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 a guest, with a responsibility to bring at least 4 dishes
Not sure if I am hosting or guesting yet.
I love Thanksgiving and am hosting for a huge family get together. My side, my husband’s side, new house, and now our one year old twins in the mix. I can use all the help I can get! Would love a copy of this beautiful book and so appreciate all these tips! #host
#Host this year. My tip is to take people up on their offers to help/bring things. And put the kids to work–doing dishes, creating decor, setting the table, etc.
I will be a guest this year, but probably still doing the majority of the cooking, just not in my house. My favorite side dish is a corn casserole with broccoli and cheese covered with bread crumbs! Would love a copy of the book for all those side dishes and for future when I start hosting again.
I’m a #guest. My tip is to thank and compliment the host even more than you think necessary, like salting pasta water, especially if she is your 75 year-old aunt who can’t cook! Oh, and bring wine and pie – along with your love. It’s funny how I leave my food expectations at home this food holiday, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. If I win a Sifton book, I can imagine a delicious meal. 🙂
I’m a #host along with my mom and 3 sisters– it’s a major team effort at our house! Everybody has to be in charge of a few dishes, and we all make it happen together. It’s just the best!
I’m a #guest…and my tip is to help the host stay on top of the dishes! Every now and then, I ‘sweep’ the rooms and collect discarded dishes and cups, washing by hand what is easy and putting the rest in the dishwasher. Little bits at a time keep things from piling up!
I’ll be #host-ing this year as I’m far too pregnant to travel to see my family. Sort of looking forward to a really intimate dinner – but not sure how to cook all of our favorites for so few people!
Co-host with my 92-year old mother! Thanksgiving is just the best food holiday there is, hands down. It’s generally all about tradition at our house, but I like to throw in one or two new twists. I would LOVE LOVE Sam Sifton’s Thanksgiving book to find some of those new twists to add to our Thanksgiving table.
I’m a guest! Our family has a tradition that everyone brings certain specialty dishes: roasted brussel sprouts, root vegetables, soup, homemade bread, dessert. The host is just responsible for the turkey. That way everyone has a sane amount of cooking to do and it’s easier to make sure vegetarians and people with allergies have things they can eat.
I’m a guest & a host!!
I am a guest this year. I love to host but also happy to share the duty. Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and I am lucky to have my husband’s awesomely fun family wh0 make the holiday so great. My tip: relax and enjoy. No matter what – it’s all good and that’s the essence of the holiday.
Guest this year!
#host
My tip is to plan ahead and be organized by determining the menu, making the grocery list and figuring out what can be prepped ahead, I make a schedule of what needs to be done and when in the days ahead. Planning like this allows me to enjoy the day, rather than being frantic in the kitchen!!!
I’m a #guest, as I am every year since Thanksgiving is held at the old family home which is a plane ride away.
quasi host/quasi guest! it’s at my parents’ house, and i’m helping to cook. i think that’d qualify myself as a #guest since i’m not paying for the ingredients?
I’m the sous-chef but looking forward to hosting in my new home!
I’m a guest this year, but will be helping my Mom with all of the cooking. I love Thanksgiving, it’s my favorite holiday!
Guest, but Mom will be working later than usual the week of, so will be pitching in a decent amount on the host front. My best tip? Champagne. Lots of it. And starting early.
I am making Thanksgiving happen this year for our little family with two picky eaters, my husband, and me (#host). But because we are getting back from Disney two days prior, and because I will be 8 months pregnant and am already flat-out tired, I’ve already ordered a pre-made turkey breast. I’ll be making two side dishes and the recipe on the back of the Libby Pumpkin can for dessert using a pre-made crust. I’ve done better in previous years, but this year I am just tired. So my tip would be to do what you can with what you have. Be elaborate if you have time, money, and energy, or play it down if you are short on resources. Nobody will remember the effort you put into making the food but they will remember the family time that you had together.
Thank you for the giveaway! My tip, if you have small children, is “don’t get your feelings hurt”. They really don’t see this as anything other than dinner in the 2-5 range. If they eat a green bean, some sweet potato and declare gravy “goopy” and turkey “too stringy” and hop down after 10 minutes, don’t let that color your experience of the the holiday or them. I am so fortunate to have such healthy, bossy, particular little people in my life. 😉
Host. My tip is a classic. I try to have as much done in advance as possible. Its such a wonderful day and I do not wish to spoil that by running around like a turkey with its head cut off. Also, wine helps everything!
I’m the guest, but am doing most of the desserts!
Running the Turkey Trot in my hometown (finishes with a beer) and making the same kindergarten recipe for cranberry relish that I’ve been making for 32 years. I’m a guest this year, but when I host I try to remind myself that this truly is just another dinner where good food is lovely, but the presence of those we love makes the day special.