Are y'all responsible for cooking anything for thanksgiving yet?
Posted by ure_not_my_dad@reddit | Xennials | View on Reddit | 232 comments
I've yet to be assigned any dishes and I'm 42. Can you share pics of what you're prepping so I can get in the spirit?
cellrdoor2@reddit
The whoooole thing. Every year. It’s not fancy but so try to include everyone’s favorites.
machomansavage666@reddit
DarcysDream@reddit
I love your tableware!!! Beautiful!
cellrdoor2@reddit
Thanks! I’ve been collecting jadite for years.
machomansavage666@reddit
Worth-Weather-5437@reddit
I have hosted for 20 years
de-milo@reddit
been making the mac and cheese for years, just recently took on the two other things that are hard to fuck up, homemade mashed potatoes and whipped cream from scratch for the pies. there was a run of years where i made the pumpkin pie from scratch (including roasting my own pumpkins) and while it is infinitely better than anything store bought it is a lot of work!
Entire-Order3464@reddit
My family is small. I've hosted a few times but nobody really cares about Thanksgiving food so it's usually not a big deal. I made tacos a couple years ago.
Sebastian_dudette@reddit
I've been making it all for years. Took over after we quit going to the in-laws. So 5 years now.
But have been doing Christmas dinner for far longer.
rinky79@reddit
I've been in charge of the gravy since high school, and I took over the stuffing about 5 years ago. When it's at my house, I'm also doing 80% of the work on the turkey, too.
Konnorwolf@reddit
I have been doing most of the cooking for many years. If needed one will do with prep work. It's simple enough where I don't worry about it as there are not that many people.
frecklemimus79@reddit
I have to work tonight, so Thanksgiving Day belongs to my little nuclear family (and the MST3K Turkey Day marathon), but over the next week we’ll be cooking smaller meals and visiting the older fam (none of which want turkey, so we get to be creative with meals:)
gareththegeek@reddit
We only get one Christmas in the UK
LunaSea1206@reddit
I can't remember the last time someone made Thanksgiving for us. We've been having it with just us and our kids or hosting it in our home since we were in our early 30's. Brined, spatchcocked turkey, cornbread dressing, mashed potatoes and turkey gravy, mac and cheese, pasta salad, pineapple cheese casserole, roasted brussels sprouts, dinner rolls and cranberry jelly sauce. Dutch apple pie for dessert. My mother-in-law used to make a few different casseroles, but in recent years cognitive issues have made it impossible for her to follow even a recipe properly, so this is actually a smaller menu than it used to be. I took over her pineapple cheese casserole since it's one most of us enjoy (it replaces sweet potato casserole as I'm apparently the only one that ever liked it).
smokemirrorsunicorns@reddit
ordering the full whole foods thanksgiving or bristol farms one. done and done. i hate cooking and even those dreaded potlucks are like ugh. ok what can i get from the store that's decent ;)
Norwester77@reddit
48 here.
I’ve been doing the cranberry sauce for quite a while now, rolls for almost as long, but this is my first year doing the pumpkin pie. My wife’s handling sweet potatoes.
Worried-Trade-6407@reddit
Everything literally everything!
Mattimvs@reddit
Y'all realize that most of us ain't American?
AshDogBucket@reddit
☝️☝️☝️
ChrisAplin@reddit
Brave of you to respond in English, a language that most of us don't speak.
Mattimvs@reddit
Deeep
Profeshinal_Spellor@reddit
Then don’t answer the question or engage the post. Problem solved
Mattimvs@reddit
Well you havent so the STFU passes back to you
Profeshinal_Spellor@reddit
Good one
Chuckpgh@reddit
I like yoar naim!
Profeshinal_Spellor@reddit
Tanks
COV3RTSM@reddit
For real. Thanksgiving is in October.
Wak3upHicks@reddit
I've been at work every Thanksgiving since turning 18, so nope
AshDogBucket@reddit
This was me for about 10 years also. Probably why it was so easy for me to just never pick it back up once I started having a job with holidays off.
RogerDodger457@reddit
What do you do?
Wak3upHicks@reddit
Dumb grunt in a warehouse. Only day we're closed is Christmas
AshDogBucket@reddit
I don't do Thanksgiving! Looking forward to some peaceful hiking and a lovely dinner with my spouse and dog. I recommend it.
myrdraal2001@reddit
I've always helped my parents in the kitchen and therefore know how to cook everything. We've never been a single solitary cook for any holiday.
sprinklesadded@reddit
I live overseas in my husband's home country so I do a small thanksgiving dinner for us and our daughter. I'll often make some of my grandma's recipes, which are a fav.
mommandem@reddit
Everything
Asleep_Onion@reddit
ALL of it...
I don't even remember volunteering
BigFatBlackCat@reddit
I’m making my own for the first time ever. And I’m not sharing with anyone.
Im going to a dinner and contributing pies and then on Friday im doing a whole spread by myself so i can practice making all the dishes.
If I were you, I would offer to help someone contributing so you can carry on the traditions once they are gone.
snow1868@reddit
I have a bird in a brine bath now. Have been hosting most years since 2019, Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday.
JackSpadesSI@reddit
Stuffing is my favorite part of thanksgiving. I make the best stuffing. I’m intrigued by what a brined turkey would taste like, but I assume that flavor would ruin the stuffing.
MolassesConstant2256@reddit
I’ll show you my brine bath if you show me yours.
emarkd@reddit
Not the OP, but I can play
MolassesConstant2256@reddit
Oh you dirty minx, in ice?! I like it!! Mine is in the fridge chilling in the brine.
