We had a gathering of 40 people for Thanksgiving! Guests bring dessert, drinks and appetizers. Host (cousin) does one turkey (and someone else brings sliced turkey in crock pot). Then other local families make the sides. We have mashed potatoes, stuffing, sweet potatoes, corn casserole, and green beans (sans casserole), plus rolls.It is so good.

We do the Feast of the Seven Fishes for Christmas Eve which is my second fav holiday meal.

Everyone saying the food doesn't taste good is doing it wrong. I agree some of it is not the healthiest. But it is delicious. Must not be any cooks or good family recipes at your Thanksgivings.

Anonymous wrote:Totally agree, I did my usual Christmas Eve 7 fishes. Nobody missed turkey!

i need to know more about this.

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...

I had WF T'giving after the birth of my second. It was ok and way sage-y. and I like sage.

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.

That is my kind of young man. My birthday is Thanksgiving week too and OP, my dear, you are so wrong. If you think this/feel this, you are not doing it right. I hope that you can find a better solution for your soul next year. Now, go watch Muppets, A Christmas Carol and report back.

Anonymous wrote:Agree. Kids basically dislike the food and I could care less. It’s a huge amount of work for little to no payout, with massive amounts of dirty dishes.

So use paper next year if the dishes are an issue for you. We hosted 12. Ran the dishwasher 2x and only had a few things to scour.

The problem is that most people like THEIR versions of Thanksgiving dishes. Not other people's. So obviously there will be friction, when people get together and have to eat dishes made by others.

On the other hand, if you made everything according to your wishes, it would be a ton of work. Work that I willing to do for Christmas, when I cook and assemble all my favorite foods. Not Thanksgiving, because the traditional meal doesn't give me a lot to work with.

So agree!

I don’t think it sucks, but I think a lot of people cut corners because there is so much to do. Like the ‘cutting the turkey’ early thread. A well cooked, moist seasoned turkey with crispy skin is delightful, but not many people achieve that (or do, and ruin by pre cutting and re-heating it).
Mashed potatoes are one life’s greatest pleasures but if you don’t take the time to make sure they are smooth, buttery and creamy they are just lumpy scoops of starch.

As pp also say, it’s generally the women who have to do everything, so it ends up being a lot. Cooking for so many people shouldn’t fall solely on one!

Agree. Kids basically dislike the food and I could care less. It’s a huge amount of work for little to no payout, with massive amounts of dirty dishes.

You can go in so many different directions with Thanksgiving. Whatever you do not like, scratch it and make somethng else

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.

He needs to explore a lot more foods if turkey is his favorite.

I love it. One of the best days of the year.

I'd happily skip the turkey, I don't care for it and usually only eat a few bites out of respect to whoever cooked it (we pretty much always do potluck style Thanksgivings, so I generally cook a lot but never the turkey).

Stuffing, mashed potatoes, and gravy are tasty. I always look forward to those.

I am pretty much always in charge of veggies for Thanksgiving and I'm good at it and those are my favorite dishes. I'll do glazed carrots with thyme, haricot vert in lieu of green bean casserole (just lightly cooked green beans in butter sauce with slivered almonds), sometimes a sweep potato gratin, roasted turnips, sometimes I do an apple and walnut salad. I look for veggies that are in season or can be gotten very fresh, and enhance things with classic fall flavors and savory flavor profiles that will go well with the more traditional Thanksgiving dishes.

It works for us.

I fully agree. The food is bland, stodgy, and unhealthy. A huge amount of work for not great food.