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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 weโ€™re editors and writers, supposedly on the pulse of what the lastest, greatest, trendiest everything is, we should probably be featuring this yearโ€™s of-the-moment holiday cookbook. But hereโ€™s the thing: โ€œtrendyโ€ and โ€œof-the-momentโ€ are not words that should EVER EVER EVER be in the same sentence as โ€œThanksgiving,โ€ and we stand by our claim that Sam Siftonโ€™s timeless, authoritative, delicious guide to our countryโ€™s greatest holiday is The Only Thanksgiving Recipe Collection You Will Ever Need. (Outside of your grandmotherโ€™s recipe box, of course โ€” we donโ€™t want to get anyone in trouble here). As such, we launch our โ€œCountdown to Thanksgiving Seriesโ€ with a bountiful giveaway: In the next 48 hours, five readers are eligible to win a free copy of Siftonโ€™s Thanksgiving, and five more are eligible to have a free copy sent to whoever is cooking/hosting the feastโ€ฆ as a little pre-holiday pump-up and thank-you-in-advance. Thatโ€™s TEN COPIES WE ARE GIVING AWAY. All you have to do is leave a comment below (we wouldnโ€™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 Siftonโ€™s 1o Laws of Thanksgiving.

814 Comments

  • Avatar Liz L. says:

    Iโ€™m a host because itโ€™s the only way to to guarantee good food.

  • Avatar Kate says:

    Weโ€™ve had a really rough few weeks โ€“ my mom tripped and fell and broke her left kneecap and her right ankle. Sheโ€™s been in a nursing home for two weeks because she canโ€™t walk on either leg. She is due to come home soon and, honestly, I have almost given up on the idea of doing a traditional Thanksgiving this year. If I win this book, Iโ€™ll be a good #host and do my best to incorporate some of Samโ€™s suggestions and recipes. Maybe Iโ€™ll be motivated for Thanksgiving again, instead of wanting to curl up in the fetal position and just suck my thumb. ๐Ÿ˜‰

  • Avatar Emily says:

    Iโ€™m a guest-my sister hosts and we all help by bringing dishes. I say let tradition be traditionโ€“I am all about gourmet and from scratch cooking, but man oh man, I just love me some cranberry sauce from a can! So my tip is donโ€™t sweat the small stuff, and take help from store bought ingredients when you can (pun intended!).

  • Avatar Sara Healy says:

    Hosting for the second time this year! The only tips Iโ€™ve learned in my one year of hosting (ha) are to prepare whatever possible in advance and to happily accept helping hands! Oh, and to enjoy the whole thing! If the host is having a nice time, it seems others will follow suit:). #host

  • Avatar m'liss says:

    #guest would love a copy to give my daughter who will be our host this year!

  • Avatar MFree says:

    Iโ€™m the #Guest this year but iโ€™ll still inevitably be the #cook. My only tip is to use pumpkin for pie.. not the kind from the can but the sugary one that grows on a vine.

  • Avatar Renee says:

    Host. Thanksgiving is my favoite holiday to host. Always looking for new ideas, recipes and tips. Would love a copy of this book!

  • Avatar kim says:

    i am a guest this year & thanksgiving is my most fav of the holidays ๐Ÿ™‚ would love this book!

  • Avatar Caroline says:

    I am a #guest twice! At my in laws on Thanksgiving then at my parents the Saturday following. I canโ€™t wait to live somewhere big enough to be a host!

  • Avatar Christie says:

    I finally get to host!

  • Avatar Kimberly says:

    I am a first time #host! I am pretty excited and a little nervous. ๐Ÿ™‚

  • Avatar Candice says:

    Always complement the cook! #guest

  • Avatar Curly mama says:

    #guest at a potluck Thanksgiving and Iโ€™m responsible for two sides and a dessert. All while staying in a hotel with a mini kitchen โ€“ should be an adventure!

  • Avatar meg says:

    #host-to-beโ€“need all the help I can get preparing for future combined family thanksgivings! Best thing I can think of is to end well with a great pie.

  • Avatar Amy says:

    Iโ€™m hosting, but itโ€™s a small get together. I try to stay organized, make as much as possible ahead of time and always wash up as I go.

  • Avatar Susan says:

    Co-host, so I have to rein myself in a bit! Iโ€™m from the UK, where we think we know a thing or two about roasting a turkey (our Christmas staple). But last Thanksgiving I followed Melissa Clarkes โ€˜How to Roast a Turkeyโ€™ videos to the letter (frame?) and will never look back!
    http://dinersjournal.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/23/how-do-you-roast-a-turkey/?_r=0

  • Avatar Melissa@Julia's Bookbag says:

    Iโ€™m a guest!!! This book looks amazing, thank you for this! A tipโ€ฆโ€ฆput roasted chestnuts in your stuffing and you wonโ€™t be sorry!!!

  • Danielle says:

    I am a guest this year.

  • Avatar Jessica B. says:

    At my parents house in Portland, we are all hosts because everyone is in charge of their own dish and pie. My tips is to drink lots of wine!!!

  • Avatar Margery says:

    Iโ€™m hosting for the first time this year! Tip: try grilling turkey.

  • Katje says:

    Iโ€™m the host. Dry-brine your frozen bird!

  • Avatar Sharyn says:

    All the family โ€œhostsโ€ but the home has passed to the cousinโ€™s generation. Each year I introduce something a little greener, without forsaking the years long favorites. Last year it was pickled brussel sprouts; this year a quinoa, mustard greens, pear and pecan salad.

  • Avatar Kate says:

    #host baby, all the way!

  • Amy says:

    I am a first time #host. Would love to win the book!

  • Avatar Nan says:

    Host one day, guest the next. I need help!

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