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Post by 950nancy on Nov 21, 2015 3:12:36 GMT
I hate to travel for holidays and no one else in the family wants to travel either, so I cook for my family. It easily takes me 6-8 hours to make everything for a 25 minute meal. We do have leftovers for days and I often refuse to cook again until Monday. I am the only one in the house that cooks (tried so hard to get my sons to love cooking-epic fail). I'm not complaining because my husband does more stuff around the house than I do most days. How many of you are the only one who does the cooking for your family gathering? I can't be the only one.
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M in Carolina
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Post by M in Carolina on Nov 21, 2015 3:26:12 GMT
My dh likes to cook, but he has so many questions about how to do everything that it's sometimes more stressful than just doing it myself. He does help a lot when I just need him to mix something or put something into and take out of the oven.
He also makes the best homemade pie pastry.
We normally roast a turkey breast, make homemade cranberry sauce, and a pie or two. We like turkey sandwiches.
We sometimes feel like making the whole meal--so we do mashed potatoes, cornbread stuffing (the pepperidge farm cornbread stuffing mix with sauteed celery, onions, and mushrooms) yellow squash casserole--carrots, onions, steamed yellow squash, cream of mushroom soup, sour cream and pepperidge farm stuffing mix on the bottom and top for crunch, and green beans with balsamic glaze, shallots and bacon.
We happily eat on the leftovers for a week. Stuffing and gravy, squash casserole (we fight over this) and turkey sandwiches are our favourite meals. We make lots of cranberry sauce because it's good to eat with the stuffing, and we put it in our sandwiches with mayo.
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Post by Spongemom Scrappants on Nov 21, 2015 3:42:11 GMT
I love to cook and love nothing more than preparing a big old feast like Thanksgiving. It is MANY hours of work for a relatively short meal though. I agree with you on that point!
This year my husband's cousin and her new wife are joining us for Thanksgiving and they are strict vegan... so I'm having to alter my normal menu to add a few items and make sure others are prepared so they can eat them. We're still doing turkey, dressing and mac & cheese for the rest of us. But way more veggie sides than usual. It's all worth it though -- love those girls. (If you remember one of Freebird's threads, it was their wedding I commissioned her to do a watercolor of.)
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Post by Scrapper100 on Nov 21, 2015 3:45:10 GMT
My husband helps but it's still 90% me and later that night I make turkey stock so I am usually up into the early morning hours. Luckily people do bring a few things but then again they are easily purchased items but still a little less to worry about.
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Post by RiverIsis on Nov 21, 2015 3:56:19 GMT
I do it all. TBH I wish someone would help or say, "I've got it this year". I have been cooking Thanksgiving dinner for 24 years without a break. And most of the Christmas and Boxing Day years too.
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akathy
What's For Dinner?
Still peaing from Podunk!
Posts: 4,546
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Jun 25, 2014 22:56:55 GMT
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Post by akathy on Nov 21, 2015 4:30:33 GMT
I normally only spend every other Thanksgiving at home and I cook the entire meal. I love it so it's fun for me and my family is very easy to cook for. The other years I go to CT and my DD there does most of the cooking. She's a great cook and likes it so it's all good  |
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Post by aniheartsjapan on Nov 21, 2015 5:13:48 GMT
I think I would love to cook an entire Thanksgiving meal, but my MIL does it. She usually does it ALL, but this year we are to bring 3 side dishes (including one dessert) from each family. That is the most she's LET us do. Her cooking is really good, so I'm not complaining. |
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LeaP
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Post by LeaP on Nov 21, 2015 5:46:47 GMT
Usually, we make a feast that takes a lot of preparation with me doing the lion's share. This year we are packing for a move so we are only making sides and a chicken. The kids will make the green bean casserole, DH the dressing <-  , the rest (praline sweet potatoes, an exciting green vegetable, dessert) falls on me. |
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Post by Flowergirl on Nov 21, 2015 5:46:47 GMT
We trade hosting Thanksgiving/Christmas Eve each year with BIL/SIL. When we host, I do the majority of the cooking and SIL brings an appetizer, side and dessert (and I do the same when they host.) DH doesn't cook but helps where needed like potato mpeeling and washing dishes as I'm cooking, but DS and DD (older teens) give me a hand with some prep work and baking. I do enjoy planning and prepping Thanksgiving...everything except carving the turkey. Fortunately, DH DS and DD are awesome with clean up. By the time the wine and turkey settle and and guests go home in the late evening, I'm beat.
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Post by nlwilkins on Nov 21, 2015 7:36:25 GMT
I used to have to do it all. It meant a half day shopping, starting the day before and cooking and cleaning all the day of Thanksgiving. I did it this way for about 20 years. Nowdays, since we moved to central Texas, we can join with hubby's family, or my sister's family or get together with daughter and her other. So it has been aobut ten years since I have had to do it all. Though I do a lot. Family just won't go without my dressing.
