True, but I would have to deal with the Costco parking lot right before Thanksgiving…
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We hosted T-day at the cabin last year (and it snowed!), but we’re hosting in AZ this year, and DS/DIL will be with us the entire week (TSA/airlines willing), so we’re very excited. DS is hunting in Michigan with my brother this weekend, so we will have venison and wild turkey along with our traditional bird and menu.
We do the whole nine yards from scratch for Thanksgiving, starting with all the food prep and baking on Wednesday—we split up the menu cards, don our chef jackets, and enjoy a pot of clam chowder and champagne bar while we cook. (I think we have more fun on Wednesday). T-day is relaxing as the guys tend to the bird outside on the grill, and everything else just needs to be warmed and set out. We also set a very fancy table with china, crystal, linens, candles, heirloom silver, menus, and place cards the night before and finish the day with dessert outside by the fire.
Can’t wait!
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My younger sister will be celebrating with her H & S in SF. No one in my extended clan has mentioned anything about Thanksgiving but our family friends are planning and invited us so H will make his usual mochi rice with Chinese sausage and dried olives which is a big hit. I will figure out another dish to bring. There will be several dozen people there, most of which we have known for many years. We enjoy these very close family friends—many are related by blood or marriage but there are others like us that are just longtime friends. It will be fun! Lots of little ones and elders, some vegans, some vegetarians and many omnivores! It’s potluck so there are always lots of interesting dishes.
S was just here and D and S were here in September/October. D will be here again for Dec/Jan and S will be here for January, so I count my blessings and will make the time we share special. 
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I didn’t know this either. I am so very sorry. 
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Happy opening day to all who celebrate. I hope he gets his deer!
Last year was a logistical disaster. We are leaving for a Mediterranean cruise. We did this 2 years ago and it worked out well. We will go out east to see our kids when we get home. With everyone far flung, we just can’t get out there for thanksgiving and then Christmas.
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Last year, we went out, just the two of us. We were planning to do that again…but…
DDs in-laws invited us to their home for Thanksgiving dinner…on the early side. I think we should accept this invitation but DH isn’t so sure.
I’d be very willing to host the festivities here, but that would mean 5 people making the hour plus ride, instead of just the two of us going there.
I will offer to bring side dishes…sweet potato soufflé (it’s not really a soufflé but it does have eggs in it…and it’s delicious), and probably make ahead potatoes (sort of like stuffed bake potatoes without the skins). We could also do a veggie dish. That way the hosts would be doing the Turkey, stuffing, gravy, whatever bread choice they want, and our DD would make dessert.
Not sure there is a gracious way to decline the invite we have…I think we should accept.
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This is very impressive to me. Like you, we just have one son. Granted, there is no S.O. , but I cannot muster the energy to prepare the entire traditional meal by myself for just the three of us. I have done it, but I don’t enjoy it. I have done it a couple of times when my in-laws joined us.
We typically go out, which is what we will do this year. I am not cooking for Bob (my mil’s fiancée for those who are unfamiliar).
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I flip flop back and forth. Some years I’m really in the mood to do all the cooking, even if it’s just the three of us, and other years I dread it.
H would have me cook the whole shebang every year but D isn’t coming home until Wednesday night (hoping and praying she makes it), and she’s the one who said that she wouldn’t be home to help with any of the prep work and it wasn’t “fair” that I did everything alone. She was the one who suggested going out or getting take out and H went along with it. D for the win!
I’m keeping my fingers crossed that our take out option goes well and is yummy. The restaurant has won all kinds of awards for their southern cooking and my friend did it last year and said it really tasted homemade and wonderful. It would be awesome if this works out.
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23 this year. I’m making a whole turkey plus a breast. I also make stuffing (outside the bird) , roasted veggies, gluten free cheddar rolls ( from the red lobster box mix….delicious) One sister in law is making salad. My best friend is bringing baked potatoes ( always a huge hit…I usually make but no room because of the two turkeys.). Desert is pumpkin pie, cherry pie and gluten free flourless chocolate cake. I do have hired help who carves the turkeys and gets things in and out of oven. And helps clean up.
