John Boehner, king of the turkey brine? By Deirdre Walsh, CNN Senior Congressional Producer November 26, 2013 -- Updated 2325 GMT (0725 HKT) Processed turkeys that were raised on the farm are seen at Springfield Farm in Sparks, Maryland. House Speaker John Boehner is famous for the way he prepares a Thanksgiving turkey He learned the technique from his mother Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid, however, says, "I'm cooking nothing" Washington (CNN) -- Move over Martha Stewart -- House Speaker John Boehner boasts his recipe for brining turkey is the key to a delicious Thanksgiving feast. The Speaker is spending the holiday with his wife, Debbie, their two daughters and their husbands at his home in West Chester, Ohio. As is the family tradition, Boehner will prepare dinner, and the centerpiece is a turkey that soaks up juices in a special brine - a Boehner specialty he learned from his mother. In an essay published in this week's Time Magazine about Thanksgiving, the Speaker says he's looking forward to cooking, writing: "It will be wonderful to spend a few days with our two daughters and make what I consider to be the best turkey brine around." The dinner takes advance preparation and Boehner begins the process the day before. He mixes garlic, salt, pepper, bay leaves and maple syrup (what he calls the secret ingredient) and then adds that to water to make the brine. He then submerges the bird in the brine overnight. Boehner's Washington staff can attest to the Speaker's skills at preparing the holiday feast. For years, he invited his aides to his Capitol Hill apartment and used the same brine recipe to serve up an early Thanksgiving dinner. This year, a Boehner aide says the schedule was too busy, so he didn't have time to cook for them. By the numbers: Thanksgiving Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid is also spending Thanksgiving with his family. But when it comes to the dinner Reid is less hands on than Boehner, telling reporters: "I'm cooking nothing." In addition to the turkey, Boehner also makes his own stuffing and creamed spinach that includes bacon. His office has posted the recipes on the Speaker's political website. November 14, 2013 -- Updated 1614 GMT (0014 HKT) Thanksgiving is the busiest travel holiday of the year, with tens of millions expected to hit the road over the extended four-day weekend. We're sharing our time-tested Thanksgiving hosting tips and recipes, as well as plenty from chefs, hospitality experts, celebrities, hosts and home cooks we love. November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1653 GMT (0053 HKT) Find out what celebrities are doing this Thanksgiving. November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1705 GMT (0105 HKT) Real Simple asked three creative geniuses to come up with beautiful, unusual displays that anyone can successfully replicate. November 21, 2013 -- Updated 1353 GMT (2153 HKT) The dining room has had a difficult few decades. Here are some top tips for setting the scene and the table for your biggest feast of the year. November 20, 2013 -- Updated 1801 GMT (0201 HKT) Here's some background information about Thanksgiving Day, celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. November 21, 2012 -- Updated 1213 GMT (2013 HKT) On a clear dry day, driving 55 mph, it takes long-haul trucker Camille Pask the length of three football fields to stop her fully loaded rig. November 22, 2012 -- Updated 1428 GMT (2228 HKT) Judy Warzenski didn't realize how bad her father, Donald's, memory had gotten until he turned to her sister Joyce and asked, "Where's the girl who was sitting next to you?" Gratitude is the watchword, and it's incredibly easy to lose sight of that while you're bogged down in the details of serving a dinner that packs a certain amount of expectation. So how about giving yourself a break? December 1, 2011 -- Updated 1239 GMT (2039 HKT) Thanksgiving is over and you've finally had that last leftover turkey sandwich. Here are some clever ways to get more than just one dinner's worth out of those handy items.