When did you cook your first Thanksgiving meal?

[Kitty 34]

If you even have yet!

My sister (age 47) got me thinking of this when she called tonight with her first of probably many questions as she is cooking her first meal this Thanksgiving!

I was 26 and except for cooking my 2 and only hot pads with the turkey, my first Thanksgiving meal went well!!

 

[luvsJack]

I cooked my first full Thanksgiving meal when I was probably 37. It was the first Thanksgiving after my dad died and my mom wanted to do the holidays completely different, so she went out of town with her sisters. I had fun cooking it all, but waaay over cooked for just my little section of the family. I just kept thinking "but we have to have xxx"

As for parts and pieces (such as the turkey), I have been doing that for years. I like to cook a turkey and dressing on Wednesday night and we eat from it all weekend while we shop and decorate for Christmas.

 

[C.Ann]

I was 22.. Prior to that we usually went to my parents for Thanksgiving dinner, but once I had children out of the infant stage, we chose to spend holidays at home..

 

[Magic Mom]

I was 25 and we were living in Germany. We had 3 other families and 5 single soldiers over for dinner (and the weird German guy that lived across the street who always brought the beer LOL). It was a blast and I didn't burn anything.

 

[WDWDancer]

I was 13 and my sister was 16...my mom had broke BOTH her legs 2 weeks prior and was still doped up on pain meds! We always had both my Grandma's over for Thanksgiving dinner so my dad was great and took us grocery shopping; we made a Gourmet Thanksgiving; a little over our heads but we didn't burn the house down it tasted fine and we had a blast!!

I'm 24 now and since then my sister and I have always alternated Thanksgiving Dinner Duty....this year its my turn

 

[Meriweather]

23....we had moved to another state away from out families.
Still cooked it all and have been ever since.

 

[PatsGirl]

Haven't done it yet and have no intention of ever doing it Until about ten years ago, my Mom continued to do T'giving at her house and then Sis took over because she has the largest home and loves to entertain. I, on the other hand, have a very small house, no dining room but instead an eat-in kitchen, and no desire to entertain for a huge turkey dinner.

When we were growing up, my sister and I always helped out and even after that usually showed up a couple hours earlier to help set up and peel veggies, that sort of thing. I now offer to do the dishes wherever I end up. Both my kids always go to their Dad's families for all the holidays (Tgiving, Xmas and Easter) so sometimes I work, sometimes I go to a friends house, sometimes I go to my sisters. I also always offer to make the turkey soup with the leftovers and deliver it a day or two later

 

[MomofKatie]

I was in college (can't remember my exact age). My mom and dad went to England on vacation and returned on Thanksgiving day. I wanted to surprise them with dinner when they got home, so my brother, sister in law, and I did the whole traditional turkey and all the trimmings. Mom and Dad were surprised and happy they got to spend Thanksgiving with us and they didn't have to cook.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

It was in our first apartment in college I think. So I was probably 21 maybe?

I remember it because it was the first yr I began to get "Grandma's Sausage Stuffing" recipe. Took me 10yrs to get the full recipe out of my mom.

 

[alexandria674]

This is my first year.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

20 for me and still doing it at 56.

 

[LadyZolt]

I was 37, about ten years ago. Before that, my DH did it all. LOL! But he had to work, so I did it and we've pretty much taken turns doing it since then. I'll be doing it this year as he's working, but now I have it down pat. LOL!

But for a "first Thanksgiving cooking" movie that is very sweet, I think people should see "Pieces of April," about a young woman living with her boyfriend who invites her estranged family to Thanksgiving dinner (mom has cancer -- this might be her last Thanksgiving), and the oven doesn't work, so she has to "borrow" someone else's oven in her apartment building on Thanksgiving day. A truly memorable film and one that reminds us of the importance of Thanksgiving.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

 

[dislal]

I think I was 35 This will be my third year, and I am still nervous.

 

[Katy Belle]

Hmmmm probably about 26, perhaps younger. I moved away from family when I was 20, but it seems that for a few years we went home for Thanksgiving.

One year DH did the whole feast, I was having some early contractions with baby #3 and he took over! He was 35 at the time

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I was 37, about ten years ago. Before that, my DH did it all. LOL! But he had to work, so I did it and we've pretty much taken turns doing it since then. I'll be doing it this year as he's working, but now I have it down pat. LOL!

But for a "first Thanksgiving cooking" movie that is very sweet, I think people should see "Pieces of April," about a young woman living with her boyfriend who invites her estranged family to Thanksgiving dinner (mom has cancer -- this might be her last Thanksgiving), and the oven doesn't work, so she has to "borrow" someone else's oven in her apartment building on Thanksgiving day. A truly memorable film and one that reminds us of the importance of Thanksgiving.

-Dorothy (LadyZolt)

I have seen that movie a couple of times. It is with Katie Holmes and it deals with some dark topics.

It is a very good movie if you are looking for something that is not your "normal" holiday movie.

 

[NMAmy]

I was 23. My ex was in the military and we were stationed in New Mexico. Luckily, we had a fairly big house because we had 4 or 5 single soldiers who came over for dinner, as well! I really couldn't have asked for a less critical, more appreciative group of guests.

My mom stopped doing Thanksgiving dinner many years ago. My older sister and I trade off. It's at her house this year---lucky me!

 

[antmaril]

I am 58 years old and I've never cooked a turkey. Crazy, isn't it? When I was first married, my parents always did Thanksgiving. When my mother died, my dad would cook the bird and bring it to our house. When my dad got older, we would sometimes go out for Thanksgiving. Now that my dad is gone, my sister-in-law usually does Thanksgiving. On those occasions when I have to host Thanksgiving, I order the bird from Kroger and I make the sides.

I suppose I should really try cooking a turkey. Everyone says it's easy. We'll see - maybe one day.

 

[Mouse House Mama]

I was 23.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

I am 58 years old and I've never cooked a turkey. Crazy, isn't it? When I was first married, my parents always did Thanksgiving. When my mother died, my dad would cook the bird and bring it to our house. When my dad got older, we would sometimes go out for Thanksgiving. Now that my dad is gone, my sister-in-law usually does Thanksgiving. On those occasions when I have to host Thanksgiving, I order the bird from Kroger and I make the sides.

I suppose I should really try cooking a turkey. Everyone says it's easy. We'll see - maybe one day.

Do you ever roast a chicken? It is the same as that, just bigger.

 

[Disney Doll]

I haven't yet and I am 47. I'm going for the record at this point.

In all honesty, I hate to cook. I don't enjoy it at all. I have cooked in my life when necessary, but it is out of necessity, not desire. DH, on the other hand, LOVES to cook, so he does the cooking in our house. I do the cleaning and run the household for the rest of the stuff.

We have hosted Thanksgiving dinner numerous times. I do everything else surrounding hosting a large (anywhere usually from 15-25 people) holiday dinner, and he cooks. Of course, he gets all the credit, because doing all the other stuff that surrounds hosting Thanksgiving apparently doesn't matter.