I absolutely love Thanksgiving. It may actually be my favorite winter holiday. See, my fiance (Bill) and I celebrate Christmas and it seems each year it gets more complicated. First we have to decorate the entire house. Then there’s the tree. It’s a huge production. Don’t even get me started on the mountain of cookies and treats I bake for family and friends each year… Not to mention the multiple draining shopping trips.

Now do you see why Thanksgiving is my favorite?

Thanksgiving is simple for my family. We gather together at Bill’s aunt and uncle’s home in Mahopac at 7pm. We snack on some simple hor d'oeuvres, watch some football and then we sit down at the dining table for a delicious meal that just so happens to be catered from a local restaurant.

It’s the perfect solution. Everyone in the family chips to cover the cost of the meal so that everyone gets to spend quality time together rather than being stuck in the kitchen.

If you want to host your own stress-free Thanksgiving dinner (or make it even easier by going out to eat… can you say “no dirty dishes”), check out these great Hudson Valley restaurants serving up a delicious meal:

Shadows on the Hudson. 176 Rinaldi Blvd., Poughkeepsie. 845-486-9500. Serving from 11:30am-7pm on Thanksgiving day. Start your meal off with a cup of Butternut Squash Soup, and then move on to the main dish - oven roasted turkey. Don’t forget to grab a slice of pumpkin pie.

Diamond Mills. 25 S. Partition St., Saugerties. 845-247-0700. Serving from 11am-5pm on Thanksgiving day. Dig into a delicious Baked Brie En Croute to start your meal followed by seasonal soup and salad and of course, turkey. For dessert, you can opt for apple cobbler, panna cotta, or a fruit tart.

READ MORE: Deck the Halls without going into debt

Mohonk Mountain House. 1000 Mountain Rest Rd., New Paltz. 855-883-3798. Served from 11:30am-2:30pm and 6:30-8pm. Dine buffet style on galantines, pates, seafood, carved-to-order meats and a wide array of desserts.