There’s something magical about the idea of a traditional Thanksgiving, the golden turkey, perfect pies, candlelit tables, and a family gathered together in harmony. But if you’ve ever been to one of our family Thanksgivings >> better known as Sandlersgiving, you know “traditional” is not exactly our thing.
This year, we’re celebrating early because the whole crew will be together for a family wedding. Since getting everyone in one place is rarer than a turkey that hasn’t been overcooked, we decided to take advantage of it. And honestly? It’s going to be a beautiful, chaotic, hilarious mess, just the way we like it.
The Scene: New House, Same Chaos
We’re still settling into the new house: you know, the one that’s almost finished. We’ve been living out of boxes, dodging tools, and waiting impatiently for the gas to get hooked up. (Spoiler: it came on just in the nick of time.)
So now, Ben, the in-house chef, can officially fire up the oven again. Though let’s be real, he’s still insisting on deep-frying the turkey out back, because that’s tradition in our family. We don’t trust a bird that hasn’t been baptized in bubbling oil.
The house may not be totally unpacked, and we may not even have all the dining chairs yet, but the kitchen is ready for battle. And when you’re married to someone who can make a gourmet meal out of whatever he can find in the fridge and pantry, that’s all that really matters.
Ben, the Master Chef (Armed and Dangerous)
Ben’s not just cooking, he’s orchestrating. That’s right, he takes Thanksgiving prep seriously, and this year, he’s got a new toy: the Henckels Statement 20-Piece Self-Sharpening Knife Block Set.
If you’ve never seen Ben in action, picture a cross between Gordon Ramsay and a mad scientist. He’s slicing, dicing, muttering to himself about “texture” and “sear,” and somehow managing to look cool doing it.
The Henckels knife block set makes it all easier (and a lot safer for anyone who dares to enter the kitchen). They stay razor-sharp thanks to the built-in sharpening block, so there’s no dull-blade drama mid-carving session. Whether he’s tackling sweet potatoes, slicing onions, or recreating his grandmother Ronnie’s stuffing recipe, Ben’s got the tools—and the attitude—to make it happen.
- You still have time to order a great Knife Block Set in time for your holiday cooking!
A Nod to Grandma Ronnie (and Her “Homemade” Cake Trick)
Speaking of Grandma Ronnie, every year we bring a little piece of her into Sandlersgiving. She was a woman of many talents, one of which was buying a store-bought cake, ruining the frosting, and passing it off as homemade.
It was her signature move. She’d take a perfectly frosted bakery cake, smudge it a little, maybe stick a knife mark across the top, and voilà: instant “homemade” authenticity. She always said, “Perfection is suspicious. Imperfection is love.”
So yes, we’ll be reviving the Ronnie Cake tradition. If you see a cake that looks like it’s been through a minor frosting accident, don’t ask questions. Just grab a fork and enjoy the magic of family myth-making.
Aunt Shelley’s Absence (and the Cookie Redemption Arc)
Every family has that one dish that’s infamous for all the wrong reasons. In our case, it’s Aunt Shelley’s “famous” chocolate chip cookies. Last year, as she always does, she insisted on baking them from scratch. She’s actually pretty famous in our family for making the best cookies. But last year? Last year was a MAJOR FAIL. Let’s just say that our new insult is that she uses the smoke detector as a kitchen timer (yes, that’s how we make someone cry at Thanksgiving).
This year, Aunt Shelley won’t be with us, and while we’ll miss her laugh and her chaotic baking energy, we’re not taking any chances. Allyson is stepping in to save dessert and the family’s sweet tooth with My Better Batch cookie mix. These are the ONLY mixes that we’ve tried that are truly just as good if not BETTER than homemade EVERY SINGLE TIME WE’VE MADE THEM.
These aren’t your run-of-the-mill break-and-bake cookies. My Better Batch makes actual gourmet mix out of the best ingredients (just like you would at home) in all the best flavors: classic Chocolate Chip, Sugar, Double Chocolate Chip, and Celebration Cookies.
You can probably guess which ones are for our 2-year-old, who believes sprinkles belong on absolutely everything. Watching him “help” in the kitchen (read: sneak bites of dough and declare himself the taste tester) might be the best part of the day.
Tradition, Our Way
Our family traditions may not make sense to anyone else, but they make sense to us. Every Sandlersgiving has a few key ingredients:
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Good food – even if it’s cooked in shifts between power tools and unpacked boxes.
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Family stories – usually told loudly, often interrupted, and occasionally exaggerated.
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Laughter through the chaos – because someone will cry (we always do), but it’s usually from laughing too hard.
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Teasing – a Sandler family love language. If we’re poking fun at you, it’s because you belong (and crying again).
This year will probably follow the same pattern: Ben yelling for everyone to stay out of his kitchen, someone forgetting to defrost something crucial, at least one argument over football, and that moment when we all look around and realize that between the chaos and the crumbs we’re incredibly lucky.
Making Thanksgiving Easier (and a Little More Fun)
Let’s be honest—hosting any kind of holiday meal is stressful, even if you’re a pro. Between the grocery lists, seating charts, and last-minute “where’s the gravy boat?” panic, it can get overwhelming.
So here’s what’s saving our sanity this year:
- Henckels Statement 20-Piece Knife Block Set – Because a sharp knife makes prep faster, safer, and way more satisfying.
- Deep-Fried Turkey – Because once you’ve had it that way, there’s no going back.
- Canned Cranberry Sauce – That NEVER gets touched (because we all dislike it)
- Ronnie’s Stuffing – From the recipe we all love and cherish.
- Mashed Potatoes – Along with the story of the year that my mom had it catered, and they forgot to actually MASH the potatoes, so they were hard & lumpy.
- My Better Batch Cookie Dough – Foolproof cookies that taste homemade (without the Aunt Shelley risk factor).
- Grandma Ronnie’s “Imperfect” Cake Trick – A reminder that you don’t have to make everything from scratch to make it special.
- Patience, humor, and extra napkins – The true essentials.
The Heart of Sandlersgiving
At the end of the day, Sandlersgiving isn’t about the perfect meal or the picture-perfect table. It’s about showing up messy, tired, stressed, happy and sitting down together anyway. It’s about remembering where our family recipes came from, even if we’ve updated them a little.
It’s the sound of Jack giggling as he shakes sprinkles everywhere. It’s Ben humming while he carves the turkey, and then pulling out one of his guitars as we all sing along later on. It’s me sneaking a cookie before dinner (for quality control, of course). It’s the smell of roasting, frying, baking, and the sound of laughter cutting through it all.
So while our Thanksgiving may be early, imperfect, and totally untraditional, it’s ours.
And honestly? I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Happy (Early) Sandlersgiving, from our crazy kitchen to yours.
Now cut the cake before someone ruins the frosting again.
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