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Post by mlynn on Nov 21, 2015 7:53:50 GMT
The only things Dh lets me do is make the gravy and keep an eye on the cranberry sauce (sometimes). he used to do the gravy but he always put a bunch of milk in it. To me, it didn't taste like turkey gravy. One year I said something about trying a different way and he got in a big huff, threw up his hands and stormed out of the kitchen. I proceeded to make the gravy, with him watching and scoffing the whole way. Until he tasted it. Now I am the mandatory gravy maker. But the rest is on him! he gets up early, makes the stuffing, stuffs the bird, prepares the skin and starts it roasting. I get to sleep in and wake up to the scent of roasting turkey. Ahh...such is the good life.
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oaksong
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Post by oaksong on Nov 21, 2015 12:07:28 GMT
DM is hosting this year, and she will do a lot of the cooking. Both kids are far away, DB's family are traveling, so it will just be a few of us this year. I will also cook several dishes to bring over. I agree it's lots of work, but the leftovers last all weekend, so that's a bonus.
One year I purchased a tray from Costco that included a half turkey, stuffing and gravy. It was very good, and made it easier to focus on the homemade things I like to make. I would do it again for a smaller Thanksgiving meal.
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Post by Merge on Nov 21, 2015 12:12:26 GMT
I used to love doing it, and yes, I'm the only one who cooks, but as I've gotten older and more tired I'm just over it. The past few years we have either purchased some of the meal elements, like a smoked turkey and bakery pies, or we have gone nontraditional, having steaks and potatoes au gratin, or we have just plain made a dinner reservation elsewhere, which is what we did this year.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
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Post by littlemama on Nov 21, 2015 14:07:36 GMT
This year, we ordered our meal from a restaurant and will pick it up the day before and reheat if for dinner. Thanksgiving dinner is a ton of work for a very brief meal, and I don't want to do it this year!
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MDscrapaholic
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Jun 25, 2014 20:49:07 GMT
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Post by MDscrapaholic on Nov 21, 2015 14:12:57 GMT
I used to do it all and loved doing it. My two daughters would help, they both love to cook. Then DH passed away and I just couldn't do it. Hated looking at that empty chair.
Now oldest DD does it at her house and she loves it. I get to help and of course, clean up. I'm lucky that she loves doing it!
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quiltz
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Jun 29, 2014 16:13:28 GMT
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Post by quiltz on Nov 21, 2015 14:17:16 GMT
I consider it an act of love towards my family and friends who are invited to my place for Thanksgiving.
After all, it is Thanks-giving. This year I had my dgc start to help me with some basic stuff. I took photos of this time together and made a photobook which included some of the recipes that we made.
The attitude in which you start to prepare this meal, as an act of Thanks for what is so bountiful where you live, can change the attitude.
Plus, there are usually leftovers for many other meals to come.
My hint is to not have the silverware at the table. When I come to sit down, I pass out the silverware and everyone starts at the same time. It is only respectful towards the cook to wait until they are seated to start either the meal and/or dessert. |
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Post by anxiousmom on Nov 21, 2015 14:45:49 GMT
Fortunately, most of my family lives very close by so most of the big holiday dinners are a shared event with the Sisters (my mom and her sisters) sort of running things.
I woke up this morning to a text from my mom that said call me re: turkey day.
Essentially it will go like this: What do you need? What do you want to bring? Uhhh, how about xxxx? Sounds perfect, I will write it down.
We all more or less bring the same thing as we always do, so it is a very rare holiday that something gets left out. The nice thing is that the cooking is spread out over a group of people rather than the responsibility of one. The 'boys' get the turkey, it's grilled (not smoked, grilled,) the youngest is responsible for ice in the cups for drinks, each one of us kids bring a dish or two, etc.
ETA: We are also pretty informal about the whole thing: we use pretty paper goods, serve Jimmy Buffet style...and because we are a bunch of country bumpkins at heart, solo cups with your name written on them.
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PLurker
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Jun 28, 2014 3:48:49 GMT
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Post by PLurker on Nov 21, 2015 14:55:27 GMT
Fortunately, most of my family lives very close by so most of the big holiday dinners are a shared event with the Sisters (my mom and her sisters) sort of running things. I woke up this morning to a text from my mom that said call me re: turkey day. Essentially it will go like this: What do you need? What do you want to bring? Uhhh, how about xxxx? Sounds perfect, I will write it down. We all more or less bring the same thing as we always do, so it is a very rare holiday that something gets left out. The nice thing is that the cooking is spread out over a group of people rather than the responsibility of one. The 'boys' get the turkey, it's grilled (not smoked, grilled,) the youngest is responsible for ice in the cups for drinks, each one of us kids bring a dish or two, etc. ETA: We are also pretty informal about the whole thing: we use pretty paper goods, serve Jimmy Buffet style...and because we are a bunch of country bumpkins at heart, solo cups with your name written on them. :yeahthat:Not always, but we often do that. Sometimes "Sharpie" is on my get or bring list. |
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lindas
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Post by lindas on Nov 21, 2015 15:07:11 GMT
I can count on one hand the number of times I DIDN'T have to do it all for Thanksgivkng and Christmas over the last 45yrs. This year DS and his SO are hosting and I don't have to do anything but bring the pies. I might actually get to sit down and watch the Macy's parade this year from start to finish.
