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.
AAAAANDโฆ.it was even all Gluten Free. Everything. First time I didnโt 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 everโฆ..
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
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.
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 fiancรฉ (!) and will be cooking my third Thanksgiving turkey in a grad dorm. Wish me luck!
My only tip is to plan ahead. . . Thanksgiving is not the kind of meal that you can just โwing itโ and hope for the best! cteeobrien(at)cox{dot}net
Iโm the #host! Itโs my first time and Iโm having my whole family over. Eek! Did I mention I really just started cooking this year? Wish me luck
Iโm a guest.
I am a guest at my momโs, I think this year we will bring a pumpkin stuffed with everything good: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=130704456
I am host, serving 11 this year. We brine then grill our turkey. So delicious and it frees the oven for rolls and stuffing.
Guest this year, host last year. Made some amazing sweet potato biscuits last year that I will bring this year. Oh, and canโt go wrong with a chocolate pecan pie.
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). Canโt wait!!
Iโm a guest at my parentsโ thanksgiving, but always go the night before to help with prep. This is pretty obvious, but preparing everything thatโs possible to prepare the night before, and having all hands on deck to do so so youโre not up until 1am, is my tip. Also, setting out the serving dishes the night before that youโll use speeds the process of getting food on the table the next day!
#Hostโฆ.and a first-timer to boot.
It seemed like such a good idea when I offeredโฆ..
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.
I am hostโฆjust 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. โฆ to have real conversation and BE thankful!
#guest, I guessโฆmy dadโs cooking, but Iโll probably help out with some! All I can think about are brussels sprouts and mashed sweet potatoes!
Iโm 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 Siftonโs book would be ah-mazing ๐
#guest, we have a newborn so I donโt think too much cooking is happening at our house this yearโฆbut we gotta have a pumpkin pie!
Host. Delegate! We always ask friends to bring their specialty dishes โ 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!
Hosting thanksgiving for the first time this year, so I donโt have any tips yet. Wish me luck!
Iโm the #host this year, as at six months pregnant I donโt feel up to travelling! Make a detailed timeline working backwards from when you want to eat โ and think realistically about how much time those small last-minute tasks will take! In worst-case scenarios, remember disasters make for great stories.
Host. My main tip is to plan aheadโฆ Iโm nothing without a written time table and a really good plan. Good music and wine doesnโt hurt either!
Host. My tip is to ask your company to bring a dish and the serving utensil to go with it.
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.
Make lists, delegate and prep in advance.