A turkey as seen in “Outrageous Thanksgiving”

Thinking about Thanksgiving conjures up a lot of different imagery. There's the classic image of pilgrims to the new world sitting down to a feast with their native friends that we all learned about in elementary school -- a perfect children's tale for the ages.

There's the Black Friday shopping and the start of the holiday season chaos that only passes once Dec. 25 has come and gone. There's good times with family, the fresh fall harvest and the trees laden with vividly colored leaves.

Most of all, though, there's the food. While every family has its own culinary traditions for this time of the year, the classic turkey with the huge array of sides spread out alongside it is the classic Thanksgiving image. That classic meal, though, is open to a lot of interpretations, and some of them are rather outrageous.

This year, the Food Network is taking a look at some of the more extreme Thanksgiving meals that are served around the nation. "Outrageous Thanksgiving," a one-hour holiday special, airs Saturday, Nov. 15, on Food Network.

A holiday that's known for its indulgence can also get pretty outrageous. Perhaps your family likes things a bit spicy? Then you'll want to feast your eyes on the red-hot Thanksgiving meal on display, including a Buffalo-style turkey and wasabi mashed potatoes served with habanero cornbread.

A bit too mouth-burning for your tastes? How about a cajun cookout that fries everything: the turkey, the mashed potato balls, the stuffing -- heck, even the cranberry sauce finds a home in the piping hot oil!

It's "Outrageous" how big things can get, too. "Outrageous Thanksgiving" will also take a look at some oversized Thanksgiving foods, including massive apple pies and the biggest sweet potato casserole that you've ever laid eyes on.

Really, it's no surprise that some people get a bit out of control over their Thanksgiving meals. After all, it's a holiday that originally was meant to celebrate a bountiful harvest, to stuff ourselves before the cold sets in. If ever there was a time of year to take foods to an outrageous level, this would be it. "Outrageous Thanksgiving" airs Saturday, Nov. 15, on Food Network.