Last year, we devoted a lot of blog space to Thanksgiving, by Sam Sifton. And since we’re editors and writers, supposedly on the pulse of what the lastest, greatest, trendiest everything is, we should probably be featuring this year’s of-the-moment holiday cookbook. But here’s the thing: “trendy” and “of-the-moment” are not words that should EVER EVER EVER be in the same sentence as “Thanksgiving,” and we stand by our claim that Sam Sifton’s timeless, authoritative, delicious guide to our country’s greatest holiday is The Only Thanksgiving Recipe Collection You Will Ever Need. (Outside of your grandmother’s recipe box, of course — we don’t want to get anyone in trouble here). As such, we launch our “Countdown to Thanksgiving Series” with a bountiful giveaway: In the next 48 hours, five readers are eligible to win a free copy of Sifton’s Thanksgiving, and five more are eligible to have a free copy sent to whoever is cooking/hosting the feast… as a little pre-holiday pump-up and thank-you-in-advance. That’s TEN COPIES WE ARE GIVING AWAY. All you have to do is leave a comment below (we wouldn’t complain if this comment included a Thanksgiving tip) and tell me which one you are: #Host or #Guest.
Update: All winners have been notified. Congrats Josh, Betsy, Candice, Eva, Molly, Susan, Colleen F, L, Divya, Memegirl and to everyone else thanks for playing!
Related: Sam Sifton’s 1o Laws of Thanksgiving.
I’m the host. My tip is to do as much of the prep work (chopping, cleaning, dessert making) in the days before Thanksgiving!
I’m the host for our family and one other. Doing as much as possible ahead of time makes things much easier!
I’m the host. My tips: as you say, don’t reinvent the wheel – if you have one delicious dessert or appetizer that people ask for year after year, keep making it! Also, more is not better – stick with just a few side dishes rather than trying to re-create a Roman feast. Nobody wants to socialize with exhausted, harried host who can’t enjoy his own party because he’s been up all night. It’s not Top Chef; it’s a holiday!
I’m the host-for the first time. I need to have this book to teach me how to cook the turkey!
…with *an* exhausted, harried host….
Sorry.
Guest this year. Make sure to wash dishes as you cook, otherwise you’ll have a mountain of dishes after dinner.
I love hosting Thanksgiving! I live for this every year…. I always have my menu written out, and I have a list that I use to keep me organized. I also do all my desserts and apps the day before 🙂
Ask each guest…What is the one dish that makes it Thanksgiving for you?…and be sure to include that dish! We already did an early celebration for my son-in-law who will be in Japan for the holiday…included the white soft rolls for him!
I am a guest, but would love to host someday!
My Thanksgiving tip is to prepare as much as possible ahead of time. Several weeks in advance, I buy turkey legs and wings and use them to prepare the turkey broth (which I freeze) for the stuffing. I also make a menu with a countdown of what to prepare and when. I would love Sam Sifton’s Thanksgiving! Last year after your post, I placed it on my Christmas wish list…but alas, did not receive a copy. Maybe this year?
P.S. I am the host every year!
For the first time in almost ten years I am not hosting. That said, I make homemade rolls a week in advance and freeze them right before I would do the last rise but after they are shaped. Them they can come out of the freezer day of but require no more work than waiting and baking.
I am the host this year. How I got to be 45 years old without ever hosting Thanksgiving is beyond me. I’m not clueless, and I’m a respectable cook, I just really want to do this right and bless my family 🙂
I am going to be a #Host for the first time this year and am a little bit nervous! So I have no tips but appreciate all of the help on your blog!
Not sure yet if I’m the host or guest this year. Either way I’ll be cooking a bunch- the side dishes are the best part of Thanksgiving. I tend to go over board with them, so my tip is to keep it simple. Spend more time with people and less time overwhelmed by cooking a feast!
I’ll be a guest this year. Last year I hosted a small group (just 5 of us, first time celebrating TG together, sentimental but not super-demanding) and we did a little group menu planning. So good to make sure to have everything important for the guests but not make every single dish.
I am a guest who hopes to host someday. But I have hosted Oktoberfest parties with over 100 guests, and we made real food, so I’ve got some cred. And of course I have the same advice as everyone else: do as much possible ahead of time. Make a Big List. Do the shopping for nonperishables a week or two in advance. List the day you’ll finish each task (mix stuffing day before, lay out all your serving bowls and platters and label what each is for with a postit, gather all ye serving spoons while ye may).
always looking for more traditions to add to the td repertoire (which currently includes hickory smoked turkey breast, biscuit and bacon stuffing, sweet potato pecan pie)
Hosting for the first time in over ten years. I’m a huge cook of side dishes, but haven’t cooked a turkey in all these years. Plus, 18 people, Wow!!
Hosting for the first time in over ten years. I’m a huge cook of side dishes, but haven’t cooked a turkey in all this time! Plus, we are a big group – 18!!
I’m the host–for two years in a row now! I would love a copy of this book. 🙂
Perpetual #guest but one with lots of cooking responsibilities so this would be a great help.
Every year my (new!) husband and I #host a thanksgiving the Saturday before the holiday for our friends and neighbors. It’s such a great way to celebrate our bonds and reflect on all of the changes of the past year (weddings, babies, new houses and jobs!) my thanksgiving tip is to give up total control and let your guests bring dishes to share – it’s more fun when everyone brings something unique to the table and you share an electric meal! (Probably much like the first thanksgiving!)
Thanksgiving is my FAVORITE holiday. I’m a guest this year, but since my mom doesn’t like to cook, I do most of the cooking with my dad. Our tip is to wash dishes in stages throughout the day to keep them from piling up.
Yay Thanksgiving! My favorite tip: morning after Thanksgiving pull out ALL the leftovers, let everyone go crazy filling an individual-sized baking dish, crack an egg on top of each, bake @ 350 ~ 20 mins. This year I’m going to be a #guest at my in-laws – but will be heavily involved in the food prep!