A Cook's Helper
By Juliaacv
@Juliaacv (57584)
Canada
October 8, 2026 2:22pm CST
This coming weekend is a long weekend here in Canada.
On Monday we will celebrate Thanksgiving Day. Many of us choose a day during the weekend to hold it. We have ours on Sunday.
We all only have so much time, and when you work, you naturally have less of that to yourself. I fall into that category.
I have found a few acceptable helps for putting on such big meals. And my family is none the wiser. 
There is a great store not far from here where you can order full meals, with all of the trimmings. I don't go to that length, but I will turn to them to help me with the gravy. Their gravy is made fresh daily, and simply delicious.
I will stop at the Italian bakery/deli and pick up an appetizer tray of meats and cheeses. That saves alot of time cutting and prepping the tray, and the taste is not changed.
Otherwise, the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash and corn will all be prepared by myself, and my husband-he's the turkey guy. We have worked together at the housecleaning this week, and he will help me pull the dining room table out and put in a leaf so that we have lots of elbow room.
It takes alot of organization and help when you are working 40 hours a week to put on a meal of this caliber, with all of the extra touches-the relish tray, the rolls, the desserts, you know what I mean.
Do you take any help as a cook?
~Photo is mine
There is a great store not far from here where you can order full meals, with all of the trimmings. I don't go to that length, but I will turn to them to help me with the gravy. Their gravy is made fresh daily, and simply delicious.
I will stop at the Italian bakery/deli and pick up an appetizer tray of meats and cheeses. That saves alot of time cutting and prepping the tray, and the taste is not changed.
Otherwise, the turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, squash and corn will all be prepared by myself, and my husband-he's the turkey guy. We have worked together at the housecleaning this week, and he will help me pull the dining room table out and put in a leaf so that we have lots of elbow room.
It takes alot of organization and help when you are working 40 hours a week to put on a meal of this caliber, with all of the extra touches-the relish tray, the rolls, the desserts, you know what I mean.
Do you take any help as a cook?
~Photo is mine11 people like this
9 responses
@snowy22315 (213331)
• United States
1h
I don't generally cook from scratch but I definitely should as it is so much better for you. If I end up cooking for Tgiving which is the plan..I will make most of the dishes from scratch.
2 people like this
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
1h
I often ask our son to bring the dessert.
He always wants it to take home anyways, so why not?
Back when he still lived at home, we used to host a big Christmas Day Brunch.
I had a friend from work, whose daughter was a dessert chef at a golf course, and would get laid off during the wintertime, and I would always order a couple of things from her to add to the mix. She loved it as it was her passion, and I always paid in cash, so it would help with her being on unemployment insurance. And the relatives would always look forward to something new every year, they didn't even know that I bought it.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (213331)
• United States
1h
@Juliaacv Yeah, just saying Thank you and smile.
1 person likes this
@AmbiePam (130106)
• United States
42m
You are amazing, pretty lady! I remember being my mom’s “helper” when she cooked while we grew up, but we probably weren’t truly effectively helpful until we were teens. Which is when we took over cooking anyway when her health collapsed. It felt good to still be able to put a healthy meal on the table for everyone.
I hope you have an absolutely fantastic Thanksgiving.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
Just now
@rebelann I'm sure that you could, not everyday of course, but on occasion.
When we bought our 'forever home' in 1994, my Dad loved the layout so much that he said that we should host all of the big family gatherings. And until he passed, and for a short time after, we did.
He felt comfortable enough with my husband and I that when he didn't feel good, he knew that he could go and lie down on top of our bed.
@RasmaSandra (101218)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9m
Oh, yes I forgot you Thanksgiving comes so early Happy Thanksgiving to you and your family, I used to make big Thanskgiving meals to my mom and her friends when we lived in NYC, I did it all myself,
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
Just now
It is not early with our climate.
The nights are cool, and the leaves are turning their bright and beautiful autumn colours.
I actually wish that the holiday was just 1 week later, as it gets so warm in the house when you have the oven on all day long doing a turkey. But at least we can go outside for a break, which is nice.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
57m
I used to work with a friend whose daughter was a dessert chef at a golf course. They were laid off for the off season, and since her passion was creating these amazing desserts, I would pay her to make me a couple for the Christmas brunch we hosted. Nobody was every the wiser that I didn't make them, and her creations were something over the top.
2 people like this
@LooeyVille (78)
• United States
Just now
When I used to cook holiday meals, I didn’t want anybody in the kitchen or offering help. I wanted to do it all myself
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (141012)
• Marion, Ohio
Just now
I like easy meals. But I don't cook huge meals like that
@Marilynda1225 (92356)
• United States
1h
Thanksgiving does take a lot of thought and preparation and you're wise to order some things so as not to have to make them yourself, Gravy is one thing I have never been able to make no matter how hard I've tried. My mom used to make the best gravy and she was assigned that job every Thanksgiving. My older daughter does our Thanksgiving in November so that's one holiday I just have to bring a few side dishes, Christmas is my big holiday and everyone comes here so I get an extra month to figure out what to buy and what to make.
1 person likes this
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
1h
The nice thing about this gravy is it is like homemade, and I will add drippings to it so there is more of it.
We all love gravy leftovers to go on hot turkey sandwiches and it never feels like there is enough.
Besides, at that point of the day, just before sitting down to eat, I would prefer to have less stress then more.
The grocery stores didn't have as many turkeys to sell as they usually do. I found that interesting, but with beef being so expensive, apparently alot of people have turned to poultry and the farmers cannot keep up with the demand. Some of the birds that I saw in the store, were all bony looking, they were not allowed to mature enough to grow some delicious fat and meat.
@Juliaacv (57584)
• Canada
59m
They haven't known about it for a few years now.
They will not find out.
Our son is bringing the pumpkin pie, he always wants to bring the leftover pie home, so it just makes sense for him to bring it.
When I was younger, and had more energy, I only worked part time, so these big meals were alot easier.
