A warm, juicy turkey is probably the one Thanksgiving tradition that everyone can agree is essential to properly celebrating the holiday.

But one of the greatest fears for people inviting friends and family over for a holiday feast is how to prepare and carve the bird.

Butterball, the top-selling turkey company in the nation, offers deep resources for those who want to make sure that they properly prepare their fowl. The company's Web site includes answers to the top 10 turkey questions, as well as special instructions for first-timers.

If you need more help, call the Butterball turkey talk-line at (800) BUTTERBALL.

You can also find advice on roasting a turkey.

Traditionally, cooks would roast turkey in an oven. But more daring folks over the last few holiday seasons have been moving to deep-frying the centerpiece of the feast.

Read how to deep-fry your bird, but be careful -- several organizations warn that the practice can be dangerous.

A third option to get the best out of your turkey is to slow-cook it in a smoker. The National Turkey Foundation offers a page with more information about this slow, delicious way to get very tender meat.

I'm in the majority -- I think that, no matter how it's prepared, a turkey (or at least a processed turkey loaf) is essential for Thanksgiving. But if you have vegetarian guests for the meal, there are ways to make them feel comfortable.

Either way, remember to follow all safety tips when cooking, so that people aren't giving thanks for quick access to the emergency room.