My mom passed the Thanksgiving torch

[Richard Chrz]

We have slowly been doing more hosting of family gatherings at our house, mostly my wife’s side, as my parents tend to have more space and room for family together. Occasionally over the past 5 - 7 years I have hosted my parents and maybe one sibling and spouse for an odd year where most people could not make it home.

While having my parents over for an Oktoberfest cookout this fall my mom stated that she is too tired to host Thanksgiving anymore (she is 82 and not the best of health, and my dad ain’t much stronger than her). I looked at my wife and said would you mind if we took over hosting thanksgiving? She gave me the nod, but I really was a bit apprehensive. I think my siblings would have liked 1 more thanksgiving there, however my parents will still host Christmas, so we still have that.

We sent out an invite to family expecting maybe 6 or 7 total to say yes…. Well we are at 15 and growing right now for this year’s Thanksgiving, I think again everyone is coming together to spend another holiday with my parents. But I think I answered the question of will my family still gather if my parents are not hosting, we have nephews flying in from Vegas, Pennsylvania, a niece and her fiancé canceling plans in Florida, and coming to our house instead.

Im going into this with the idea of this about family, not about the food, so while I plan on cooking about half of it, I have asked family to bring different sides, pies, etc, to take the load off. We don’t have a house that will fit 15 - 20 people for a gathering but I told me wife I am super happy about this. And no one will care if they sit at a table, or on a couch, they will be happy they are together, and that is all that matters with my family.

I need to start saving for a double wall oven being added into my kitchen, one oven is just not enough for this. I will be doing some baking likely on a weber or two,

[captainlee]

We just hosted Thanksgiving last year for the family. We had a total of 20 with the furthest coming from England, USAF. 3 ovens, 1 warmer, 1 smoker and 1 turkey fryer, we needed everything. All the sides were made here as most flew in and others thought it best to make sides here. We had 3 coolers for food and a few for beverages. 3 stayed with us the rest in VRBO 's. Oh, 2 dogs. Long story short it was the last time here for such an event. It was fun but just way too much for us to do again. They arrived on Wednesday and left Sunday so we had multiple meals, 3 a day, for all those days plus hosting. Just here for one day would of been so much easier. Wife was totally shot by Sunday. Everybody helped but it was just too much, especially being older. Only the two of us this year, yes we deserve it. Smoked turkey breast at our pace.

[Richard Chrz]

Yeah that’s a lot of people, especially for multiple days, I was forward thinking to mention to everyone that we had no place for them to sleep, but Mom and Dad’s house would still be great for anyone needing a place to crash that night. So I’m a one day only.

I don’t remember the last time 15 - 20 people gathered at my parents for Thanksgiving, or if it even ever happened, so we were a bit surprised, Now Christmas there is always 20 there.

[Hulagn1971]

That is going to be a lot of fun for sure. My cousin's always host Thanksgiving at their home in Wilmington, NC. Everyone has moved to the coast except my Aunt/Uncle and me and my wife. It is my favorite event of the year. I get to see My Aunt, Uncle, all my cousins, their kids, my sister, my Dad, Mom and stepfather. Also a few of their friends always come by. Everyone brings a dish and we all know who is bringing what since there is a chain of emails that goes back and forth. I usually smoke a full brisket which my cousin loves because his wife is vegan along with some of the others. The vegan dishes are AWESOME and very welcomed. The day starts around noon with steamed oysters. My cousin Ben steams them and we all stand around a makeshift plywood table that has a hole in the middle with a trash can under it. He dumps them on the table and we get to shuckin' and eatin'. The meal is served at 3pm and everything is set up outside for eating and relaxing. There's always a fire pit going and plenty of beer, wine and liquor. After we eat, we go inside to watch some football and end up leaving about 6pm, stuffed and sleepy.

[Richard Chrz]

captainlee right, that would make it so much easier, certainly does not happen in Wisconsin, we had our first snow this past weekend. The only people eating outside are snacking in a deer stand.

Hulagn1971 that sounds like a really nice time, starting off with Oysters and having a bonfire to sit around, I may have to cancel mine and do a surprise visit to your family’s gathering instead!

[Hulagn1971]

captainlee and Richard Chrz yeah, it is usually about 70 degrees or so out that way.

[captainlee]

We had the fire pit going on outside to relive some inside activity. Being cold the shifts didn't last too long.