Entropy907@reddit
I used a zip tie, showing my redneck heritage.
LeBatEnRouge@reddit
OH OKAY YOU FULL ASS ADULT.
Absolutely love this. My bird was thawing in the fridge and it’s not thawing fast enough and I crashed out and now it’s sitting in a cold water bucket in our tub contemplating the meaning of life while I have a full freakout.
Yes I’m the oldest daughter of boomer parents. Why do you ask?
snow1868@reddit
You dirty bird.
rob132@reddit
Alton Brown's recipe?
teacher_of_twelves@reddit
Our generation loves Alton Brown!! He’s on TikTok now, and is thoroughly entertaining there.
aubreypizza@reddit
He’s partly why I went to culinary school. Was such a great show
PembrokePercy@reddit
Alton taught me to love cooking. The man’s a savant of the culinary
Zopheus_@reddit
He just released an updated version too. https://youtu.be/hdUXDhIBxis?si=yx75edFGhpOXriMu
look_ima_frog@reddit
I have brined in the past, but I have stopped. Unless you get it out of the brine and in the fridge overnight to dry, the skin is gummy. I switched to a light salt rub and just put it in the fridge to dry out the skin. Then I put it in an old-school countertop turkey roaster at 200 degrees. Takes about eight hours for a 14lb bird. Slow roast displaces the need for a brine. I don't miss having to fit a bucket in the fridge.
Skin is crispy and brown, oven is free for other stuff. A turkey roaster is a very handy thing.
A briney turkey is good, but I have learned to be lazy and get what I want.
Sofagirrl79@reddit
I bought a fresh turkey that says it's pre-brined? Is that good enough? Any tips or suggestions on a pre-brined turkey?
snow1868@reddit
Absolutely.
Intelligent-Invite79@reddit
About to throw mine in the bucket myself.
ThePicassoGiraffe@reddit
Is that the “dont fuck it up!” Guy? Because that’s the recipe we’re using over here
nitrot150@reddit
We took it over around then too, not brining in this house though! Doing an herbed butter rub! Making cranberry sauce currently!
tragiccosmicaccident@reddit
Have you tried dry brining with buttermilk powder, I did it one year and got great browning?
I'm sure your method is awesome but it works on chicken as well if you ever want to give it a shot.
asanissimasa@reddit
We dry brine but I’ve never heard of buttermilk powder! Definitely trying that next year!
chuckleborris@reddit
Me too! I’ve been hosting since 2010; my mom was thrilled to let me take it over. I make a lot of traditional stuff and then have added new dishes over the years that have become traditions (like mac and cheese).
justpassingby_thanks@reddit
I would prefer to cook but between traditionalist parents and an ex wife who spent 20 years trying to do it right to impress her mom every once in awhile I haven't been given a chance. My Dad who was the let mom cook for the kids but I cook for the weekends and holidays will be dead in 10 years (just a fact of life) and then I will cook and host my mom and the 20's age grand kids. Everyone can cook and none of the food is bad. Right now my job is logistics about timing, the house/kitchen, travel, kid activities, etc.
LaLa_820@reddit
Everything! Hey, my last grandma is leaving this world. My birthday is Friday (45) I thought we’d have more days with her. She’s at her last stance (92). I’m trying to get there now!! I dropped off my turkey and ham to my mom ( divorced) and basically I want to hold her hand
IYFS88@reddit
My brother hosts Thanksgiving and I usually volunteer 1-2 desserts like pies or cakes because I like baking. My sister brings a veggie side and/or cheese & crackers. They Christmas is at my house and it’s the same kind of thing.
doyoulikemyladysuit@reddit
The whole damn thing. I love hosting and am a way more reliable cook than anyone else in my family, be it for quality or just not making dish proportions that are wildly out of turn with reality, be it too little of a dish or WAYYYY too much.
corkandcronin@reddit
I reach out to the whole family (on my birthday late August so it’s extra petty) that I am not hosting and will be traveling so please let me know what their Christmas/ Hanukkah plans are so I can plan accordingly MUWAHAHAHAHAHAHHAHA
wrenb77@reddit
The cousins in my husband’s family took over Thanksgiving and Passover 25 years ago. I’m the Keeper of the Notes, and in charge of dessert.
JediMasterPopCulture@reddit
My mother and twin brother peeled potatoes. I cut them and boiled them for the stuffing I made. Thanksgiving morning I'll be up at 7am to out the bird into the oven.
kattrup@reddit
Just finished this. and tomorrow I'll make a pecan pie.
jadethebard@reddit
I've been doing everything for the past 20 years or more. After my grandmother sold her house and moved into a senior apartment I took over. My SO does usually make the mashed potatoes at least. It's just me and him and our 18 year old now.
riskykitten1207@reddit
I cook everything for my husband, kids, and myself. We both have parents that decided to permanently sit out doing normal holiday traditions.
DasKittySmoosh@reddit
No family left nearby, so unless we choose to do a Friendsgiving dinner, no. But this years Friendsgiving we did the turkey and Mac and cheese. We no longer get full birds since we live the apartment life and don’t really have space for it; we get the big ole hunk of turkey breast from Costco and sous vide it for a couple of hours. It’s perfect, is all tender, juicy white meat, and offers tons of leftovers for turkey sandwiches
owlmissyou@reddit
Slow cooker creamed spinach for 25, and a bleu-cranberry cheese ball served with Ritz crackers and granny smith apple slices. No pics because I just sat down to scroll after several hours on my feet in the kitchen.
GlutenFreeWiFi@reddit
No. We are responsible for dinner rolls.
