WASHINGTON (DC News Now) -- We're five days away from Thanksgiving Day and hopefully, you have the menu set for what will be on the table. Of course, the most important item on the menu will be the main dishes like turkey and ham, but side dishes are equally as important, according to DMV Chef Thomas Squire better known as Thomas Thyme. What makes Thanksgiving side dishes important? "I think they are so important because they really do compliment and pair the whole meal together. If you think about cranberry sauce that’s like your tart. Macaroni and cheese is like your sweet and savory and then you have your meats. So, it's hitting all those different flavor points in your mouth,” said Squire. 3 displaced after house fire in Southeast DC What are the most popular Thanksgiving side dishes? “You got to start with Mac and cheese. Collard Greens is another super popular one.  A lot of people do a sweet potato casserole or mashed potatoes, or string beans. Almondine is another one that has been making a resurgence. There's plenty to choose from. Stuffing or dressing,” said Squire. How long would it take to make them? “I think most of them you can probably make in under an hour. Like Mac n cheese would take about an hour. Maybe boiling and everything else it would be about an hour and 30,” Squire said. “