Last year, we devoted a lot of blog space to Thanksgiving, by Sam Sifton. And since weโre editors and writers, supposedly on the pulse of what the lastest, greatest, trendiest everything is, we should probably be featuring this yearโs of-the-moment holiday cookbook. But hereโs the thing: โtrendyโ and โof-the-momentโ are not words that should EVER EVER EVER be in the same sentence as โThanksgiving,โ and we stand by our claim that Sam Siftonโs timeless, authoritative, delicious guide to our countryโs greatest holiday is The Only Thanksgiving Recipe Collection You Will Ever Need. (Outside of your grandmotherโs recipe box, of course โ we donโt want to get anyone in trouble here). As such, we launch our โCountdown to Thanksgiving Seriesโ with a bountiful giveaway: In the next 48 hours, five readers are eligible to win a free copy of Siftonโs Thanksgiving, and five more are eligible to have a free copy sent to whoever is cooking/hosting the feastโฆ as a little pre-holiday pump-up and thank-you-in-advance. Thatโs TEN COPIES WE ARE GIVING AWAY. All you have to do is leave a comment below (we wouldnโt 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 Siftonโs 1o Laws of Thanksgiving.
Iโm a guest at my parentโs house! ๐
#Guest! We are driving from DC down to my brotherโs place in SC so by the time we finish battling the traffic on Wednesday, Iโll be more than ready for a relaxing Thanksgiving dinner ๐ I think this book might make a great hostess gift for my brother and SIL!
#host for my family of 12, the first time everโฆ eek!
Iโm a host! An annual Thanksgiving tradition here: Bake 6 to 8 loaves of pumpkin bread and give them to people you are thankful for this year ( not family).
I love being a Thanksgiving guest โ though, since itโs a family gathering, I donโt feel too โguesty.โ Best guest tips โ ask โwhat can I bring?โ and stay slightly out of the cookโs way โ far enough to not be underfoot, but close enough to jump in and help if needed. Love Thanksgiving!
Thanksgiving tipโฆ.. donโt forget to be thankful.
I started a Thanksgiving tree (construction paper on poster board)โฆ I have written each year we write on it (2006, 2008, 2009, 2011.. and this year).. everyone adds something. Love looking back. My 7 year old niece (in 2006) wrote WHIPED CREAM. I plan on having it framed after this year.
First time hostโcanโt wait! I make lacto-fermented cranberry sauce, and OMG so good. I have to make another batch (or two) before the big day b/c this one will be gone by the end of the week.
I am the host the past few years! Prep as much as you can before and it makes the dinner go so much smoother.
Iโm new to Thanksgiving hosting, but think/ hope the company is as important as the food! #host
We should know this week whether we are hosting or guests but either way we will be doing lots of cooking. I tend to find a million things I want to make, so my advice? Start planning early so you can narrow down the options and curate a menu. Best to have a handful of great dishes that are memorable than a ton of items that are all good but everyone gets two bites of each and doesnโt remember anything.
Iโm a guest! My tip is that anything I bring never needs more than a microwave. The oven is being used for other things! I bring the platter and serveware, too.
My Mom always hosts and the daughters always help cook. Love this holiday! This year I canโt wait to make my new favoriteโฆBRUSSELS SPROUTS!!! Roasted, with shallots and bacon. I am pysched!!
iโm a guest
This book sounds awesome!
Iโm hosting again, this time for 25 people!!
Still undertermined whether I will be guest or host this year! Either way, Iโll be making pumpkin, pecan and apple pies.
#guest at my auntโs house an hour and a half away. Best advice is to enjoy the process of preparing and welcoming others. Asking for help is good and we always bring pie!
#guest at my parents house- I always try to bring a game to play with the younger family members while we wait for dinner to be ready.
#host
My tip โ really a request โ is for guest to deal with any heat/cooling their dish needs โ or clear it with the host first. Refrigerator space can be at a premium, and I had the most grateful moment of last yearโs Thansgiving when my lovely friend and guest brought a cooler that accommodated her dessert (and a couple of others as well) happily in the garage when there was nary an inch to spare in the refrigerator
#host on Thanksgiving day and #guest for family dinner that weekend. Best advice is to use bourbon with the turkey and the gravy. And avoid corn starch at all costs, no matter how many times your mother in law tries to add it to the gravy to thicken it.
Iโm a guest with a 3 month old baby. Iโm just hoping someone will hold the baby for a bit and let me help with the cooking for an hour or so!
Iโm #host this year. We did a massive kitchen renovation this year and itโs finally finished, so the family is coming to my house. Iโm looking forward to it, but daunted, too.
#host remember reading about this book last year on your blog. Would love a copy!
Host.
I am a #Guest this year. My tip is to help with the dishes so youโll be invited back next year!!