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Thanksgiving 2007: What Are Your Plans?

2007_11_07-Turkey.jpgThanksgiving is two weeks from Thursday. In the United States that meal looms larger than perhaps any other all year. Between the turkey challenge, classic pumpkin pie, and other expectations and traditions, there is a lot to think about.

Are you cooking for Thanksgiving this year, and what are your plans?

 
 

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Holidays - Thanksgiving

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Comments (19)

Once again I hope (dread) to cook Thanksgiving dinner for a few hundred people.

posted by art on November 7th 2007 at 6:44am
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We have the biggest house, and my little brother and the boyfriend's little sister have been dating for years (I know, it's kind of creepy), so family seems to descend on our place whether we plan for it on not :)

I'm really thinking about trying this one-hour menu from Domino, though I keep thinking it can't possibly work in an hour and everything will go horribly wrong and I'll be laughed out of the house for thinking I could do it so quickly (isn't suffering what Turkey Day is all about?)
http://www.dominomag.com/howtos/recipes/party/1hour_thanksgiving

It's a year old, I think - did anyone give this a shot last thanksgiving?

posted by melanie on November 7th 2007 at 6:48am
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I didn't try it. But as long as you prepare everything before Thanksgiving day you should be able to put everything on the table in an hour.

posted by art on November 7th 2007 at 6:55am
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Good article on Heritage turkeys:

http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/07/dining/07turk.html?ex=1195102800&en=a3b7551893597466&ei=5070&emc=eta1

posted by art on November 7th 2007 at 6:55am
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My parents host--as always--but I do a fair share of the cooking.

posted by lizaboo on November 7th 2007 at 7:36am
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My brother is hosting this year, he called the other day saying they were starting to try out new recipes and did we have any requests, I couldn't think of any. But the best part is I am sure we will be bringing something, it will be nice when he gets around to telling us. Which knowing him could be on the Wednesday before :)

posted by Sarah on November 7th 2007 at 7:45am
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I'm part of a large group of recently out of college kids who moved from Oklahoma to LA. Last year I cooked a giant meal, and invited over everyone who wasn't able to go home. It turned out pretty well, and I'd never done anything on that scale before so I was pretty proud of myself.

This year I'm going to go for simpler classic thanksgiving items. I experimented a bit too much last year. I love bringing people into my home for the Holiday's and I hope this is going to become a nice tradition.

posted by Christal on November 7th 2007 at 7:58am
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I usually always cook, just for the two of us. But this year, we're having a baby instead. Due date is Thanksgiving, and even if I'm not in labor, I'm probably not going to feel up to the task of turkey roasting, pie baking and potato mashing.

posted by Rebecca_South on November 7th 2007 at 7:59am
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I'm doing Prime Rib. And hosting for the first time. Yay!

posted by Zora on November 7th 2007 at 8:32am
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Ha, Kitchen just posted an article on that one-hour Domino menu. And Art - that's the thing - it's all day-of cooking!

posted by melanie on November 7th 2007 at 8:54am
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My brother is hosting for the first time this year. We have to fly to get there, so bringing food is kind of hard. But I'll probably bring some snacks (the sweet/salty cinnamon almonds, and maybe the peanut butter popcorn from AT's recipe archives are high on my list).

posted by J on November 7th 2007 at 9:21am
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This is my husband's and my first year hosting, and I'm excited and terrified at the prospect of cooking for 10 people. I've got to start planning!!!

posted by Joy R. on November 7th 2007 at 10:54am
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I am switching from my 10 year tradition of attempting to be Martha Stewart for a day and instead hosting a super-casual post-Thanksgiving open house on the Saturday after. Even though it's probably the same amount of work, I feel so much less stress.

posted by robyn on November 7th 2007 at 11:42am
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I'll be making the rolls and corn pudding for Thanksgiving at my aunt's house. She's just doing the turkey, her dressing, and the drinks. Everyone else brings a dish or two.

posted by sarahduckie on November 7th 2007 at 11:54am
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robyn - That's a great idea. I love hosting open houses.

I am hosting Thanksgiving for the first time this year and I am totally excited. I'm going to try my best to stick to the basics. Has anyone kept mashed potatoes warm in a crock pot? I was reading about this in Real Simple and I think I'd like to give it a try.....

posted by kari-anne on November 7th 2007 at 11:58am
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You need a reply question for someone else is cooking, but I'm helping out. I know my folks will put me to work mashing potatoes or shopping things for a salad, but that's not the same as bringing a dish.

posted by lurker2209 on November 7th 2007 at 1:44pm
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My boyfriend and I will be hosting the party for both our sets of parents in the new house, for the first time this year! But first, we have to finish building it - we've got our fridge and range, but have yet to install the countertops or plumb in the sink! Yikes! Gotta get cracking...

I'm also really excited to be getting a bird from the turkey farm just down the road. Misty Knoll farms has lovely free-range turkeys that are served in all the local restaurants - can't wait to try it myself!

posted by SisterRae on November 7th 2007 at 2:19pm
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Have had my Canadian Thanksgiving already a few weeks ago. Roasted a fresh turkey with traditional bread/herb stuffing, made a cranberry sauce. Roasted harvest vegetables. My friend made garlic mashed potatoes & the turkey gravy. I made a couple of 'classic' pumpkin pies. Everything came together in an easy and delicious way.

posted by Leeds on November 8th 2007 at 2:11am
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kari-anne - Yes - the crockpot is wonderful for keeping the mashed potatoes hot. You might have to add a litttle warm milk or buttter if you have them in there for a really long time, but I normally get the potatoes done first thing in the morning and keep them in there until about 2:00 without any problems.

posted by robyn on November 8th 2007 at 8:28am
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