Thanksgiving is happening. There's nothing you can do to stop it, but there's everything you can do to make it magnificent and memorable for your guests and even (gasp!) yourself.
Here's why: you're not alone. Not only are millions of people across the United States encountering the same stresses (and delights) - you've got Eatocracy on your side. We're here to help via comments, on Twitter @eatocracy and on-air Thanksgiving Day to offer culinary triage and a soupcon of sanity.
We've got plenty of fun surprises planned, but in the meantime, consider printing out these mantras and cross-stitching them on throw pillows or possibly taking them to the tattoo parlor:
1. Don't be a martyr, be a host.
2. You can never, ever have too much ice.
3. If they're your guests, they're very likely rooting for you.
4. Accepting offers of Thanksgiving help is a sign of sanity & inclusion not weakness.
5. There is no such thing as too much stock or too many containers for leftovers.
And a word to the wise - the sooner you get a beverage or appetizer into your guests' hands, or assign them the task of doing so, the more quickly they'll ease into the swing of things.
Un-buckle up, follow our ongoing Thanksgiving advice, and get set to have an absolutely delicious day.
If all else fails, repeat after us: "It's just a meal. It's just a meal. It's just a meal..."
- Buying
The dishes America likes best
Thanksgiving dinner for 8 for $70
iReport - Thanksgiving for under $30
Stocking up for the big day
Prep for the day and keep it all safe and clean
5 Reasons to buy a heritage bird
What if it's just Thanksgiving for two?
- Cooking
Defrost that bird!
Philippe Cousteau's perfect turkey and gravy (and an ethical dilemma)
5 Turkey don'ts
Get your prep work out of the way
Crowd-pleasing (and easy!) appetizers
Stuffpuppies. Stuffpuppies! STUFFPUPPIES! (The only side you'll need to serve)
Gravy lessons from a master
Make perfect pie
Quick, simple vegetable sides
Pumpkin beyond the pie
Stress-free brining
Thaw that bird!
Out of time? Spatchcock that turkey!
Everything you need to know about squash
Slim down your dishes
Deep-fried indoor turkey – for science
A 5 ingredient Thanksgiving fix from a Food Network star
Tired of turkey? Make a bacon pig
Re-imagine traditional Thanksgiving dishes
Take care of your gluten-free guests
How to cook a country ham
Confessions of a cooking alpha
Is it stuffing or dressing, and what ingredients does it need?
Master the chess pie
5 Tips for leftovers
Aaaaand even more leftovers
Can you get your leftovers through the airport?
- Drinking
Rosé for Turkey Day
Wine advice from our favorite bar
Bargain wines for Thanksgiving dishes
Brilliant cold weather beverages
Pitcher drinks and Prosecco are a host's best friends
- Hosting
Dealing with difficult guests, vegetarians and surprise drop-ins - and not running out of food
Embrace the chaos (and make excellent dairy-free mashed potatoes)
Remain calm in the face of Thanksgiving madness
How do you deal with family drama?
Last-second anti-freakout tips
Make your guests feel right at home
My first Thanksgiving with white people
What to serve if Wolf Blitzer shows up
Where to eat if you're in Vegas
Thanksgiving stuck at your desk
How to get a drunk guest out of your home (safely)
Still stressing? Leave your question in the comments below and we'll do our best to get you back on track.
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PEOPLE WITH IDEAS ARE A VALUED ASSETT TO THE COMMUNITY! HAPPY EXTENDED HOLIDAY WKND & GOD BLESS
I bought asparagus yesterday. I trimmed the ends, put them in a pitcher with an inch of water, and left them in an unheated porch (about 55 degrees). Today there is a bad smell coming from the tops of the asparagus. Will they taste okay when I cook them tomorrow?
LOVE THIS THANK YOU
If you are planning a Thanksgiving feast watch
meetyourmeat.com for the Alec Baldwin narrated video. It's very informative!
Why?
Why do you need ice? It is likely freezing cold in most parts of the US? Put the drinks outside and save energy, cash and the environment.
BAHAHAHA kit8, I hear you but I am a fan of ice created not ice from nature!
Why do you need ice it is likely freezing cold in most parts of the US? Put the drinks outside, save cash, energy and the environment?
If LZ Granderson wrote this article he'd be bashing how white people make their food.
Remember that this is your holiday too and not to overload yourself and play the martyr, it makes the gravy curdle.
Mmmmmm, cranberries. NOM NOM NOM NOM NOMNOMNOM.
Ditch the jiggle wiggly can moulded cranberry stuff. Make homeade cranberry sauce. It's soooo much better. The difference is like nigh/day. My cranberry sauce calls for fresh cranberries (1 pkg.), sugar (1 cup), juice and zest from an orange, ginger (1 tsp.) and nuts ( I roast my nuts). Once it all starts to boil, you continue to cook it for about 5 min. They'll start splitting and popping. Then I smush them up against the side of the pot with my wooden spoon. Add the nuts, pour into a pretty dish and refridgerate. This takes me about 10-15 min. total to make and it's something I make the night before. It looks like I went all out, tastes so good and it was nothing at all. If you don't like orange or ginger, there are other recipes I'msure that just call for sugar, a little water and nuts.
Always get twice as much ice as you think you'll need.
There are few things more awkward and uncomfortable than being a guest at someone's house, and being delegated to sit and wait while people slave over dinner/drink/appetizer preparations. If someone offers to help, give them something to do! Not everyone just wants to sit and watch football.
You must be my long lost twin sister. Same at my house.
Some additional Thanksgiving "Blond" Tips – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OuGTLowRxZo
I hope that everyone will have something to feast on this Thanksgiving and noone will be hungry
Here are a couple good ideas to help those in need during the holidays, at no extra cost to you! http://godusessinners.blogspot.com/2011/10/holiday-meal-challenge-help-needy.html