it. Then put it in the pan, then you fry it, then put it in for three times. Get it out. Make some french fries with it. For dessert, have cupcakes and apple pie and ice cream and cookies.

Isaac D.: Get a turkey from Dollar General for $6. Stick some chicken wings inside. Cook it by using the oven at a hundred degrees and for 251 hours. You can eat mac and cheese with it. Also, we should watch "Matilda."

Elijah S.: A turkey? Oh you can get that from Walgreens! Put sugar inside. But only a little ‘cause if you put a lot it will hurt your belly. Cook the turkey in the oven at three degrees for 10 minutes. Eat it with steak and Pop Tarts.

Ryleigh T.: Get a turkey in the store. Put some stuffing in it and put it in the oven. Serve it with vegetables, blueberries and potatoes.

Jacob K.: Get a turkey from Turkey. Cook it hot turkey. Stuff it with turkey. Eat it with mashed potatoes.

Jackie Flynn’s class

Myles: My turkey would be raw. I wouldn’t cook it at all.

Lucas: I would get one at the farm. I would cook it with a knife in the microwave. I will shake some salt on top and on the bottom. I would stuff it with spaghetti and meatballs. The turkey will be as big as a rat and weigh about 1 pound. I would cook it for 13 minutes. I like my turkey with green beans and salty chicken. That is my favorite.

Greyson: My dad usually buys a 50 pound turkey at the market. He will cook it in the oven for 50 degrees. When it is done, I will help my dad cut it and we will eat it. I will eat it with apples.

La’Tasha: I would get it from the turkey store. They have all kinds of turkeys but I will look for the perfect turkey that I need. I will pick an 8 or 9 pound turkey. When we cook it, I will add sugar to make it sweet. I will cut it in half and stuff it with tomatoes. Then it is time to cook it for 5 minutes at 15 degrees. For dessert, we will all have ice cream with strawberries on top.

Kadyn: I would cook a turkey with my mom and dad and sister. I would put BBQ sauce on it and cheese. I will cook on 1 degree for 5 minutes.

Zavier: I would cook a turkey by sneaking behind it and by snatching its feet. I would then cook on the grill for 50 minutes then chop it up to eat. It is a tasty treat.

Camdyn: I would hunt for a rubber turkey that weighs 18,000 pounds. It will need a really big pot to cook it in. We will put it on the stove for 20 minutes. I will pour milk and water on top and stuff it with hot dogs and mac and cheese inside. Take a bite and you will love it!

Ryderlee: I would get my turkey at Walmart next to the toy aisle. I will look for a turkey that weighs 50 pounds because we are feeding a lot of people. Always salt your turkey after you stuff it with lots of steak to make it taste better. I will cook a turkey on a stove for five minutes for four minutes and then we will eat it all.

Emma: I would hunt for my turkey with my dad in the woods. I would look for a deer turkey. They are the ones with antlers. Just shove it in a Target bag then bring it home and put the turkey in a pan with meatballs for 3 degrees for one hour. It will taste so yummy.

Piper: I would cook a turkey in the microwave for 100 minutes at really hot then we will eat it. It will be delicious.

Rowan: I would go to Shop and Stop and get a turkey to cook a 7 pound turkey on a campfire for two hours with roast beef stuffed inside. You just put lamb soup inside the turkey and then roast it again for two and a half hours. Chop it up and put it in the broth and then I carry it outside and it will turn into ice until I bring it back and defrost it for Thanksgiving dinner.

Alexis: I would cook a turkey by catching it and then I would cook it in the oven for 10 minutes. Then mom takes it out and cuts it in half and serves it.

Jeffrey: I would buy a million pound turkey and stuff it with chicken and sprinkles and lots and lots of sugar. I would cook it for 100 days at really hot degrees. When you eat it you put M&Ms all around it.

Julianna: I will get a turkey from the store. My turkey will be as big as a kitty and I would name it Foxy like my neighbor’s dog. If I cook it, I will stuff it with mac and cheese. And put it in the microwave for five days. You can try it.

Sullivan: I would get it from the store and I would cook it in the oven for 40 minutes at 75 degrees. Just stuff the turkey with cupcakes and pour chocolate syrup all over the top. You will love it!

Miley: My recipe is easy. First I would roll up a cheese pizza and stuff it inside. Just get a 100 pound turkey and put it in the oven for super hot for about 10 seconds. That should do it.

Ms. Wotkowicz’s class

Ella B.: First they get the turkey from a store. It weighs 5 pounds. To get it ready for the oven we put the turkey on a tray. We put it in the oven at hot for two hours. Then we eat our turkey on a plate with apples slices and carrots.

