I think this year I'll deliberately burn the turkey

[Pastamom]

I second the reservation idea. Find a place and let everyone know what the coast will be. Have everyone over for an hour before for a couple snacks and head to the restaurant - if you feel the need

 

[DisneyKT]

I have almost been hosting Thanksgiving for the last few years for dh's family. I say almost since we don't have it here. I spend the morning cooking here at my house and then packing the car and bringing it 45 minutes to in law's house. Last year I packed two coolers, two crock pots and several bags. I had told my mil that I would bring everything but that never got to someone. I had the turkey and all the sides and when I got there there were two pots of potatoes on the stove. I just didn't serve them. fil looked at them at the end of the day and said "We didn't eat many potatoes"

I do it for my mil who is not strong. BUT they have no oven. It has been broken for several years. My sil will not them fix it since it is gas and she is worried that the house might blow since mil is on oxygen at NIGHT.

We used to host Christmas but since mil can't travel I repeat the procedure again at Christmas.

I also do most of the clean up since one of my sil does nothing but sit all day.

Wow, what a nice person you are. I am sure your MIL must feel very grateful. Oh yeah, If that was me I would fix that oven for my MIL or get her a new one. For Christmas maybe???

 

[DisneyKT]

DH refuses to allow his mother to cook any holiday suppers after the year of the soup. For the big Christmas dinner (her words) she made tomato soup (Campbells from a can) with some shrimp in it. We each got four shrimp.

This really made my morning. I don't know how you could keep a straight face.

 

[NCRedding]

Aaah, the fun of the holidays. DH's parents passed away at an early age, so here are our holiday options:

His cousin's house. Two years ago, she hosted Thanksgiving. We all brought in food. Ten minutes before we were to eat, she realized she didn't have enough dishes and utensils for the 11 of us! I had to try to eat turkey on a paper plate with a plastic knife.

His BIL's house: SIL and BIL will always get into a fight while preparing food. SIL has ADD and will forget the food in the oven. Last year, BIL made fried squash with a mix that made the house full of fumes. The cousin above had an asthma attack and had to go outside. All the rest of us were coughing. Then, as we were cleaning up, SIL screeched to all of us "Don't stack the dishes...that way I only have to wash the front of the plate, not the back." I laughed until I watched and realized she did exactly that.

His cousin/aunt's nursing home: We "celebrated" Christmas at the nursing home last year. Aunt isn't housebound at all, but wanted us to eat there. She paid $45 per plate for unsalted pork, undercooked sweet potatoes, and spinach souffle.

Our house: We've hosted it fairly often. The only problem is we live 1 1/2 from the others, and they can't be on time to save their lives, so either dinner is overcooked or we have to wait for it. One Christmas, I was planning on serving dinner at 7. DH"S cousin came in and announced that "we're leaving at 7, so let's get this show on the road."

 

[donac]

Wow, what a nice person you are. I am sure your MIL must feel very grateful. Oh yeah, If that was me I would fix that oven for my MIL or get her a new one. For Christmas maybe???

Dh and I have wanted to get the stove fixed or replaced but dh's sister is against it. Oxygen Stove according to her a bad combination. Don't other people deal with problem every day with no problem.

 

[skhermsmeyer]

Aaah, the fun of the holidays. DH's parents passed away at an early age, so here are our holiday options:

His cousin's house. Two years ago, she hosted Thanksgiving. We all brought in food. Ten minutes before we were to eat, she realized she didn't have enough dishes and utensils for the 11 of us! I had to try to eat turkey on a paper plate with a plastic knife.

His BIL's house: SIL and BIL will always get into a fight while preparing food. SIL has ADD and will forget the food in the oven. Last year, BIL made fried squash with a mix that made the house full of fumes. The cousin above had an asthma attack and had to go outside. All the rest of us were coughing. Then, as we were cleaning up, SIL screeched to all of us "Don't stack the dishes...that way I only have to wash the front of the plate, not the back." I laughed until I watched and realized she did exactly that.

His cousin/aunt's nursing home: We "celebrated" Christmas at the nursing home last year. Aunt isn't housebound at all, but wanted us to eat there. She paid $45 per plate for unsalted pork, undercooked sweet potatoes, and spinach souffle.

Our house: We've hosted it fairly often. The only problem is we live 1 1/2 from the others, and they can't be on time to save their lives, so either dinner is overcooked or we have to wait for it. One Christmas, I was planning on serving dinner at 7. DH"S cousin came in and announced that "we're leaving at 7, so let's get this show on the road."

Makes me wonder how she washes her forks and spoons!

 

[Wishing on a star]

Dh and I have wanted to get the stove fixed or replaced but dh's sister is against it. Oxygen Stove according to her a bad combination. Don't other people deal with problem every day with no problem.

Wow, your DH should make arrangements to have a regular electric stove delivered over there, like tomorrow.... Would have done that over a year ago.

She has been living there with no way for her or anyone to cook food...

 

[mtblujeans]

I'd love it if someone else would cook....ANYBODY ELSE!