Careless_Lion_3817@reddit
My daughter and I have made going out to eat for Thanksgiving a tradition…after moving away from all family and friends but I also only tried to cook a thanksgiving dinner twice before…a few years ago after moving whee we live now in order to sleaze the abusive boyfriend and the other time when I lived in Spain as an expat with fellow expats…I did a killer job both times so I k ow I can but now choose not to
jwnight55@reddit
We finished up everything for my wife's family and our kids at our house. Tomorrow will be my family at my mom's. I roasted a turkey today and will smoke one in the morning. I did the ham, and the Mac and cheese also, and helped my wife and her mother with everything else. Tomorrow she will make pasta salad.
AdelleDeWitt@reddit
I've been hosting and responsible for the whole thing for years now. No one brings anything. Honestly, people are either coming from far out of town or they are too old to cook.
nitrot150@reddit
I’m with you! My mom helps, but that’s it, and it’s better that way, most of them are shit cooks (well, I let them bring dessert)
kg51113@reddit
I assigned snacks and dessert to people who weren't good cooks when I was the host. They were often late as well so not assigning them drinks, cups, rolls, etc.
tragiccosmicaccident@reddit
As a fellow solo cook, I salute you.
Separate-Relative-83@reddit
I’ve cooked Christmas Eve dinner for 20 years. I’m doing the fresh green beans and pumpkin chocolate chip muffins.
scarred_but_whole@reddit
The green bean casserole and the pies, for years now. It kind of happened by accident because my wife is dairy allergic so one year she developed her own version of green bean casserole that she could eat. Everyone ended up liking it better and now she's expected to bring it for everyone.
If anyone is interested, the necessary substitution is for the cream of mushroom soup. Heat Imagine portobello soup, Tofutti cream cheese, and a bit of corn starch slurry until it thickens. Add in some onion powder, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and maybe some sage or other spices you might like. Add chopped mushrooms either to the soup or the casserole, if desired. The same soup works well for tater tot casserole.
jayne-eerie@reddit
I hosted my first Thanksgiving in 2006. Now we do it with my husband’s sister and her family and I’m making green bean casserole and a pie. And also cranberry sauce, but that’s just something I started doing unassigned when I realized it’s easy and people get impressed.
LeavesOfBrass@reddit
Mashed potatoes. I use the recipe I got from a Gordon Ramsay video. Kills every time.
nitrot150@reddit
Do share!
LeavesOfBrass@reddit
2 russets and 1 Yukon gold (that's my preference, I don't remember what he used exactly)
1 pint of whipping cream
1 head of garlic
1 package of fresh rosemary (2 or 3 stems I guess)
Cut the garlic head in half (so all cloves are cut in half), throw it in a pot with the cream and the rosemary, simmer for 20 to 30 minutes. You don't want it to reduce down too much, just a bare simmer to concentrate the flavors. Season with much more salt and pepper than you'd normally use. Pass through a mesh sieve.
Peel and cut the potatoes into equal size chunks, boil in salted water until a knife easily goes through the potatoes. Drain and let them steam in the pot for 10 minutes. Then use a ricer or food mill to break down the potatoes. Add the hot cream gradually and mix to the desired consistency (I usually use all of it).
Just_Another_AI@reddit
Totally. Next year we'll be hosting; this year, I'm making "Pompkin" Pie using a recipe from 1796, courtesy Max Miller, and all the dinner bread - yeast rolls and brötchen. My wife is whipping up a giant batch of cheesy potato casserole.
giraffemoo@reddit
I'm 41. I've been doing Thanksgiving all on my own for the last 18 years. I got married young to a man who expected me to already know how, so I learned pretty fast.
My current partner isn't really into the whole traditional Thanksgiving spread, we do a couple of special dishes which I have honed to professional tasting perfection. This year I'm doing a ham and mac and cheese, making the cheese sauce from scratch, main flavor profile is gouda and maple bacon. I'm also making rolls with my bread machine, a three cheese recipe.
effitalll@reddit
What? I’ve been cooking whole ass thanksgiving dinners since I was 21.
ranaldo20@reddit
I typically smoke a turkey breast, but just roasting one this year since I don't have access to my Weber.
CunnyMaggots@reddit
My mom will be preparing most of the food. She will ask for my help on the things she doesn't eat though lol I tried to talk her into just making Mac n cheese instead of all this but she was like absolutely not lol
soopirV@reddit
This is my first since moving out after college that I’m NOT doing a full spread, so, 25 years? Kids are with their mom, girlfriend doesn’t like turkey, so it’s salmon
jenbenfoo@reddit
I bring rolls 🤣 to be cooked at mom & dad's house. This year my mom also put me in charge of baking the Marie Callender's pumpkin pie. SHE REFERENCED THE MEME OF THE LADY WHO BURNED IT!!!!!!! shes not on social media but one of my aunts showed her lol.
Yum!
NeptuneAndCherry@reddit
I've hosted thanksgiving four times and I don't think I will again unless and until I move to an entirely new zip code
copenhagen_bandit@reddit
absolutely no, I am just a child
SavingsLegitimate398@reddit
Crap....this post just made me realize I forgot to buy bread cubes for the stuffing I am bringing.
MalWinchester@reddit
My 72 year old mother is a control freak and has NEVER allowed anyone to bring anything let alone cook anything. (Even though every year she complains about how she has to do everything.)
