Seriously, though…ugh. I have to post these now for both stress relief and to not have them be in my recent files when someone grabs my laptop to “look something up real quick” like they don’t have a damn smartphone.
Edit: Re-uploaded to add “aunt who is only nice because she’s sucking up to grandma for the inheritance” who just texted she’s coming.
I also host a large extended family most Thanksgivings. My method is that I do the complex cooking (I smoke a turkey, and one or more side dishes). After dinner I start making a stock with the turkey carcass (seriously, there is nothing better than turkey stock from smoked bones). The whole evening, I’m either doing cooking “things” (sometimes faking it), or cleaning dishes or tables or something. I’m always moving, but I’m not verbally interacting a ton. It works surprisingly well for me.
Always stay busy is great advice. Most of the family doesn’t care for turkey, so we usually have ham which isn’t as involved prep-wise. I used to be able to “hide” most of the day when we did turkey since I would be manning the outdoor fryer. I got to avoid most of the family drama that way. By the time I came in, everyone was in a good mood because the food was ready.
We used to rotate every year but somehow I ended up hosting the last 3. Thanksgiving is the one day a year I’m not a vegetarian, but if I get roped into this again next year I may do a vegetarian spread. 😂
Make a Seitan or Tofurky and they won’t want you to host again! Win Win!
(though I do admit seitan and tofu can be VERY delicious)
100% the plan, haha, and yeah, they are quite delicious.
You’ll properly call me a miracle worker if you try my turkey noodle soup I make the day after!
I’ve done smoked turkey a few times now, but my friend took over the carcass broth duties when we would host.