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.
We will be guests at my in-laws this year. I will miss early morning kitchen prep with my own mom!
Happily a guest this year, but bringing traditional stuffing and pie. Stuffing with butter/onion/apples/walnuts/sausage and cider replacing water for the liquid. Except for the sausage & cider, just the way my grandmother & mother made it.
Technically, my mom is the #host, but I’ll be right next to her in the kitchen. We’re doing Thanksgiving in Manhattan for the first time and we can’t even all fit in the apartment, so my husband and I are staying in a hotel up the street. Can’t wait!
biggest tip is prep, prep, pre ahead of time! And lay down a rule that the cook does NOT have to clean up.
HOSTing a modest 15 people this year!! We get bogged down by preferences for multiple dressings and desserts. Been planning for a month
I’m the host this year. In our annual Friendsgiving, the host provides the turkey, mashed potatoes and gravy and something extra of their choice and the guests bring the rest. Just placed the order for our first heritage bird. SO. Excited.
#host … Simplify, simplify, simplify. Pare the list from seven sides to five. Think of something fun for kiddos that grow ups will like too (last year I turned a pie crust disaster into fun mini hand pies and the two-year-old present ate four of them and his dad ate three). Work ahead when toucan, clean as you go, accept help, have a cocktail.
Best T’giving tip from my aunt who often hosts extended family for extended days: let everyone bring something that’s NOT for Thursday dinner: a pot of soup for Friday lunch or a strata for Thursday morning. Smart. #guest
I’m hosting this year, and the best advice I can give is get as much done ahead of time as possible!! I’d rather spend time with the family than rushing around at the last minute trying to pull it all together 🙂
First time, very clueless but willing to learn #host! Let’s hope we don’t end up with Chinese take-out.
I’m the host this year this year, and my tip is to enjoy the day, and don’t stress about the details that don’t matter. It’s just me, my mom and my husband this year, and we decided it was okay to make reservations and eat out, rather than cook a big bird for our little group. Enjoy the people; that’s the priority.
Hosting for the first time! Just ordered my turkey…so any help I can get would be great!!
I will be 9 months pregnant, so will gladly be a guest this year!
I am the #guest but I do help my Mom out in the kitch. I am also tasked with brining a side dish so pointers of how to do a dish better would be great. I also bring wine, lots of wine:)
I’m the #Host, but it’s just going to be my husband and I. Plus the dog, who will likely get sick from all the turkey bits we throw his way! I’d love to add a few new recipes to my repertoire as we create new traditions for our new marriage!
I have been coveting this book for a year and as the host of Thanksgiving on the Saturday after Thanksgiving I could really use it this year!
Thanks!
#guest @ my daughters house – but we enjoy putting dinner together – together!
I am the #host. After years of always wanting to try new recipes for special occasions, I’ve learned to go with the old standbys everyone loves (e.g., crockpot corn spoon bread); it makes me happy to think my kids will remember them as “Mom’s.” I usually try one new dish that tempts me from the pages of Saveur, Bon Appetit, or Food and Wine, something that isn’t too complicated. And I never make the pies–my mother-in-law always brings them. Every time I approach a turkey I feel like I’m doing it for the first time, so this book would be helpful.
Only tip I have is have lots of wine and a good sense of humor!
First time #Host! Going to be making latkes since it’s Hanukkah as well!
I am still an eater, not a cooker yet, but my mother’s Italian sausage stuffing will go inside any bird I ever make. It’s so good that she’s going to smuggle me some back from her celebration in NJ this year.
This year, I’m a #guest. I’ve hosted the past two years in our tiny apartment though. I’m looking forward to the stuffing, always made with sausage, and apple pie for dessert.xo
Host again this year we are having 16 people and I couldn’t be happier! This one is MY holiday, I love love, love! My tips were already mentioned, but I would write out your plan but realize you need to stay flexible.
Guest. My mom hosts Thanksgiving every year and I always bring baked goods.
First time #host for 19 people! Would be great to have this book, especially this year!
#Host for the first time!