But this year, at the age of 44, I have been allowed to bring two cans of this. And exactly this. Not a store brand or the kind with actual cranberries in it. JUST THIS. It's a start, I guess.
n8ertheh8er@reddit
The olds are still doing thanksgiving but I do everything for Christmas, usually a big roast beef or a filet. I did a crown rack of lamb one year it was delish
Independent-Win9088@reddit
My sister's family and in-laws all did a camping trip a couple years ago. So I being single, not owning a tow trailer, and having to work the next day was on my own. So I did a full spread like I had people coming over. Brined a bird, did the roubouchon mashed potatoes, yorkshire puddings, scratch gravy. It was amazing. I had incredible leftovers for a week.
This year they're hosting at home (usual), so I'm bringing my required deviled eggs. My sister won't let me in without them. I'll make the yorkshire puds when we're about to eat.
mlayman13@reddit
All the things
Cobalt11235@reddit
Been hosting since 2011. My approach is fun- I assign recipes for guests to bring. It felt awkward at first, but I learned that they generally like it. And that way u can coordinate the whole meal appropriately. Also, dry-brining and spatchcocking the turkey is the way to go!
nuskit@reddit
Been doing it by myself for the family and guests since I was about 9 or 10. I moved out on my 18th birthday and have never hosted Thanksgiving again, though I make it every year for my husband and myself (he started making the turkey about 3 years ago).
Accomplished_Book427@reddit
My whole extended family got together last weekend, so I just have a completely free Thanksgiving day and I'm so stoked.
NotYourSexyNurse@reddit
My MIL died last year Sept 30th. We don’t have anywhere to go for holidays now. We’re making dinner at our house now.
CalgaryChris77@reddit
I’ve made almost all the holiday dinners for my extended family since my mom died in ‘04 and my grandmother in ‘07.
dirtyfoot_chonkey@reddit
Only my Mom and 2 of our older daughters friends are coming over tomorrow. We don't wanna fuck up the kitchen too bad, so I picked up $100 worth of chicken wings and tiramisu on my way home tonight from a local restaurant. 2 chicken finger/fries meals for the small kids. It's all in the fridge now, just gonna heat it up tomorrow.
We are, however, baking a few pies. Just because.
realfolkblues@reddit
Prime rib the last 3 years
ailish@reddit
I only have to do mashed potatoes this year, but I've had to cook the entire turkey before.
Bacch@reddit
Andouille cornbread stuffing. No pictures because I'm making it in the morning. Wife makes cornbread, I use that to make stuffing with sliced and browned andouille sausage. A touch of cayenne, copious amounts of sage, onion and celery sauteed in the pan after browning the sausage. Butter and chicken or turkey stock added to keep it moist, toss it in the oven for a while. I came up with it after making oyster stuffing one year--everyone else loved it but it didn't sit right with me (I live in a landlocked state, so I can't get fresh seafood, and if you haven't guessed by now, I was born in Louisiana so I know what fresh seafood is), so I substituted andouille and loved it.
I also make the gravy with the drippings, and volunteered myself for the mashed potatoes because my kids beg me to be the one to make them every year. I use heavy cream, sour cream, garlic powder, and whole milk. Yes, that shit will clog your arteries. And it's like wet cement. But it's fucking delicious.
My wife is making green bean casserole from scratch. Cream of mushroom soup from scratch, and the fried onions on top she makes from scratch too, slicing them tiny and battering them and frying them.
Sofagirrl79@reddit
Visiting my mom in Chicago and pretty much just cooking most of the meal for the both of us,might have some neighbors stop by and I hope they do cause the smallest turkey I could find is 12 pounds lol
ScreenSensitive9148@reddit
Yet? What? I’ve been hosting for years. And we didn’t even have a child until this year. Our parents don’t want to cook anymore and the mantel passed to us.
newhappyrainbow@reddit
My house is too small to host, and the friends who we do it with insist that we bring nothing. I do contribute a main dish to Christmas with my husband’s family though. They traditionally eat tamales and pozole, I make a big pot of pork green chili to go with it.
teacher_of_twelves@reddit
I’m making cream corn, my 20 year old son is making banana bread to snack on, I also made some pumpkin butter for my sister’s homemade bread. My husband and I have only done a full thanksgiving once, and that was height of covid time. My dad used to make everything but Parkinson’s means he’s going to hover over my sister as much as he’s able to. We’re going to the next major city over to her house.
4tsixand2@reddit
I've had Thanksgiving responsibilities for as long as I remember. There were 3 of us kids and we were all in charge helping. Eventually us kids made all the sides, dad did the turkey and mom watched. Mom did good!
sweet_jane_13@reddit
I used to cook everything but the turkey and any appetizers/desserts other relatives brought. This was because I'm a very good cook, I've been some version of chef or cook for the past 20+ years. However, it never felt like a "holiday" to be doing my job during one of the few days I got off from restaurant work. I'm not working in the kitchen anymore, and I don't go home for Thanksgiving anymore (I live like 3,000 miles away). So for my partner's and I Thanksgiving, we have a tradition of getting a duck from the local Asian market. This year I'm making an uni and crab Mac and cheese for a side, as well as homemade duck sauce, sesame garlic greens, and apricot bars if I have time/any apricot jam leftover from the duck sauce. I personally much prefer our tradition, but I do miss my family.
Diligent_Mulberry47@reddit
Yea! For about 10 years now (I’m 43) Ive been expected to bake bread and rolls as well as make a dessert.
This year I’m making garlic butter rolls with a pane bianco bread for nibbling.
For dessert I made pumpkin roll, pumpkin pie, and panna cotta.
ThisIsACompanyCar@reddit
It’s always been just our family, so so have been making Thanksgiving for 24 years.