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Also hosting 23 this year! Alternate with my sister. We have my cousins and their grown kids and teenage grandkids. It is a lot of work, even though everyone contributes but luckily my kids help with the prep, DH does a lot of the cooking and nephews are on dish duty. Most bring appetizers and desserst, but we do the turkey, stuffing, favorite sweet potato soufflé, vegetarian main, bread, veggies etc. None of my kids or nephews are in a position to host so not sure what will happen in the future. I am happy to do it, fun and somewhat exhausting!
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Flight and health gods be willing, we will be in Munich this year with my parents. They are taking us on our first Xmas markets cruise (and their 964th cruise - not really, but they’ve done a ton). I’d say it’s the best thanksgiving ever, but for it to be that, my kids and FDILs would be there too. I am not a fan of Thanksgiving, so this is great for me.
ironically we are planning to have dinner that night with a childhood friend of younger S and his GF. She’s from Munich and he recently moved to attend grad school. I’ve known him since he was little and was his swim coach and soccer team mom for many years. I’m so happy he’s grown up so well!
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What is the hesitation in going? It is nice that they extended an invite to you both. And you’d be willing to come with food in hand!!!
DD and family will hopefully make it to the east coast for Thanksgiving week.
Some days here in VA and will visit her 100 y/o grandmother. Then, those 4, and DS, DDIL, 2 dogs and myself will head up the coast to an Air BNB where we will host my extended family for the big meal. We will be 19 -21 people including a 7 y/o, nearly 3 y/o, 21 month old and a 19 month old.
If the timing works we’ll video chat DD’s family in Japan while we are all together.
I’m doing the turkey - still deciding on one big one or a breast and separate legs. Will also provide wine and sweet potato gratin.
Others will provide an antipasto, thanksgiving meatballs, spiral ham, stuffing, mashed potatoes, mac and cheese, pumpkin-pecan bisquits, salad, ‘something green’, 2 pies, 2 ‘desserts’.
We have done this before when DD came east. She and her husband want their kids to know their relatives. It was a bit of a disruption to my now 90 y/o aunt who always hosted Thanksgiving with an unwavering menu. But we can’t all fit in her place
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I’m sure he will, but my brother has already bagged two and will bring a venison ham with him.
There will be five of us this year, but DH and I follow the whole playbook even for just the two of us. We absolutely love to cook. Any opportunity to spend an entire day together in the kitchen is our idea of great fun.
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If I was cooking a Thanksgiving meal (I’m not) and hesitant about all the work I think this is what I would do - take some shortcuts.
Assuming that no one else is contributing (though that would never happen in our family), some of my shortcuts might include:
NOT doing a whole turkey - that stresses me out. Instead I’d do spatchcock chicken or a turkey breast or buy rotisserie chicken from Costco.
I love having two dessert choices. But one of them would be picking up a pie on that Costco visit - they have pumpkin, pecan or probably apple - all good choices for fall.
While my kids would insist on homemade mashed potatoes, I have had Bob Evan’s mashed potatoes dumped in a crockpot and then dressed up a bit (a little garlic, or chives or butter, or more salt or sour cream or whatever combo you like) and they are delicious!
I love to make bread but could also make do with a good bakery dinner roll or just do a quick bread.
Pick the sides you like to do from scratch - it can be a fantastic meal with all your favorites but with some reduction in your personal manpower!
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It’s not MY hesitation…
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But what is your husband’s hesitation? Does he not like them? Does he feel like you are imposing? Something else?
I’m so sorry @FallGirl — glad you will be with loved ones.
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I do like pumpkin pie but a number of years ago switched to pumpkin cheesecake with ginger snap crust. Always a hit and it freezes well if any is leftover.
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I think my husband’s hesitation is that he thought we would just go out like we did last year (but both DD and SIL were working last year).
Stay tuned.
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