Do you host Thanksgiving?

[Equus5O]

We're 41 and 45. We have our own large house now, on 44 acres, after having left an apartment in 2004. We're at least an hour away from family members with smaller places. I would much rather take the time, effort and cost to host dinners at our house.

I'm going through this now. My brother and his wife came here for Christmas last year. Technically, I guess, it would make this year their turn to host a dinner. I had thought that with having my mother in law from Samoa in NJ this year, maybe something would happen in NJ, but it isn't. So, I suppose it's down to me and my remaining relative within 100 miles.

The thing is ... my husband and I don't feel like going to New York for Thanksgiving. But, we know that it's "our turn." But ... we have chickens! So, I figure that's our out! Thanksgiving has to be here so that we can secure the chickens, right?!

My mother suggests that we ask a friend to be here by 5:00 or so, so that the chickens can be secured.

Therefore, my mother isn't permitted to take calls from or make calls to my brother.

 

[NoseyChickens]

We are in our late 30's. DH is military so we are usually on our own with the 5 kids for Turkey Day. i make a HUGE meal from scratch as if a million people are coming over only to have it devoured within minutes. When we are living close to family we spend it with them or with friends. This year we are ditching the big meal and going to Knott's Berry Farm! The kids have never been and they are having a great military promotion this month. So we are taking my Mom and heading down there for the day.

Although I have to admit I have a feeling i will end up cooking a big meal over the weekend anyway!

 

[I have WHAT in my yard?]

Several years I hosted T-day, but this year it is a bigger celebration than usual - BIL is HOME from Iraq for the first T-day in years. Literally, years. It seemed he got sent to Iraq or sea or somewhere else every years so that even if he was only away for a month or two it was T-day that he was gone. This year he is home and sis wants to celebrate!

So we're all trooping to her house. I am making home made bread and a sweet cherry-date bread and real pumpkin pie from my own pumpkins.....

 

[McCord6]

Im 24.
we usually go to family's house for Thanksgiving but this year we are staying home. Im cooking. I just found out that my landlady and her kids are joining us as well, which is fine, they are also bringing food over. This is my first year hosting Thanksgiving.

 

[DuckLady]

Please let's not turn this into another in-law bashing thread. Thanks.

 

[ARB]

I have been hosting and cooking for the past 8 years or so. I am 65 and we have my bro, his wife, sis, mom, and 11 in-laws. Also my wife and our two college boys. My older daughter usually spends time with her mother. Also two other grandmas often show up. I guess that is about 20 people. I make two large lasagnas. Of course there is a huge turkey or two smaller ones. I stuff it/them with citrus and herbs. Massage under the skin and on the skin with butter and Herbs de Provance. I also make an Italian cheese cake. Others bring pies, cakes, side dishes, etc.

Several years ago the turkey didn't cook all the way through even though it was in for an extended time. I asked a butcher at our local market about it and he said that it could have been the way it was butchered. I find it hard to believe and others I have told this to are also skeptical. Any one else have that experience?

 

[Katy]

My family takes turn hosting it. I cook everything pretty much everything from scratch whether it's Thanksgiving or not. I'll be 57 in January.

 

[mom'sfolly]

We do a very non traditional Thanksgiving with friends. My family and dh's family are thousands of miles away, so friends are it. We camp Thanksgiving weekend, usually Wednesday and Thursday nights, with our friends from Scotland, and sometimes others. We camp close to home, and eat really well. On Wednesday night we usually have steak with fixins, and on Thanksgiving, my friend fries a turkey. Yes, he brings everything to fry a turkey when we camp. We sleep in tents, eat, and eat, and eat....good thing those tents have expandible walls.

This non-traditional Thanksgiving works for us. Cooking and cleanup is minimalized. The side dishes are simple, and things we really like. We bring desserts and canned whipped cream. We get to what I think are the essentials of Thanksgiving; sharing a great, celebatory meal with people you care about. There is no stress days before about getting the house perfectly clean, china and tableclothes out, cooking everything and cleaning up after. It is wonderful and fairly stress free.

I've hosted in the past, and much prefer this approach.

 

[horsejody]

I host it at my house. I cook most of it. Everybody else brings stuff too.

 

[SarahFair]

Im 21.



I would be more than happy to have all her family and my family over to cook. I just dont think I could afford it..