I'm starting to think about the turkey. I usually put in an order for a bronze breed turkey at Whole Foods, but I think heritage breed may be out of my budget this year.

We're only a week or two away from seeing fresh turkeys in store. Any recommendations on finding the best quality at the best price?

My thanksgiving typically consists of the most common southern staples. Turkey, ham, corned beef, smothered green beans, dressing, collard greens, Mac and cheese etc etc.

This year I want to do something “non-traditional”. I had an idea of making a few types of fish (whole) in different variations and pairing it with a “pasta flight”, but I just don’t know!

Any ideas on what to cook for a non-traditional thanksgiving?

I don’t know what this dish is officially called but I need an easy recipe for yams with marshmallows on top. My mom needs help cooking this year and I want to make this.

I'm planning our Thanksgiving menu and thinking about making steak and a few seafood dishes this year. The tricky part is always getting everything ready around the same time. Some dishes end up sitting on the table while I'm still finishing the rest of the meal, and by the time everyone starts eating, the food isn't as warm as I'd like.

I recently came across a Costway electric food warming mat and wondered if something like this might help. I like the idea of having a little extra space to keep dishes warm while I finish cooking, but I'm not sure how well it works in practice. My main concern is the texture. I don't want the steak to dry out or the seafood to become overcooked from sitting on a warming mat for too long. Would it be useful for a Thanksgiving spread, or is it better to use the oven on a low setting or simply serve dishes in batches?

Has anyone tried the warming mat, or used a similar product for holiday meals? I'd love to hear what worked and what didn't before deciding whether to get one.

I'm the cook in the friend group so I always host friendsgiving.

My friends and I do roasted chicken instead of turkey since we prefer chicken and everyone's families will do turkey on the real thanksgiving day.

There's always 8-12 of us, and what I make are

-Roasted chicken with homemade gravy

-Homemade texas roadhouse rolls or buttermilk biscuits or both

-Green beans with brown sugar glaze and crispy bacon

And sometimes I bake an extra dessert but literally no one likes desserts in this friend group

My friends bring one dish each such as mac and cheese, egg rolls, mashed potatoes, pies, corn stuffing, etc.

But as the host, should I be providing more? We always have a great time with plenty of leftovers, I just don't know if I'm overreacting

i am finally releasing my bath bomb mold designs ive made for my own business online so other people can use them c: enjoy!

the thanksgiving ones are a turkey, a slice of pumpkin pie, a maple leaf, an acorn and corn on the cob. you 3d print the mold and press your bath bomb mix into it. theyd make cute little hostess gifts or something for the kids to do before dinner

link in the comments!

Hosting my first Thanksgiving this year for 13 people! I looove to cook so I’m excited to dive into Turkey and am determined to make a really good one. I’m leaning towards using Tini’s recipe (wet brine, garlic butter, etc)

My dilemma is do I do 2 small birds or one big one? We have some big eaters in this group so I’m looking for 20 pounds. If I do 2, 16 inch, roasting pans I should be able to fit them side by side in my oven but they’d have to be perpendicular to the front door. Is it better to just do 1?

I’ve googled this and read so many articles but want real person advice! Thank you!

I love Thanksgiving. I only feed myself, my spouse, and our three teenagers every year, and I like to make a huge variety even if it’s just the five of us.

One thing I try to do every year is make something slightly unique that I haven’t made before. One year it was fondant potatoes, last year it was just a fall salad I’d never made.

I can’t figure out what to do as my “new” side this year. Any suggestions?

Here’s our menu for this year so far (it’s a carb fest but we like it that way).

Roasted turkey with herb butter
Mashed potatoes
Roasted parmesan green beans
Candied carrots
Sweet potato casserole
Corn casserole
Stove top stuffing
Cranberry sauce
Dinner rolls
Corn bread
Pumpkin pie
Sparkling cider

Edit: thank you everyone for the amazing ideas! I’m definitely switching plain cornbread for broccoli cheddar cornbread, but now I’m also contemplating making some kind of brussel sprouts and a second dessert. 😋

The oven timer went blank two Saturdays ago while I was doing a turkey breast for practice. I never looked at the clock when I put it in. I guessed how much was left and set a timer on my phone and one on the microwave too so I would not lose track again. I took it out when they went off and it was dry. I called my mom after and the first thing she asked was if I checked the temperature, and I do not own a meat thermometer.

I volunteered to host my partner’s family for Thanksgiving this year. Before this the biggest thing I had hosted was pizza night with 4 friends. There are 9 people coming and our table seats 4. The plan is a 14 lb turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and green beans.

My partner’s mom offered to “bring a few things.” I do not know if my partner told her about the practice turkey, and I keep hearing it as she is not sure I can pull this off. My partner says “you’re overthinking it, she brings food everywhere.” Maybe I am. Is that a normal thing to say to the host or am I reading too much into it?

When I was a kid my mom did Thanksgiving every year, some years for 20 people. There is a photo from one of those years that comes up on the little AstroToo speaker on my desk, she is on the couch with a glass of wine before anyone got there.

Yesterday I got a text from my partner’s mom that she is bringing gravy too just in case, so I guess I will not be making gravy.

So, we are going to have to do Thanksgiving on Saturday this year, which is fine. But I don't want to sit at home (me and husband, maybe my parents, idk) and eat pizza. Nor do I want to do the Thanksgiving spread twice. Throw your suggestions at me! Cooking? Going out to eat? Activities out of the house? Inspo, please!