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Post by Darcy Collins on Nov 21, 2015 15:21:13 GMT
It's a family affair here. Even when it's just our immediate family, everyone contributes. My kids don't love cooking - but I consider it a necessary skill, so they get to help. What's interesting is that they've both found "their" dish. My daughter always does the cranberry sauce and my son always makes the homemade rolls.
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trollie
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,580
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Post by trollie on Nov 21, 2015 15:21:52 GMT
I love to cook and love nothing more than preparing a big old feast like Thanksgiving. It is MANY hours of work for a relatively short meal though. I agree with you on that point! This year my husband's cousin and her new wife are joining us for Thanksgiving and they are strict vegan... so I'm having to alter my normal menu to add a few items and make sure others are prepared so they can eat them. We're still doing turkey, dressing and mac & cheese for the rest of us. But way more veggie sides than usual. It's all worth it though -- love those girls. (If you remember one of Freebird's threads, it was their wedding I commissioned her to do a watercolor of.) Can you share some of your vegan dish ideas (and recipes)? I am vegetarian and always make lots of vegetarian sides for myself and the other vegetarians in my family, but I now have a vegan in the mix. I did find a good looking vegan, pumpkin pie recipe and am also going to make a wild rice side.... Just wondering what you are doing. TFS! |
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2015 15:23:21 GMT
I do it all and don't mind. As long as they help with the cleanup. |
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trollie
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Post by trollie on Nov 21, 2015 15:24:53 GMT
I hate to travel for holidays and no one else in the family wants to travel either, so I cook for my family. It easily takes me 6-8 hours to make everything for a 25 minute meal. We do have leftovers for days and I often refuse to cook again until Monday. I am the only one in the house that cooks (tried so hard to get my sons to love cooking-epic fail). I'm not complaining because my husband does more stuff around the house than I do most days. How many of you are the only one who does the cooking for your family gathering? I can't be the only one. I cook the majority of the meal... Nearly everything... To make it easier (bc I work) I make pies on Tues, rolls on Wed, plus I chop and prep everything else Wednesday night so that TGiving Day is smooth. Been doing to for a long time, so it works for me, and I love homemade stuff of TG. I have a menu and timeline in my comp for TG week. |
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SweetieBsMom
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Post by SweetieBsMom on Nov 21, 2015 15:26:14 GMT
This year we're going to DH's parents house. Last year I cooked but DH had complications from surgery and spent Thanksgiving in the hospital. So I ended up cooking for DS (who eats nothing) and my Dad then I cleaned up and headed to the hospital. And that will STILL be more fun than this year going to my in-laws. So I wish we were staying home and cooking. I don't mind it but I keep it simple: Turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing, gravy, cranberry sauce, rolls and something for dessert. I don't make a ton of sides and I don't make a ton of desserts. Running around and getting everything bought and brined is the most work.
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Post by mikklynn on Nov 21, 2015 15:27:39 GMT
When I did it all, I would try to take the whole week off work. I'd make the mashed potatoes a day early and reheat them in the crockpot. This works great, but start the crockpot early!
When DH was diagnosed with cancer, I didn't have the energy to do it all. I ordered the meal premade from a local high end grocery store. It was fabulous! I never looked back. We ordered it every year.
This year we are going to our niece's home. All I have to bring is the cranberries.
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TankTop
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Post by TankTop on Nov 21, 2015 15:28:01 GMT
I have single handedly made Thanksgiving dinner since I was in 6th or 7th grade. I am now 41.
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YooHoot
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Post by YooHoot on Nov 21, 2015 15:35:59 GMT
I don't like cooking, but I do it because they enjoy it. I simplify a lot of it where I can now that I'm older. Stuffing from a bag, canned cranberry sauce etc. Mashed potatoes are always real. They love that nasty canned yams crap with marshmallows (gag) but I'm making the Tyler Florence sweet potato dish as well for myself this year.
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Post by padresfan619 on Nov 21, 2015 15:36:39 GMT
My mom does all of the cooking, but she makes most of the sides in advance so they can just be warmed up in the oven after the turkey comes out to rest. My husband and I usually split dish duty, my mom loves to use her wedding China so everything has to be hand washed.
We stretch the meal time out by having a game to play once the dishes have been cleared. Cleaning can wait, card games and Yahtzee are much more fun.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 21, 2015 16:07:37 GMT
This will be my second time cooking for just me, the kids, and husband. The first time we only had a turkey breast. I thought it would be all me again but my husband wants to use our smoker for the turkey. The rest is up to me. I HATE cooking and can never time things right. Most years items are assigned to people. So much nicer that way.
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Post by txdancermom on Nov 21, 2015 16:14:38 GMT
I do all the cooking in our house - dd will help from time to time, but mostly it is me. If my ds is home, he will help, usually with dessert
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Southern Side eyed Pea 
, the rest (praline sweet potatoes, an exciting green vegetable, dessert) falls on me.
