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.
#Host. Tip: Make sure there is lots of wine, and everything else will fall in place.
host and guest. the best tip i have is the bbq the turkey and free up oven time. or … buy a new stove with a double oven PLUS a broiler drawer.
Always a #guest which I am OK with. I am obsessed with cooking and entertaining but something about putting together Thanksgiving is totally overwhelming!
I am always happy to bring a pie or two though – baked in a brown bag….perfection.
I am the host and I like to write a tiny card to each guest telling them why I am grateful for their friendship/relationship..I often try to think of a something from this year-just a little something that sticks out in my mind and makes me feel really grateful that we are all together-children love this tradition!
Guest-make whatever you can ahead of time and help with the dishes:)
I am both the host AND the guest :). We usually do a traditional meal at our house, and then a shrimp boil at my husband’s family’s house. I love cooking a traditional Thanksgiving meal. I have mastered my grandmother’s stuffing and still prepare our “secret recipe” sweet potatoes every year (when I was little and cooked w/ her, that’s what we called it). We also have BOTH pumkin pie and sweet potato pie, and the sweet potato casserole is topped w/ marshmallows on one side of the dish, and brown sugar/nut crunch on the other, to satisfy everyone’s preferences. Would absolultely love to see Sam’s tips and secrets. Fun!
#Host — just to our little family of 4. My tip is to take the day before to make the sides and pie. Then the day is all about the turkey and reheating the sides. I LOVE Thanksgiving!
Hosting for the first time. Thanksnukah for 25+. Tip: read this blog. D’oh — you already know that.
Host. Make a couple of these amazing cakes now
http://www.vanillagarlic.com/2009/10/expletive-cranberries-expletive.html
and stick them in the freezer. Have someone else bring pie!
Cook the turkey on the weber! It frees up the oven and makes life so much easier. I also think it makes it harder to dry out the turkey… just sayin’.
I get to play host this year!!! So excited. My tip: Make sure there is plenty to drink 🙂 Everyone will remember a great time even if the food didn’t come off as well.
I am hosting this year and looking forward to combining Thanksgiving and Hanukkah. Turkey and Latkes anyone??
#guest / #host – my mom makes Thanksgiving every year for 35-40 family members and I always help… but I’m sure I get to drink more wine and socialize than does my mom who is a WONDERFUL hostess and mother!
I’m a guest (aspiring host, one day!). I always bring a bottle of wine and help with the dishes.
Cooking this year but not at my own home. Prepping ahead of time is huge. I even make a plan for the week before. Monday-shop, Tuesday-set table and be sure all utensils are ready and you have the right amount of serving platters for your dishes,etc. also if you put the mashed potatoes in a metal bowl covered over some warm water, they’ll stay warm and not dry out so they can be done a little in advance rather than when everything else is coming together at the end.
Last year, I hosted my first Thanksgiving. I cooked for 11 friends, and it was also my first time cooking for that large a crowd! I’m a student, so I don’t have the most fully stocked serving dish collection. While making my list of dishes, I wrote beside it the dish I intended to serve in, just to make sure I was covered for the day. It wouldn’t have even occurred to me to do this had my mom not suggested it, and good thing too because I had to go out and get a couple disposable pans! #host
#host, for the very first time!
I’m a guest this year after years of hosting. My tip is to make larger batches of the best dishes instead of many small dishes. It looks better on the table and plate when people don’t have to choose between 10-15 different dishes. You also avoid having people completely over-stuff themselves out of obligation and can do it out of choice 😉
I’m hosting for the first time this year. My plan is to serve a cocktail beforehand and have at least five pies afterwards. I figure if nothing else goes well, we’ll be just fine!
#Guest but wish I had a big enough place to #Host. It’s not a tip, per se, but a strong suggestion to include roasted brussel sprouts in the menu. #ThanksgivingHero
I have cooked quite a few times for my extended family (odd in a way since I am the only one in the family who is not American) and my main tip is to have some snacks but not too many. It is no good if people come to table half-full.
I’m a host and guest (co-hosting with my mom and staying at her house while visiting from out of town!)…we finally convinced grandma to give up the Stouffer’s stuffing and I’ll be manning the sausage/sage homemade stuffing this year 🙂
It’s a family potluck this year so I could use some pointers! Great giveaway!
25 year old first time HOST!!! I need ALL the help I can get!!!
Im hosting this year! My tip is to remember the colors of the food youll be serving! Aim for that rainbow!