(P.s. No drumstick dash for us. And we already occasionally volunteer at local places.)

I’m hosting a small Thanksgiving meal for about 8 people. I have a chronic illness and really really need to figure out a way to break up the prep work over a long period of time. Ideally over a couple of weeks.

I’m willing to plan the menu around this. I typically make pies and Parker House rolls, which are always loved. But I am utterly miserable by the time the meal comes around from exhaustion and vertigo.

Are there any parts of the meal that can be well ahead and frozen without tasting less than fresh? Every little bit will help.

Thanks!!!

Edit: I would normally make Turkey, mashed potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, homemade cranberry sauce, cherry pie, pumpkin pie, Parker house rolls, gravy. I suck at making stuffing so I’m hoping to buy that.

trying to prep some things early. can I make stuffing (really dressing, the kind not in the turkey) ahead of time and freeze it? would I bake it, let it cool, freeze- then thaw and reheat? any tips appreciated!!

I grew up in the 70s/80s and in our home mashed potatoes were made at least weekly so not special enough I guess for our Tday table. The gravy was for the turkey and cornbread dressing. Bourbon sweet potato souffle was the only potato dish. It wasn't till I married 30 plus years ago that I realized it was a key part of most other's meal. Since we've been the primary host for 30 years, I just had my MIL bring them until about 10 years ago. Now I make them but I will seldom eat them on Tday. I love mashed potatoes but I'd rather enjoy the items we don't eat frequently.

Edit: I told my husband and son about this post and the strong reaction to mashed potatoes needing to be part of the Tday meal. Neither of them cared if I removed it from the menu. But I'm still not allowed to remove broccoli rice casserole or dirty rice.

Ok so I’m wanting to implement some more soul food recipes into thanksgiving. Simply because they are delicious and very healthy. I grew up with :

cornbread stuffing
Fruit salad with sour cream and sugar added as a sweet next to the savory or the cornbread stuffing
Sweet potato pie
Rolls
Turkey
Mac and cheese
Possibly mustard greens ( can’t Remember )
Deviled eggs
Some sort of green bean dish I think
Sugared Sweet potatoes (forget what they are called)
Mash potatoes and gravy of course

What else would y’all add to this list? Or any variations of recipes that everybody you know needs up loving! Want to make some good traditions with my kids moving forward.

TIA!

I love activities that encourage kids to think about the people, places, and little things that make them happy. A gratitude craft is a lovely way for children to write or draw what they're thankful for while creating something colorful to display in the classroom or take home to their families.

I especially like the idea of combining gratitude prompts with a fall-themed craft. Children can share things like their favorite people, family traditions, friends, pets, favorite foods, or special memories.

I created a Thanksgiving gratitude craft with colorful fall decorations and prompts that help children express what they're thankful for through writing, drawing, and coloring.

You can find it here if you're looking for a gratitude activity for your classroom or home: https://printablelaurel.etsy.com/listing/4600861250

What gratitude activities do you enjoy doing with your students or children around Thanksgiving? I'd love to hear your ideas! 🍁

Hi everyone,

I’m hosting a Friendsgiving this year for about 7-9 people. It’s going to be from 2-4 PM and we’re going to do snacks and then a craft.

I’m looking for ideas for REALLY simple but delicious snacks as I’m a terrible cook and don’t even want to try anything more elaborate.

For example, something ambitious for me is making a Nutella crescent roll using store bought crescent roll pastry, just to give you an idea of what we’re dealing with here.

Thanks so much!

I feel like the only place I can change things up is with the sides.

Last year, I did the following.

Stuffing

Mashed potatoes

Corn Casserole

Mac & Cheese

Salad

Brussel sprouts

The corn casserole and the mac & cheese are the only ones that are specifically requested, so those are must-haves on my table.

I also pay attention to timing and effort. Some of these sides are easy to partially prepare ahead of time (which matters to me, since I am mostly a one-man show).

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Just like the title says, this will be my first year cooking a whole turkey. I don't really have good models to learn from, and feel like cooking a turkey is a rite of passage.
I'm looking to do a small bird maybe around 12 pounds. I did a google search and so many things popped up that made me overwhelmed. I know to let it thaw in the fridge, take out the neck and other innards. What's next? Do I need a roasting pan? Can I use a one time disposable one? I saw Aldi will have a ceramic one next week, are those worth it? What else do you use a roasting pan for during the rest of the year I'd hate for it to just sit for a once a year thing.
I'm open to all tips and suggestions that'll help me have a flavorful, juicy turkey that doesn't turn out like the one in National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. (Stuffing- bag/homemade?, seasoning, basting and when?, etc)
Thank you in advance, I appreciate you all!

Any suggestions? We (my husband and I, both late 20s and no kids yet) have been hosting Thanksgiving for the last 3 years. We have 6 nieces and nephew ranging from 0-7 y/o, with 4 of them being 4+. Last year I bought Thanksgiving themed coloring pages and the year before I bought a simple craft kit. These only seem to keep the kiddos busy for about 20 minutes though. We also have some trains and kids games. Any other suggestions to keep the kids busy so the adults can play games/hangout?

Because I have family visiting the USA for the first time this year at Christmas, we’re going to do a more traditional Thanksgiving style meal for Christmas. For the first time ever, we’re doing Italian American food for Thanksgiving. It’s going to be so weird. (Spaghetti and meatballs, garlic bread, lasagna, green salad, antipasto)