0215rw@reddit
Me too, most of the time. Occasionally we got to in-laws like once every 5 years but usually it’s just my husband kids and my dad. He brings something store bought.
We keep it simple: turkey, taters and stuffing from a box, veggies of some kind, rolls and pecan pie.
ThisIsACompanyCar@reddit
We have had company a few times depending on where we live, and my grandmother lived with us for 17 years. We have 5 kids, all 18 and up now, but I’ve always made a huge thanksgiving spread. All the favorites and some of the extras. We have pie for breakfast on thanksgiving morning, so I made 7 pies today.
Solo4114@reddit
Yeah, for years. I do a gluten free apple crisp, and my wife makes ahi poke.
We also host Christmas.
nitrot150@reddit
We host Xmas too
tragiccosmicaccident@reddit
That sounds pretty great actually.
Inspi@reddit
My wife and I host Thanksgiving for both halves of the family. We cook everything except dessert, and do all the clean up.
Middle_Earthling9@reddit
I’m 44 and took over c
Breeezy0@reddit
We host, and don't expect anyone to bring anything! Been hosting for 16 years. I have my Google Sheet with my grocery list, links to recipes, etc. Type A, what can I say?
Top-Wolverine-8684@reddit
I've been doing everything but the turkey for at least a decade. My mom does the turkey, and we bring everything else. There's usually about 20 of us, but I've always been considered "the cook".
481126@reddit
I'm the mom now so I cook every year. Used to do extended Thanksgiving but now we normally don't celebrate with the extended family.
SilverAsparagus2985@reddit
Been but I haven’t invited anyone extended or extra in quite some time now. I decided I would rather enjoy my time with my own kids than put up with anyone else’s bull💩
cmojess@reddit
I’ve been helping since I was 5 or 6. I solo cooked most of the dinner for the first time when I was 11. This year I was over at my parents’ place cooking desserts and prepping a bunch of other stuff for tomorrow morning. My aunt was in another room making photo calendars on Shutterfly most of the time and my mom kept going in to help her. My dad had his guitar out and was playing all of my childhood folk song favorites for me.
When I got home my 5 year old (I waited to have my one kid) helped me make a pumpkin pie. I don’t like pumpkin pie but she is DYING to try one so we made it a project together.
I’ll be back over tomorrow morning to do a good portion of what’s left.
Admittedly, I like to cook. It’s just edible chemistry to me so I honestly don’t mind being in charge of most of it.
lsp2005@reddit
I’ve hosted thanksgiving as my holiday for 25 years. I even hosted in college for friends.
VWBug5000@reddit
I’ve been hosting Thanksgiving since my mid 20’s
Designer-Bid-3155@reddit
I'm doing edibles and shoveling snacks in my face with my puppers who's got a huge marrow bone.. painting and listening to Floyd.... just her and I
Pinklady777@reddit
I always bring something. I have hosted a few times. But I definitely prefer to go elsewhere and just bring a side dish or appetizer. lol everyone always brings something. Who have you been having Thanksgiving with??
Nephite11@reddit
We hosted last year so cooked the turkey and setup the facilities (tables, chairs, utensils, plates, etc.) and others brought the other items. This year my sister is in charge and assigned me to bring stuffing and a green bean dish. It’s nice when everyone does thanksgiving potluck style
FreeElleGee@reddit
Ive been making thanksgiving dinner since I moved out at 17.
flotusspunkmeyer@reddit
Dude, you need to offer to bring something. Some people won’t give an assignment if you don’t offer. At the very least, you should not show up empty handed at our age.
PickledPixie83@reddit
I make thanksgiving for just my family of three so a while, lol.
ArtisanalMoonlight@reddit
If I hosted... I don't really do Thanksgiving myself (more into Christmas) so we're going to a friend's. I'm taking a dessert - yam delight.
OrangeAugust@reddit
I make an apple pie every year and have been for about 15 years now
Topwingwoman2@reddit
Never taught. Now I'd order it.
AppropriateAmoeba406@reddit
OP is male. 100%
MrsMethodMZA@reddit
Hubby and I cook for over 20 people that we host every year.
modernhedgewitch@reddit
I host and cook most of christmas. For Thanksgiving, it varies but this year I made turtle sugar cookie cups and a jalepeno cranberry dip (not relish style).
AuntAmrys@reddit
For dinner with my in-laws, it's just four of us, so I'm bringing the cornbread, sweet potato casserole, and autumn salad. For the big potluck this weekend with all my aunts, uncles and cousins, just autumn salad.
Jenaaaaaay@reddit
I’m the green been casserole girl. We still go to my mom’s and she makes turkey breast, not a whole turkey anymore. I also bring alcohol
Independent_Day985@reddit
Just some meth
ChogbortsTopStudent@reddit
Turkey is in the smoker. 8 hours in, 6 degrees to go.
Top-Contribution-376@reddit
My mother in law does all holidays. We don’t have much say in anything unless we decide to go to my parents house.
I despise holidays but enjoy the foods. Even if we don’t have the most traditional things all the time.
I CAN bring the things I like, but in this simple ranch family, most of it won’t get eaten by anyone but myself
lovemypennydog@reddit
Hubby and I have hosted the past few years. This year is only 7 people including us... its been up to 14 in the past.
Leia1979@reddit
I make everything but haven't started yet, so I have no pics. We don't do anything fancy--cranberry sauce in a can, Stove Top stuffing, etc. There's the tiniest half a turkey breast as only two people out of five eat it. I'll make almost everything at my house tomorrow morning and then take it to my parents' house in the afternoon.
