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 for the first time ever… my roommates and I all work at Disney and will be working on Thanksgiving, so our meal is going to be very low key! I’ll definitely be making things like cranberry sauce ahead of time so that we have throw actual dinner together quickly to accommodate our crazy schedules.
#guest this year. But my tip is for hosting….make sure to do all the prep work you can in advance, so you can enjoy the big day. Also, if you’re OCD like me, a time chart with when things need to go in the oven/come out, etc…is invaluable!
Would love to get some tips on hosting Thanksgiving! My husband and I cook together. I’m lost without a recipe, while he lets his intuition guide him. I have some intuition as well, but I suppose it is my perfectionism that feels safer with a recipe. Perhaps after I learn the basics, I’ll be able to experiment, right?
Thank you for your blog and your honest story. It is an inspiration for all parents trying to slow down today’s hectic lifestyle and connect with their kids.
First time host. With a two year old in the mix. Very excited but can’t think of any tips other than the usual (and already mentioned in previous comments) “make ahead” and “clean as you go.”
Co-host with my mom 🙂
Guest!
#guest, but will help with it all. my tip would be keep it traditional, like you said. i have tried new items, but everyone prefers the traditional dishes.
Hosting my family. Some near and some are far this holiday season ( girls away at college) so I will be cooking for fewer. It has taken me about 30 years to realize, but having all the recipes I love all in one spot, so I am not hunting them down, makes me so happy and less stressed. Two important components to the holidays! I have made copies of all the recipes that we love and paper clipped them together. Fewer cookbooks on the counter too. But as with all things I am curious to try new recipes and new techniques. Thanks for the giveaway
I am hosting my family for the FIRST time! We have three young kids and somehow have managed to crash our older sibling’s established holiday feasts up to this point. I am so excited to have the baton passed to me and have our home full and bustling! I clearly NEED the book 🙂
Host, baby! My tip is to just keep drinking and smiling. Everything’s fine.
#guest at a big extended family gathering this year. 12 toddlers! Tip — make sure someone’s bringing great bread for turkey sandwiches later in the evening.
Love your site and book!
I will be a #guest on actual Thanksgiving, and I will #host my first EVER Thanksgiving the day after. Nervous about the turkey, but I can’t wait to have my husband’s and my family over to cook for them!
I’m the host, and I’m a huge fan of brining a FRESH turkey. And doing as much as possible ahead of time!
Need this book!
I am a host this year! My husband’s mom and aunt take turns hosting thanksgiving, but this year we are finally in our own home and I am finally ready to take my turn as host. Last year I brought a double recipe of the cauliflower with secret anchovies you posted from this book, and it was a big hit. If I don’t get my hands on a copy before Thanksgiving, I might have to request it for Christmas and flip through it longingly all year. #host
I’m a guest. If you only have one fridge (like most people), definitely clean it out/organize it so you will have more room to store things. And, set the table at least the day before if having a big group.
i will be a guest at a table of about 40 people. thank goodness!
http://semiweeklyeats.blogspot.com/2013/11/mornings.html
Guest, but hoping to takeover tofurkey prep this year, along with the PIE.
I still don’t know! But I promise to give the book to my host if I don’t end up doing the cooking – scout’s honor!
host 31 for dinner,
prepare ahead,
get sister to decorate the tables
I’m a #Guest at my parents’ Tgiving celebration … but as the oldest daughter in my family, I feel like I’ve been a #HostInTraining for years.
and the best tip I’ve gleaned from my mom is to start thinking about your recipe prep as soon as the calendar flips to Nov. 1!
This will be my second year trying to host. Everything last year was planned from your blog , the Confetti Brussels sprouts stole the show. Well actually, our little Alexander upstaged the whole event by showing up 10 weeks before his due date, but those Brussels sprouts were excellent comfort food a few days later. This year we are so thankful for many miracles.
I’m guest this year, but have hosted lots in past years.
As a host – ask guests to provide apps, salads, desserts; do as much ahead of the day as possible, and clean as you go! As a guest – pitch in! Bring something, help clean, tell good stories!
#guest
My tip is do not go pre-Black Friday shopping. Enjoy the day- laugh, eat and be grateful for you have
#guest Last year, after you posted the book, I found it at the library and LOVED it. When I saw the book cover on your post, I said to myself, I need to send a copy of that to Mom. Fingers are crossed, but will send one whether or not I win.
Pull out all your serving pieces and mark what goes in them with post-its, so kitchen helpers can help themselves, instead of asking 40 questions, right when you are in the throes of getting everything on the table.