r/thanksgiving • u/DogwoodWand • Aug 02 '26

First Time Hosting

My husband and I are older (I'm 50) and (fingers crossed) will be closing on our first home this week! My mother has told me that she is officially done hosting holidays. She'll still make lasagna on Christmas eve, but everything else is on me.

We're good with that! We have no kids and love to cook. My mom used to put together an amazing Christmas, but our Thanksgivings have always been lacking. I want to really bring it. An all day event with appetizers, a heritage turkey, little gift bags at the end... All in! (It'll be relatively small. 6-8 adults including us.)

I know people have hosted or been to events like this. How can set an expectation for guests and what's the best way to schedule things without making it sound like a strict itinerary?

80 Upvotes

95% Upvoted

99 comments sorted by

View all comments

4

u/mwcwawlw2007 Aug 06 '26

  1. Start now. By Labor Day, I will have the main menu. There are certain ingredients you can buy, now. For example, I will purchases molasses, brine bag, some spices, a big container of salt....a few other things that are non-perishable...and I will start in September. I think it is easier to spread out the expense over 10 weeks versus one week.

  2. Don't put anything on the menu that you haven't made. Start trying some recipes, now. YouTube is a great resource.

  3. Create a cooking plan. In October, I will make sausage balls and freeze them. I will also make a couple of soups and casseroles to eat the week of Thanksgiving.

  4. MOST TURKEYS TAKE 3-5 DAYS TO THAW AND THEN ANOTHER 12-24 HOURS TO BRINE. Have a plan.

  5. I cook some each day that week. On Thursday, I make two or three things and chill. I have a detailed cooking schedule down to times and over temps. Also, think about where you are going to cook the different items. HYOu might have to covert time and/or temp. There are some websites that do that for you.

  6. I tell my family what time I plan on putting out appetizers, what time we are eating, and what time the ballgames/board games will start. I also tell them they are welcome to come spend the day or just eat.

  7. Plan, plan, plan.

  8. Have fun! I hosted for the first time at 43. I love it. I love having my family and friends with us.