[DavidNorcross]

I will just say enjoy this and don't make it work. We have been doing this for years now and each year, I think through practice we get better at preparing for a crowd. We plan ahead and map out the dates we do each task. Works for us and removes a lot of the stress. Enjoy these time while they last before you "pass the torch"

[Richard Chrz]

DavidNorcross that is my plan. I’m the only person that cooks in our house, so it will be me for all food prepared here, as much as I would love to go all out, I’m wanting to keep this something that is fun, not all work. In a year or two if my family is still gathering here, I may change up lot’s of the menu and make something even more simple, but delicious. I am going to do it over 2 -3 days with just some final cooking and reheats on the day of.

[Panhead John]

I’d eat out in the barn to have some of your cooking Richard! Congrats on the news, pretty sure the torch will be in good hands.

[Richard Chrz]

So there is that, while my parents always provided a special family experience, the food was never part of the special experience. I suspect a few will be a bit happier about the food this year, 😂

[Texas Larry]

We followed a similar path. History moves on.

[Lynn Dollar]

You're a lucky man.

My family T-Givings have disintegrated to " not at all " due to age and death. Its not the same.

[Richard Chrz]

Sorry to hear that, I had long thought that once my parents pass, these holiday gatherings are over, non of my siblings have wheelchair ramps for me to get in their homes, and we don’t have the space for people to crash, but maybe just maybe this may keep some family together during this time of the year, I hope it does.

[RichieB]

For us, it's my son and daughter with their family. Total of 10, 6 grandchildren and parents. Plus the Grammy and Grampy. So 12 and 1 dog.
As I've mentioned in previous years posts, ours is a 2 phase feast. The 1st is Italian. The meats, meatballs, sausage (hot and sweet) and this year country style pork ribs. My wife has already prepared all meat and her sauce. Frozen and ready. Manicotti, and a variety of salads to be prepared the day of, which is Wednesday. Thursday is the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Friday is leftovers galore. My daughter lives a half mile away, so it's my son and family that camps out here ( from Vermont). By far our favorite time with our kids and grandkids.
An early Happy Thanksgiving to all of you and your families.

[Richard Chrz]

Sounds like a tasty and fun day!

[TripleB]

Congratulations!! The torch or torches got passed on close to 30 years now. We all do some things that were passed on. Graber olives (they've gone out of business a few years ago) were always on the Thanksgiving table. What has passed the test of time is Turkey Noodle soup. That is always made after Thanksgiving and thankfully, fully expected by my children. I am sure that they will pass it on too.

Time marches on.

[Purc]

Enjoy those times when you can. Last year at my son's home in GA, there were 17 people and 4 dogs for Thanksgiving. I and my DIL's cousin came in from Texas. I spend Christmas in DFW with my sister, son, DIL and several of her local extended family for a total of 19 people and 2 dogs. My retirement house is too small to host this Texas crowd, but I do host and cook for a small group on a regular basis. Both extended families come from each DIL.

[Panhead John]

I haven’t celebrated any Thanksgivings or Christmas in probably 3-4 years now. Not much family left to celebrate with. I had to put Mom in a group care home [only 3 miles from me!] last year and I only have 1 niece and a sister who live in-state. We used to do all the big get togethers over the years but it’s dwindled down to nothing for me. Y’all are the only family I have left….😢😢 😉 Do I miss it? Not really! I’ve done enough holiday cooks and the associated big cleanups afterwards that I’m just fine by myself!

[shify]

When we moved to the 'burbs, hosting thanksgiving was the only holiday I volunteered for and demanded we do. Something about not leaving my house, drinking what I want to drink and eating what I want to eat (not to mention when I want to eat) on this holiday was super appealing to me. I've hosted upwards of 25 people and my house isn't really built for that but we made it work.

I'm also the only one that cooks in my house so it all falls onto me, but I declined help - my in-laws cannot cook for their life and my family primarily came from out of town. I have fun doing it and enjoy the fun of planning it and being creative. For example, I usually 2 turkey two ways - one traditional roast turkey (albeit spatchcocked) and a second turkey cooked differently - that has ranged from turkey pastrami, turkey confit, smoked turkey, etc. It also helps managed the cooking/size of the main bird.

If you plan things out well, you should be fine with just one oven. I have a double oven but rarely even turned the second one one. I let the turkey rest for a good hour out of the oven and it stayed plenty hot and I used that time to cook the stuffing, bake off the mac and cheese, etc.

Have fun with it and don't fret

[barelfly]

I hope this first Thanksgiving is one to remember for you and the family! I’m sure your Mom will enjoy seeing you in your element, cooking it up for the family!

[HawkerXP]

Sounds like it's going to be a fun time!

[LA Pork Butt]

Large gatherings are fun and fun to cook for. Before we moved to Dallas there were near lots of family and life long friends, but now our max is eight. Even though it is smaller now it is still fun. On my wife’s side of the family we have an annual family reunion with 30 or so. It is great to see everyone.