The one time I was in charge of Thanksgiving dinner, I just did the sides. Those are the best parts of Thanksgiving, AFAIC. I’m a vegetarian, so I don’t ever eat the turkey.
My family doesn’t do a big Christmas dinner. It’s usually buffet-style cold cuts and side dishes.
I loathe turkey AND Thanksgiving. Wasn’t always the case, we used to travel to a rich relative’s in NYC and have an awesome time, but no more. I think putting on the Big Honkin’ Thanksgiving Spread is OK if you have a big jolly family to gather round the Big Honkin’ Feast, but…sadly, we are down to a small handful. Dementia and mental illness, anyone? I used to have to buy/prep/cook TWO Thanksgivings in years past, one for them, one for us. No more. Now I take them out to a buffet restaurant on the Big Honkin’ Day (hopefully there will be a Chinese buffet open). The next day I still have to cook a small turkey for the one of us who claims to like it, but it’s no biggie, I stick it in the oven, buy instant mashed potatoes and crescent rolls, and there you go, that’s it, knock yourself out turkey man. For myself and anyone else, I stick in a couple of stuffed Cornish game hens, nestling alongside the big bird. (I also buy pre-made side dishes and appetizers that I like, I will gladly pay $8 a pound for roasted vegetables and glazed sweet potatoes. Our vegetarian appreciates those, too, won’t touch turkey. And a bottle of ‘good’ wine!) One more day of turkey sandwiches on marble rye for all (even the vegetarian can’t say no to a good sandwich), and then I get the go-ahead to stuff the rotting carcass into the trash can - bring on the pizza and antipasto!
Me. I haven’t had a regular Thanksgiving meal with the fam since I was 12. They were always working. So I eat pizza and do a movie. My son is 7 in a couple of weeks and we’re making homemade pizza.