The Cod has roasted hogs in two blue states, two red states, and a purple state, has pickled green peaches, and fed any number of folks any number of ways. However, 2012 marks the first time that The Cod and cinetrix will host Thanksgiving. In the nick of time, Sam Sifton delivers the book for just such a thing. "Thanksgiving: How to Cook it Well." It is the only thing you will ever need to read about Thanksgiving cooking.
The book format gives Sifton an unfair advantage. Thanksgiving is a holiday for traditional cooking. It is not a day for experimentation. Newspapers, blogs, and magazines come out every day or week or year, and have some obligation to present holiday service journalism that goes beyond "Do what you did last year, but maybe wait until after noon to get into the Beaujolais, for Christ's sake."
Sifton's approach emulates that of the coach of his favorite college football team, munus the joylessness. Focus, attention to detail, and preparation mean that relatively straightforward dishes come together to form a successful meal.
Moreso, the book's genius lies in understanding hostingThanksgiving as a challenge of adulthood, and a problem of logistics and social engineering as much as it is of cooking. I would like to see a series of such books, on other grownup stuff like refinancing your house, or building a deck, or suchlike. If you have a big monitor, watch this while you order:
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