We have hosted Thanksgiving at our house every year for the past three years and it’s something I really enjoy. With this year being our fourth year, it really feels like a tradition now. I love bringing everyone together for a big meal and to give thanks for all of our blessings.
One thing I have always struggled with is the cooking. It’s hard to cook so many things for between 6 and 8 adults in just a single oven, especially when one of those things is a 20 lb. bird. This year I decided to try something new.
I spotted a roster oven in a sales ad and thought that sounded like a pretty good idea. I read several articles and recipes on cooking a turkey in a roasting oven. The main message was if you do it right, the turkey will cook up nice and juicy and just right! Furthermore, this will free up my oven for all of the other cooking/baking that goes on. It seems like I have finally found the solution to my Thanksgiving dilemma!
Have you ever hosted Thanksgiving?
Who else struggles with the one oven challenge?
Turkey Runner 
Oh, Meagan. Have I got some oven stories? The worst being when a casserole dish exploded and glass went everywhere. Oh, did I mention our entire Christmas Dinner was in the oven at the time? We picked glass out of every dish! Come to find out that “new” Pyrex is not the same as “old” Pyrex. This dish was not cold when I put it in the oven either. It was at room temp. I only use the old stuff now.
Oh my goodness, talk about a holiday dinner disaster! That is crazy.
Should be good. That’s the way nana used to make them!
LUD.
You hadn’t told me that! Now I feel even better about my plan 🙂
My friends handle the bird and ham and the rest of us bring the sides. They might make a couple sides, but we bring the rest. I’ve been on dessert duty for 3 years and it’s fun.
That’s the way we did our Friendsgiving this past weekend. The hosts did a turkey and beef brisket and everyone else brought sides and desserts. It’s fun to see what everyone brings!
We hosted Thanksgiving the year I was pregnant, but since then we typically host Christmas. But we do it potluck style, where the host makes the main and then everyone brings sides. Usually I’ll make 1 or 2 other dishes, along with an appetizer or two. Plus we provide the wine. So it still gets to be a lot!
I only have one oven as well, so I just try to pay attention to timing and really read recipes before hand so I know approximate cook & prep times. But that’s the OCD planner in me!
It seems like no matter how you do it, a big family holiday meal is a lot. It can be a bit stressful preparing for it, but I still enjoy it 🙂
OCD planning is the way to go, especially with one oven!
I’m very curious how this turned out! Good thing I’m catching up on my reading today so I won’t have to wait long to find out! 🙂