Top-Contribution-376@reddit
It’s called CANberry! Haha
Munchkin531@reddit
Responsible? Apparently I'm expected to host. 30 f*ing people will be in my house tomorrow!!
Luckily my MIL is making turkey, aunt ham and bonus grandpa is smoking a brisket!
I'm in charge of deviled eggs, which I have just finished making, green beans casserole and Texas Roadhouse rolls.
Everyone is bringing something tomorrow so no one will go hungry. If there is someone without a place to be they are more than welcome to show up. But please leave by 9.
Munchkin531@reddit
My Granny"s recipe
cloudshaper@reddit
I've been hosting Thanksgiving since 2021, and do main and sides. Family brings bread, dessert, and wine.
tragiccosmicaccident@reddit
Yet? I've been doing it all on my own for years.
My motto has really turned into simple food, well seasoned. Sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, corn bread pudding, none of that stuff is challenging but my daughter and I enjoy it, and the leftovers last the weekend.
MoonlitBlossoms@reddit
I started taking over mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, stuffing, a pasta bake and vegetables at eighteen. Then over the next decade or so, I did everything but the turkey/ham and the pumpkin pie. Unfortunately, my mom would pass when I was thirty, so I took over everything with the exception of the pie.
CaptZombieHero@reddit
Breakfast, lunch, Turkey, stuffing, mashed potato’s, green bean casserole, sweet potatoes. Then breakfast on Black Friday. My wife works 12 hours on Thanksgiving, so it’s just me and the kids like every year. Considering in college I couldn’t cook a lick, but now at 42 I cook all the meals for Thanksgiving and prep work, I’ve come a long way
mscocobongo@reddit
My kids had a Texas Roadhouse fundraiser- frozen rolls and their butter ... my mom will make everything else minus the pies.
jreashville@reddit
My wife has always helped her mother cook thanksgiving and Christmas dinners.
Gloworm327@reddit
I cook it all most years and typically it's only my household. Our families live across the country from us.
foozebox@reddit
Year 5 and counting, though first one was covid and was cancelled. Returned the deep fryer.
Weird_Squirrel_8382@reddit
Pineapple upside down cake, confetti cake, and paper plates.
nochickflickmoments@reddit
I don't see the family that raised me anymore, so the last 15 years it's just been my family and I cook everything.
Imaginary_Attempt_82@reddit
No we usually go to my brother’s house and he and his wife handle everything. They won’t even let me bring anything lol.
Thliz325@reddit
Similar to this with my sister in law. Usually I make a nice dessert, but this year I’m taking it easy and we’re making a cheese board and bringing a Kringle pastry from Trader Joe’s.
Wonderful_Hornet_756@reddit
Same!!
the_kid1234@reddit
Cooking, we are hosting!
Outsourced the appetizers, desserts and veggies so we are doing turkey, potatoes and stuffing. Stuffing is prepped and ready to go in the oven, turkey is brining ready for the grill and the potatoes, well I’ll peel them, boil them and mash them live tomorrow. Oh yeah, I’ve got a Thanksgiving cocktail of bourbon, cranberry, ginger beer and lime ready to go too.
needsmorequeso@reddit
We have historically pulled up with a casserole, a bottle of wine, a loaf of homemade bread, and a dessert of some sort.
It’s our first Thanksgiving in a different time zone from any family so we are winging it. I don’t eat meat but my spouse has taken up the challenge of brining a turkey. We’ll have a casserole, some mac and cheese, and potatoes. We are trying to expand our bread horizons so we will see how the recipe that is proofing overnight goes (there are pillsbury rolls in the fridge in the event of an emergency). We got this.
JasJoeGo@reddit
My father loves to cook and thanksgiving is his favorite day. I’ve finally been allowed to cook something…dip. Yep. That’s it.
yayoffbalance@reddit
oh man, i used to make a whole-ass turkey for just me and my now ex. i made a damn fine turkey, too. Now i make vegetarian pot pie, with a recipe from my vegan hair-person because my new family is veggie-based. It's actually a really, really good pot pie.
I also make deviled eggs (new fam are not vegan, just meat free), and i can make smashed potats and i'm sorry, but i will never, ever give up on Stove Top. I jsut wish we could have the chicken flavor one, but i just make some at home after. I honestly do miss turkey, though.
French Silk pie is a beyatch to make, but so, so worth it. but i'll save that for xmas.
i fucking love cooking.
Riala4@reddit
I'm the usual cook in the house, and it's just us this year, so it's all on me. But we're not having turkey so no big...
blueyedwineaux@reddit
Most years I do the vegetarian main, plus two or three sides and at least one dessert at someone else’s house.
This year I hosted and did everything (did it last weekend due to everyone’s schedules). Easier than cooking at someone else’s house!!! And slowly prepping the few days before makes it so much easier.
sherahero@reddit
I've been contributing for years.
I make broccoli rice casserole.
TALieutenant@reddit
Green bean casserole. Mom and Grandma never made it growing up...Mom doesn't like it. One year, I said that I wanted to try a recipe I found online that's made in a slow cooker/Instant Pot and uses Alfredo sauce and fresh mushrooms instead of cream of mushroom soup.
I've been asked to make it every year since.
audioaddict321@reddit
My family does potluck so I started making brownies as a tween. This year I'm making a chicken and andouille gumbo for an appetizer.
WhatTheCluck802@reddit
My spouse makes the world’s best stuffing and I make the world’s best mashed potatoes and also the world’s best cranberry sauce. We typically visit family and are asked to bring any/all of these for Thanksgiving.
