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Birthdays, Holidays, CelebrationsThanksgiving

The Only Thanksgiving Guide You Need

By November 5, 2013November 12th, 2013814 Comments

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.

814 Comments

  • Avatar kathy says:

    AAAAAND….it was even all Gluten Free. Everything. First time I didn’t feel like a beached whale after a huge dinner like that. The best part was the stuffing. I used a half a pkg of gluten free ceasar salad croutons. Six slices of some weird flax seed bread thing I found in the freezer, cubed it and threw it in the toaster oven to crouton up. And about a cup of leftover cooked quinoa that I found in the fridge while hunting for the eggs. Added the usual stuff and threw in some toasted filberts I fished out of the freezer. Best stuffing ever. When I added some lea and perrins gluten free knock-off. The lid kinda popped off as I was adding a couple splashes and I ended up pouring waaaaay to much in. I thought for sure the stuffing was a goner. But did I mention that it was the best ever…..

  • Avatar Tiffany says:

    I am a guest this year. Always clean up as you go along. Saves so much time and then you can enjoy the meal without worrying about all the clean up

  • Avatar Meagan B. says:

    We are usually #guests but bring a lot of dishes. When it comes to Thanksgiving, I am all about sticking to classic recipes and eating as much of them as possible.

  • Avatar Frances says:

    This year will be my first year spending Thanksgiving away from my family. Instead, I will be flying to San Diego to spend it with my fiancé (!) and will be cooking my third Thanksgiving turkey in a grad dorm. Wish me luck!

  • Avatar TaraO says:

    My only tip is to plan ahead. . . Thanksgiving is not the kind of meal that you can just “wing it” and hope for the best! cteeobrien(at)cox{dot}net

  • Avatar Vanessa says:

    I’m the #host! It’s my first time and I’m having my whole family over. Eek! Did I mention I really just started cooking this year? Wish me luck

  • Avatar sf11 says:

    I’m a guest.

  • Avatar Rita says:

    I am a guest at my mom’s, I think this year we will bring a pumpkin stuffed with everything good: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130704456

  • Avatar tenely says:

    I am host, serving 11 this year. We brine then grill our turkey. So delicious and it frees the oven for rolls and stuffing.

  • Avatar Caroline says:

    Guest this year, host last year. Made some amazing sweet potato biscuits last year that I will bring this year. Oh, and can’t go wrong with a chocolate pecan pie.

  • Avatar Dawn says:

    We are hosting a big gathering this year. I suggest preparing as much as you can before thanksgiving day. We even get the turkey ready the night before (no stuffing in the cavity). Can’t wait!!

  • Avatar Samantha H says:

    I’m a guest at my parents’ thanksgiving, but always go the night before to help with prep. This is pretty obvious, but preparing everything that’s possible to prepare the night before, and having all hands on deck to do so so you’re not up until 1am, is my tip. Also, setting out the serving dishes the night before that you’ll use speeds the process of getting food on the table the next day!

  • Avatar Annette says:

    #Host….and a first-timer to boot.
    It seemed like such a good idea when I offered…..

  • Avatar Katy says:

    My mom and I are hosting for Thanksgiving this year! She stuffs our turkey with apples and pomegranates and bastes it with orange juice. It is seriously delicious every year. I am in charge of sides and have a weakness for gratins.

  • Avatar Angie Thomas says:

    I am host…just as important as the food ( which will be wild turkey brined and roasted) is the atmosphere- I love to create one that feels welcoming, warm, simple, and beckoning. … to have real conversation and BE thankful!

  • Avatar Catherine says:

    #guest, I guess…my dad’s cooking, but I’ll probably help out with some! All I can think about are brussels sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes!

  • Avatar Ting says:

    I’m the host! I became vegan this year and am hosting my first vegan Thanksgiving for a party of 12 in my 600 sq ft NYC apartment. I need all the help (and wine) I can get, so a copy of Same Sifton’s book would be ah-mazing 🙂

  • Avatar Shanti says:

    #guest, we have a newborn so I don’t think too much cooking is happening at our house this year…but we gotta have a pumpkin pie!

  • Avatar Abbie says:

    Host. Delegate! We always ask friends to bring their specialty dishes – and because we live far from family Thanksgiving is the one holiday we refuse to travel. Anyone is welcome to come to us, but we stay put!

  • Avatar Erika says:

    Hosting thanksgiving for the first time this year, so I don’t have any tips yet. Wish me luck!

  • Aimee S. says:

    I’m the #host this year, as at six months pregnant I don’t feel up to travelling! Make a detailed timeline working backwards from when you want to eat – and think realistically about how much time those small last-minute tasks will take! In worst-case scenarios, remember disasters make for great stories.

  • Avatar Susan says:

    Host. My main tip is to plan ahead… I’m nothing without a written time table and a really good plan. Good music and wine doesn’t hurt either!

  • Avatar Shannon says:

    Host. My tip is to ask your company to bring a dish and the serving utensil to go with it.

  • Avatar Blair says:

    I the co-host with my sister. My tip would be to make it fun! Each year my sister and I get our families together the night before for a sleepover/prep thankgiving party. We usually order pizza and drink wine while doing anything we can to make the next day easier. The kiddos (ranging in age from 21-2) are in charge of setting the table, peeling potatoes etc.

  • Avatar Starlene says:

    Make lists, delegate and prep in advance.

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