Disagree, with the massive caveat that I’ve never been the one who had to make the turkey. This year my sister did turkey/gravy/stuffing and I did everything else (three apps, six sides). Loved everything.

We love it! 💕

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:My family loves the meal and won't let me drop any of the dishes I make every year. We had to drop collard greens because my slow cooker is broken, and you would have thought I ruined the day.

Also my son's birthday is this weekend, and he asked for Thanksgiving dinner again for his birthday dinner.

I've never used a slow cooker. I will try that. You can use a dutch oven for the collards if you don't get another slow cooker before the birthday meal.

With every passing year I could not agree with you more OP.

I don't think the food sucks. OK, turkey is mediocre, but it's 69 cents/lb and you can make turkey enchiladas and turkey and hatch-chile stew with the leftovers, both of which are huge favorites in my family. It's not a lot of work if you spread out the tasks - cranberry sauce and apple pie one day, key lime pie and vegan banana cake the next day. (I make pumpkin muffins for Thanksgiving breakfast, as we don't really like pumpkin pie.) My daughter makes the best garlic mashed potatoes, and it is very easy to prepare Brussels sprouts to cook in the oven. Sweet potatoes are easy to bake while the turkey cooks. I also make a quinoa/beet/spinach/edamame/carrot salad for my vegan guests. As for cleaning and setting up, I delegate those tasks. It's a wonderful family time and I wouldn't change anything.

Anonymous wrote:I wanted to buy everything from Whole Foods. Spouse said no. But now spouse is saying we should not have turkey next year because it's too much work. I suggested again that we buy from Whole Foods...

You can buy the cooked turkey from Whole Foods. It’s awesome.

Anonymous wrote:I can only vent on here, OP. We are guests most years. There is turkey, which no one in my family likes. There are onions in every savory dish. TONS of onions. Like half of every dish is onions. We bring the only onion-free sides, and the dessert.

But we are grateful for togetherness, so this is why we eat the food.

Why don’t you bring whatever you guys prefer to eat?

I can only vent on here, OP. We are guests most years. There is turkey, which no one in my family likes. There are onions in every savory dish. TONS of onions. Like half of every dish is onions. We bring the only onion-free sides, and the dessert.

But we are grateful for togetherness, so this is why we eat the food.

Anonymous wrote:I love it. Turkey + stuffing + mashed potatoes + gravy is all I really need, though. No other sides necessary.

Same.

Anonymous wrote:Nope. Love Thanksgiving food and it’s actually not an expensive meal to prepare at all.

+1. Plus we all pitch in. Host makes turkey and a side or two. Other people bring sides, appetizers, drinks and desserts - at least two things each. We use higher end plastic plates and cutlery. Side dishes are in large aluminum trays. This is for about 13-15 people. Looks kind of like this:

Host family: Turkey, gravy, stuffing, roasted vegetables
Guest family 1: Sweet potato casserole and cranberry sauce
Guest family 2: mac and cheese and a dessert
Guest family 3: appetizers and drinks
Guest family 4: more desserts and drinks

I wanted to buy everything from Whole Foods. Spouse said no. But now spouse is saying we should not have turkey next year because it's too much work. I suggested again that we buy from Whole Foods...

Love thanksgiving and am happy to do the majority of the cooking and host. Family/guests always offer to bring something and I assign out the dishes I do not enjoy making or eating. And I purchase dessert bc I do not enjoy baking.

We agree. My whole family gets together and eats non-Thanksgiving food. Steaks, tacos, mediterranean, seafood, crabs etc etc

You’re doing it wrong OP. Make whatever you want, and find the easiest way to do it.

Also shop at Aldi or Walmart or some where like that to make it cheap AF. I got all my stuff at Aldi, tasted great.

Nope. Love Thanksgiving food and it’s actually not an expensive meal to prepare at all.