Comments on: here goes nothing

By: Joshua

Joshua — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:34:13 +0000

I’m sorry I missed your post when you first wrote it. I’ve been coming to your site for awhile now and enjoy everything about it from the anecdotes to the photos to, of course, the food. Some recipes from your site have become “keepers” for me and my family.

To get to the point, Thanksgiving is about family. My first time hosting was about 3 years ago. I had just bought a tiny little house with a tiny little oven. I’m not sure what my inspiration was (you understand how much strain time and stress put on memories), but my oven wasn’t in the calculations at all. I was freaking out because I got the bird home and was getting ready to put it in the oven. It did NOT fit!! I couldn’t believe it.

Luckily I live very close to some big chains, so I drove and bought an electric roaster. The turkey turned out so great that that’s the way I prepare it every time I make turkey. I even got some surprised, “that’s the best turkey I’ve ever eaten!” remarks. Everything worked out, as it always does, the way it’s supposed to. Just try to focus on the happy accidents.

Good luck and Happy Thanksgiving…

By: Molly

Molly — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 06:28:44 +0000

I’ve been in denial that we are hosting our first turkey day too, until now! Good thing I have your menu to copy! Next year we’ll all be at Rascal’s again, and it will feel juuuust right. Until then, gobble gobble (insert turkey noise). Miss you! xx

By: LilSis

LilSis — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 05:41:12 +0000

After reading your blog for some time now, I’ve always been impressed with your recipes and I’m sure that you and your husband will be amazing hosts.

I do remember a gazillion years ago though being nervous when I first hosted Thanksgiving for my in laws.

I think the key is to not worry about everything being perfect. Just being with family is so important. I totally understand though that it also makes you miss your own family.

My sisters birthday is the 26th which falls on Thanksgiving Day this year and she will be celebrating in Texas while I’m out here in California. It’s just not the same when you can’t all be together, but I’ve had to deal with it for some years now.

Last Christmas we were all alone out here so this year we’ll be spending Christmas in Chicago with all my husbands family and our grown kiddos! (But I’ll still be missing my family in Texas.)

Good luck!

By: Kristin at The Kitchen Sink

Kristin at The Kitchen Sink — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 03:06:21 +0000

MommyAmy: Well said. And I’m filing away the lecture. You know, just in case.

ingrid: Thank you! I’ll be sure to do an “aftermath” post. : )

Lisa: Happy birthday month to you! AND best of luck to you. Off to take a few more deep breaths …

By: Lisa (dinner party)

Lisa (dinner party) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 22:57:46 +0000

I’m a Thanksgiving baby too AND am hosting dinner this year for the first time as well! Can’t wait to see what you made. I know it will be wonderful. Deep breath!

By: ingrid

ingrid — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:46:26 +0000

You can do it! I’m sure of it! I’ve been reading your blog for a while and have seen many, many amazing creations come out of your kitchen.

I’ll be anxious to hear about how well it went for you!
~ingrid

By: MommyAmy

MommyAmy — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 21:16:41 +0000

Yup, I’m first time hosting this year. I haven’t written about it on my blog either, kind of pretending it’s not really happening… lol

Good news, my mom has a turkey in her freezer she’s going to let me have. I’ve got most attendee’s signed up for bringing various side dishes, including desert, so that’s pretty much covered. So I just have to do the turkey, and dinner rolls, and (you reminded me) cranberries… and possibly some other things I’m not yet thinking of. I just keep telling myself that Thanksgiving is about spending time with your family and being THANKFUL for what you have, not being uptight and wiggly about what you don’t have. So if I forget something or don’t make something quite right, oh well. And anyone who voices complaints will just get a big fat lecture from me about starving children in Africa.

By: Kristin at The Kitchen Sink

Kristin at The Kitchen Sink — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:12:40 +0000

Wow. You all sure know how to make a girl feel better and braver and inspired and much more excited about this impending holiday. Thank you all for your kinds words and for sharing your stories.

By: Dolce

Dolce — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:46:37 +0000

Consider the turkey to be a very big chicken and follow the instructions you find on oven temperature + lenght of cooking. You’ll be fine. Especially if you show a great bioche loaf like this at some point

By: Heather

Heather — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 18:32:37 +0000

You will do just fine –

Thanksgiving is about family, friends, and hospitality – not on everything being perfect.

One year, while I was in graduate school and too far away from home to join my family for Thanksgiving, my roommate and I decided to have an “orphans” Thanksgiving and invite all those graduate students who had no other plans to our cramped apartment for the holiday. As it happened, nearly all of the guests were foreign (and not altogether familiar with the holiday), and my roommate’s grandmother died.

So I ended up hosting a dozen strangers (to me, and to one another) alone in our little apartment. And it was probably one of the most fun Thanksgivings that I’ve ever had.

So embrace the experience! This is a tradition building event!

Heather