Jake D.: Mom and dad get the turkey from the store and bring it home in the car. It weighs 103 pounds! To get it ready to cook you put it on a pan and put sauce on it. You put it in the oven at wicked hot for five hours. Then we eat the turkey in a bowl with orange soda.

Mia E.: You get the turkey at the food store, put it in a bag, then put it in the truck, and then drive home. It weighs 13 pounds. To get it ready to cook you take it out and put it on the pan. You put salt on it and put it on the stove at 3 degrees for 7 minutes. We eat our turkey with a fork and spoon and have strawberries too! We have a drink of water.

Scarlett H.: We get the turkey from BJ’s and drive it home in the car. It weighs like 5 pounds. To get it ready to be cooked we take it out of the package and put seasoning on it. We put it in the oven at 500 degrees and let it cook for 10 minutes. We eat our turkey with mashed potatoes and stuffing. We have a big family so we make a big batch of everything.

Savannah G.: We get the turkey at Walmart and drive it home. It weighs maybe like 3 pounds. To cook it we put it on a pan and cook it on the stove at a little hot for 4 minutes until it’s done cooking. We eat our turkey with stuffing, gravy, cornbread and rolls. We have orange juice to drink!

Ambrees H.: We get the turkey at Walmart, put it in a plastic bag, and drive home. It weighs 10 pounds. To get it ready to cook you have to oil it and put it on that metal thing and put it on the stove. The stove is 100 degrees and we cook the turkey probably for 20 minutes. When it’s ready we hear the beep from the oven. With our turkey we eat mashed potatoes, my mom eats gravy with it, and I have peas. We have cherry Capri Sun to drink!

Joshua K.: You get the turkey at the farm. To get it home you carry it in your arms. It weighs probably like 60 or 20 pounds. To cook it you put it in a pot and put salt on it and that’s all. You cook it on the stove at 20 or 50 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes. With our turkey I have a drink, it wouldn’t make sense to not have a drink! I would have apple juice or lemonade and rice with my turkey.

Alyana L.: You get the turkey at Target, I put it in a shopping bag, and my mom drives me home. Then I go to my grandma’s and give her the turkey. It weighs 25 pounds, it's heavy! To get it ready to be cooked my grandma puts it in a pan and puts it in the oven at a little hot for 20 years. With my turkey I eat melon, chicken and potatoes. For a drink I have water.

Peyton M.: You get the turkey at Walmart and drive home. It weighs 10 pounds. To get the turkey ready to cook you put it in a pan and put sprinkles on top. You cook it on the oven at really hot for just a minute. With my turkey I eat mac and cheese and I have water to drink.

Bryan N.: You get a turkey at Walgreens and bring it home in a car. It weighs 60 pounds. To get it ready to be cooked you put it on the stove and put spicy stuff on it like hot sauce and salt. Then, you stuff the turkey with strawberries. You cook it 60 degrees for 60 minutes. With my turkey I eat french fries and a drink. I have juice.

Katrina R.: I get the turkey at the market and drive home with my car and my babies. It weighs 40 pounds. To cook it I put it on the stove and I get a frying pan. I put the turkey on the frying pan and put cherries and chicken on the turkey. The frying pan is just a little hot. I cook the turkey for 6 minutes. I eat cherries, a banana, oranges and cookies with my turkey. I have milk to drink.

Aaron R.: You would buy it at Walmart. To get it home you would pay for it, then you would bring it out to your car, and then you would drive it home. It weighs 11 pounds. To get it ready to be cooked you put it on a little plate-like thing and put chicken nuggets on your turkey. You put ketchup in the turkey. You cook it in the stove at very hot for 10 hours. With your turkey you have macaroni and cheese. To drink you have chocolate milk.

Marley S.: You get the turkey at the supermarket. You put it in the car and drive it to your house. It weighs 5 pounds. To get it ready you take it out of the thing it’s in and put it on the pan. You put salt on the turkey. The turkey goes in the oven at really hot for 30 minutes. With the turkey you have broccoli and green beans. For a drink you have water.

Marcus S.: You get the turkey at the farm and drive it home. It weighs probably 20 pounds. To get it ready to cook you put the turkey on a pan and put honey on it. The turkey cooks in the oven at 80 degrees for like an hour and half. With the turkey you eat ham, gravy, mini hot dogs and bread. To drink you have apple juice.

William W.: You get the turkey from Walmart. It weighs 100 pounds. To get the turkey ready to be cooked you put it in a bowl and then put it in the oven at 1,000 degrees for 29 minutes. With the turkey you have chicken nuggets, french fries and a strawberry shake.