Carrot cake was a little overdone; not dry but not moist. Stuffing was too wet (ordered from restaurant but it looked so dry that I thought I was supposed to add the gravy they included before baking).

Anonymous wrote:This is a big one. I spatchcocked the turkey on Wednesday, so I could roast the neck and back for make ahead gravy. Folds the turkey back up to keep in the fridge. On Thursday, took the bird out, rubbed it in oil, and popped it in the oven. Yes, somehow, I forgot to unfold the bird so it went in like a regular roast and in the end I had to cut the thighs off and put them back in the oven to finish cooking. This is not the first time I’ve spatchcocked the turkey so I don’t know where my mind was. It was, however, the best gravy I’ve ever made.

What is your gravy secret!? I had high hopes for mine. I made homemade turkey broth with leftovers from a Friendsgiving. Had plenty of pan drippings. It was just kind of bland. I also wish I had made cranberry sauce. The sauce I bought was too sour and I like a little orange and spice added.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miscalculated how much time I needed for cleaning. Kitchen, living/dining room and guest bath are ok bit I hope nobody will open other doors

If I am invited to a meal/holiday, I do not care if your house is not in perfect order. I’m just happy for the invite.

Thank you so much to whoever replied to my post. In really helped me to keep things in the right perspective

I think I would love not to care as well. But, I was raised with a mom that had us clean before any guests like it was God coming! Now I get the stressed feeling if the house is not perfect.
Case in point, I hired cleaners to clean the house before FIL comes in December. But, that is as we actually work/live 9 hours away and he is coming to our MD place(sprung it on us, off-topic, but he always makes everything a drama about himself) where we are all gathering for a weekend. And this was the time when I booked restaurants meals and was going to be just "relaxed."

Well, it was not a mistake, the turkey came without a neck! And I always make soup with the neck. Everyone loves the soup.
The second "mistake" we got a Honey Baked Ham and it was tastier than the turkey.
LOL!

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Miscalculated how much time I needed for cleaning. Kitchen, living/dining room and guest bath are ok bit I hope nobody will open other doors

If I am invited to a meal/holiday, I do not care if your house is not in perfect order. I’m just happy for the invite.

Thank you so much to whoever replied to my post. In really helped me to keep things in the right perspective

I’ve realized I don’t like the family stuffing recipe. Everyone else does so next year I’m just not going to eat any and let the rest of them have it all.

This is a big one. I spatchcocked the turkey on Wednesday, so I could roast the neck and back for make ahead gravy. Folds the turkey back up to keep in the fridge. On Thursday, took the bird out, rubbed it in oil, and popped it in the oven. Yes, somehow, I forgot to unfold the bird so it went in like a regular roast and in the end I had to cut the thighs off and put them back in the oven to finish cooking. This is not the first time I’ve spatchcocked the turkey so I don’t know where my mind was. It was, however, the best gravy I’ve ever made.

Not really a mistake because this is my style, but every recipe was brand new, never practiced. It all turned out fine because I did a ton of research beforehand, but it was exhausting. I wish I didn’t do this every year, but I love to cook and Thanksgiving is one of the few days I actually have multiple hours to cook. Usually I have to make everything in 30 min or less.

Anonymous wrote:I was cheap and rather than ordering from Clyde's or Founding Farmer's, I ordered from Brio. It is inedible and tastes like they poured salt all over it. We are salvaging Thanksgiving now.

Share your Thanksgiving mistake!

There's a restaurant that uses more salt than Founding Farmers‽

My rolls got a little browner than usual. Other than that, all good

I made my umpteenth try at homemade green bean casserole. Turned out watery and bland, as always, no matter the recipe. Next time, I'm using soup; at least I know it'll taste good.

Anonymous wrote:Honestly this was my most successful Thanksgiving as a host! I stuck to my cooking schedule, never felt stressed, and everything tasted great. My MIL was amazingly helpful and the rest of the family kept the kids busy. I did make my own pie crust for the first time and it was sort of crumbly and the edges burned, but if that’s the worst mistake, I’ll take it.

I bet it still tasted better than store bought pie, even if a little burnt!

Anonymous wrote:My first time hosting thanksgiving. DH and I are 30 but we’ve always gone to thanksgiving at someone else’s house.

My fruit pie didn’t cook through well enough and never firmed up at all, the sides were passable but nothing special, the mashed potatoes weren’t fluffy, I made WAY too much of everything.

That sounds like an altogether great first time out. You survived! And have some ideas for next time. Hope you are enjoying the calm after the storm.

Honestly this was my most successful Thanksgiving as a host! I stuck to my cooking schedule, never felt stressed, and everything tasted great. My MIL was amazingly helpful and the rest of the family kept the kids busy. I did make my own pie crust for the first time and it was sort of crumbly and the edges burned, but if that’s the worst mistake, I’ll take it.

My first time hosting thanksgiving. DH and I are 30 but we’ve always gone to thanksgiving at someone else’s house.

My fruit pie didn’t cook through well enough and never firmed up at all, the sides were passable but nothing special, the mashed potatoes weren’t fluffy, I made WAY too much of everything.

Anonymous wrote:Ugh. Not one of my better Thanksgiving meals. Turkey slightly underdone and had to be finished in microwave. Too much allspice in cranberry sauce. And to cap it off I managed to burn the meringue I made to top the pumpkin pie.

Underdone turkey is the worst. Sorry!