Other-Squirrel-2038@reddit
Yeah i started cooking for me and my mom with my boyfriends for a little while now. My 'mil', resists me taking over which is laughable because she's literally almost 76 We're not even married with children yet and she's claimed Christmas eve "til she dies', which is insane. And she lives an hour away where we live all nearby, and she refused to move out of the city. She also said no Thanksgiving food because she hates turkey and if we come over she'll make a regular salmon dinner...
This year for thanksgiving I told my bf after the whole Christmas eve comment that uhm that's definitely not happening when/if we have kids and a house and that we will not be traveling to the city for 2 hours on a holiday for a regular dinner and she can come to us if she'd like/he can get her, etc. And we're going back to cooking at my place for my mother and I.
We're making turkey, box stuffing, green bean casserole, cornbread muffins, maple glazed carrots, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie
BrattyTwilis@reddit
We cooked a turkey. First time. Went well
Bors713@reddit
I’ve been cooking TG for about a decade now. But I do it in October like a sane person ;)
TheTinman39@reddit
Cooking my racist ass uncle with some sick burns and hot facts.
luckynug@reddit
Dude we do a majority of the cooking these days. It has been that way for 5 years
Jr5309@reddit
I ordered and picked up a precooked meal. Mom paid for it 🙃
stopatthecatch@reddit
The whole thing. Thanksgiving is my Super Bowl. Even did a Turkey Taste Off one year - Butterball vs a heritage breed happy turkey. The butterball was better.
Snarky_Sparky38@reddit
I’m in charge of Brussels sprouts usually!
JollyJeanGiant83@reddit
I'm the one with the bread machine, so I bring bread. And this year we're bringing pies, but they aren't homemade.
taita2004@reddit
I am tasked with making homemade rolls (got some hawaiian already cooling and honey wheat in process right now). And I have to make the baked macaroni and cheese...my mother says I'm the only one in the family that makes it without it turning out dry.
JDz84@reddit
We don’t travel, so we figure it out. Sometimes we potluck with local friends. Last year I ordered a spread with a smoked turkey from a local BBQ place. Tomorrow I’m cooking all brown for my husband and two kids. I asked everyone to submit their Thanksgiving favorite because I wasn’t cooking anything that was going to go uneaten. I voted for a turkey breast, husband for sweet potatoes, son for mashed potatoes and gravy, daughter wanted rolls.
I’m going to steam a bag of edamame to pretend like there’s some green in the table.
_hi_plains_drifter_@reddit
When I had a house I’d make everything and host. Now I am just making sweet potato casserole and going to my Aunt’s house.
Professional_Heat973@reddit
I do Thanksgiving: this is year 6 or 7. We only host a few other family members besides immediate, so it’s doable. Having said that, I spent the majority of the day prepping/cooking sides, sauces and dessert.
bgva@reddit
Thanksgiving 2020 I fried a turkey. It was edible and actually good, but the presentation was..........not great. We watched National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation about a month later, and my stepdaughter joked that the mutated turkey from the movie looked like my creation*. The one I made the following year was more successful.
*Everyone still ate it tho haha
salvaged413@reddit
I have to finish the pumpkin cheesecake before bed and then tomorrow I’ve got green bean casserole and corn casserole to make.
International_Bit478@reddit
Assigned? No. I’ve been hosting for about 18 years.
anhydrousslim@reddit
Really? We started hosting over 10 years ago
Ok-Reflection-6207@reddit
Nope
FrankieTheAlchemist@reddit
I’ve been doing the majority of the cooking since like…2005. Usually the bird + a few side dishes and maybe a pie or two
imnottheoneipromise@reddit
I’m cooking all of Thanksgiving. My parents are in their 70s and don’t need to be spending all day in the kitchen. Plus I’m a better cook lol
HopelesslyHuman@reddit
My wife and I have made a tradition of making Thanksgiving a nice little romantic dinner for the two of us dating back to when I worked retail and we couldn't go anywhere with family on Thanksgiving because I had to work.
It's the one night a year she's responsible for food, not me, so I don't make a damn thing for Thanksgiving.
That said, I know the feeling. Every year's family reunion I ask my aunt what we need what should I make or bring and she's just like, "oh just buy some snack food; 'we' -- that is, the 65+ y/o adults -- have everything else handled."
Look, Carol. I know you still view us -- that is, me and my cousins -- as children. But I'm forty-the-fuck three. I can handle putting together some potato salad, and I'll probably do it better AND (food safety-wise) safer than you.
It's frustrating.
Settlers3GGDaughter@reddit
I’ve been making Thanksgiving dinner for 20+ years
shiftdown@reddit
I usually smoke ribs or bring a corned beef brisket. Sometimes swedish meatballs
mojo4394@reddit
Our 17 year old made a pumpkin pie, apple pie, and baked Mac and cheese
NewsgramLady@reddit
Yeah, I've been doing the whole spread already for years now. Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, deviled eggs, yams, cranberry sauce, fresh green beans, rolls, and pies.
Mail_Order_Lutefisk@reddit
I do a green bean casserole with homemade cream of mushroom and fresh green beans. Curse the food conglomerates who convinced women that green bean casserole came from cans.
Rebel9788@reddit
44, and never. Of course it helps to live alone, a 12 hour road trip away, from people you’d rather not spend more than fours hours with at a time, once every few years. Plus it’s cold there, fuck that.
rjcpl@reddit
Made all the mashed potatoes and stuffing to heat up tomorrow, deviled eggs, some cookies, and put up the tree and indoor decorations. Starting turkey in the morning. Only family member that lives near us is father-in-law. When mother-in-law was getting sick she started getting Bob Evan’s…and the turkey was literally cold cuts. We took over after that.
