The Thanksgiving meal is designed for a large gathering: food, family, friends. You can have most of the food, some of the family, and none of the friends in a Thanksgiving during the COVID-19 pandemic.
You might have been doing more cooking for several months and feel like you've run out of foods to cook. So how can you handle a Thanksgiving during a pandemic? We have a few ideas to work with for the upcoming holiday.
- For many, Thanksgiving means a turkey. Instead of a whole turkey, adapt and cook a turkey breast or legs by themselves. You can cook a duck breast instead of a turkey breast to try something different.
- A piece of advice that also applies to Christmas: try making a family favorite recipe by yourself if you can't meet up with family. You can even meet via video online to have them teach you how to do the recipe. Or you could be teaching someone else how to make their favorite from you.
- Invent your own Thanksgiving favorite dish. If you have an idea for something where your family wouldn't approve, now is your chance to put your own touch on a dish.
- If you are the lone vegetarian, have a spectacular vegetarian Thanksgiving. If you like the dark meat, get several turkey legs. Have it your way.
- Honor someone who passed away from COVID-19 or some other situation in the last year with a dish they loved or made well.
- Go to the other extreme and have a simple beans and rice recipe. Takes away the pressure of a huge meal.
- Volunteer at a food bank. You can do this on another day if they are all full on Thanksgiving.
- If you have enough in this 2020 Thanksgiving season, consider donating to help those who don't.
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We don't normally make the story about your humble narrator. Take this as anecdotal evidence. I've spent a few Thanksgivings alone. They aren't as much fun as ones I've had surrounded by lots of loud people. They aren't horrible either.
I create a feast for me with several meals over several days. Some of them involve a bit of time in the kitchen. Some of them are a lot more simple. Some of them involve holiday traditions, less classic than others. Reflection is a co-star with food on those Thanksgiving celebrations. In those past years, there was more time to get together with people on Black Friday and the following weekend. This year, that is not in the plans.
Make Thanksgiving yours this year. A lot less drama. No one to chastise you for life choices. Be a little selfish and also good to yourself.
Thanksgiving 2020 may not fit your typical definition of a warm feast with loved ones. Hopefully Thanksgiving 2021 will be more festive.
photo credit: Organization United for Respect at Walmart.
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