Mail_Order_Lutefisk@reddit
My immediate family is nomadic and occasionally would have other family over but I’ve been doing a Thanksgiving dinner since 2000. I’m super dialed in at this point. Son is 9 and still doesn’t like touching the bird out of the packaging. When I was 9 my grandma was taking the head off the bird herself from the farm. The times sure change.
Rubik842@reddit
No, Have successfully avoided any and all work for years. My secret is living in Australia.
karenobus@reddit
We host and cook it all. If we didn't, my parents would just organize an outing to one of those sad Thanksgiving buffets in a cheap restaurant.
I've always wanted to have a big family who does cozy holidays gathered around the table, so I'm doing my best by getting my parents and inlaws to join us and the kiddos. Sadly, they'll never have cousins, but we try to make it a fun tradition with their grandparents included.
prosequare@reddit
Staying home with just my son and my partner. I’ll be starting a big pot of carbonnade flamande around lunchtime. Not really a tradition, it just sounds really good. Thanksgiving for us is mostly about relaxing and enjoying the time off.
BalrogRuthenburg11@reddit
I’ve been grilling a turkey every year for the past 15 years. I make a ham too.
olduglysweater@reddit
Pumpkin pie cooled, wrapped and in the fridge for tomorrow. I'm going over to friend's since family is a hot mess and/or folks are working.
echosrevenge@reddit
This is the first year that we aren't hosting in the last....many. It's my favorite holiday so we usually go all out, but this year we both have intense work schedules so my in-laws are hosting.
Red84Valentina@reddit
I host and do cocktails, apps and dessert because I'm pescatarian and I don't know how to cook a turkey. I will probably take over more side dishes and just leave the bird for my mom.
pdfsmail@reddit
My wife's grandmother is still alive so we've been going to her place along with the rest of her family. However, I still try to bring something this year. It's pumpkin pie from pumpkins I grew this year.
MotherofaPickle@reddit
When we do Thanksgiving (very rare), I just make a duck, but I still do the stuffing (essential, handed the whole bird instead of a turkey breast), mashed potatoes, gravy, green beans (but not casserole, grumble), and homemade rolls if I have the time.
ajrpcv@reddit
Lol the whole thing.
JeffTS@reddit
I'm on vacation out of state visiting family. No cooking duties on my plate, thankfully.
don51181@reddit
Not yet. My wife is a good cook so she is has been baking for years.
I can follow directions but there are enough older naturally good cooks so I don’t have to help.
CaraDune01@reddit
Never had a Thanksgiving that wasn't just me and my mom, so the only dish assigned to me is whatever I feel like cooking that year 🤷♀️
Bluevanonthestreet@reddit
We bring an appetizer to the big family dinner. We cook a small meal at home because my kids have allergies and can’t eat at that dinner. We take their food with us. That gives us leftovers which is nice. My husband is actually smoking two turkeys this year because we got them for really cheap. We are going to make soup this weekend and then freeze the leftover meat.
mickeltee@reddit
My parents still run the show. My mom delegates. I am in charge of the sweet potatoes this year.
MolassesConstant2256@reddit
I’m in charge of the turkey and stuffing. The bird has been swimming in a brine for about three hours now. Made the brine with apple cider, kosher salt, brown sugar, bay leaves, peppercorns, a gangbang of garlic and orange peels.
ChiefSampson@reddit
Been cooking dinner on Thanksgiving for many years now. Granted I live 3k miles from where I grew up. Comes with the territory.
Howardbanister@reddit
We're having the fam over on Friday. My husband is doing a turkey and ribs on the grill and I have red lentil soup, spanakopita, vegetable lasagna, mashed potatoes, miso glazed brussels sprouts, sourdough bread, and an apple pie all in various stages of preparation. I'll be glad when it's over 😅
elphaba00@reddit
I’m bringing a side dish and pumpkin pie to my parents tomorrow. It’s going to be just the six of us, and we are keeping it pretty basic.
For the last couple of years before we went no contact with the in-laws, we’d get a meal from Cracker Barrel that required just a little bit of prep work and heating. We’d pay for it and do all the work. It definitely was much easier. But the MIL decided that we were all ungrateful, and that ended that
henningknows@reddit
My family isn’t that stupid or brave. I will buy a couple of pies and bring them
PrincessSarahHippo@reddit
I am making the entire dinner this year. Pray for me. Or send me glitter and good vibes. I love cooking but I have never cooked a turkey before.
I have a good recipes. I have alcohol. I have audiobooks to listen to.
Ok_Degree3037@reddit
We’ve got two small kids now so we’re ordering from Costco - except for the green bean casserole. I’m making that.
BeBopBarr@reddit
I have been cooking our dinner for over 2 decades now, ever since my husband and I were in our first apartment together. Most years we host, but others it's just us & our kids and we eat in our jammies!
BritOnTheRocks@reddit
The wife and I cook everything for us and the kids. We invite the in-laws but they decline so the extended family haven’t been involved for years.
dividedblu@reddit
Been hosting for over 10 years now making everything.
Peaceloveandtattoos@reddit
The whole.damn.thing. My mom moved out of state and so it’s all on me for my family now. Womp womp. (Can you tell I’m super excited about it?! Haha)
lifeuncommon@reddit
Yet?! I’ve been contributing or hosting since I was in my late teens (we rotate hosts).
FragrantButtSweat@reddit
Just finished stuffing the bird — a first for me in 47 Thanksgivings.
TeekTheReddit@reddit
I've been in charge of the turkey and potatoes going on a decade now.