Due to COVID or other conditions, some people are unable to travel for the holidays. Rather than have a pity party or skip the celebration, it’s important to remain grateful to God, be thankful for our beautiful country, and appreciate all the wonderful people we know and the gifts we have. It is possible to have a happy Thanksgiving Day, despite the absence of some family and friends. Whether it’s you and your spouse or you alone, there are few excuses for not celebrating. To get in the spirit of the day, begin by watching the annual Thanksgiving Day parade. Once energized by the bands, floats, and balloons, enjoy preparing your scaled-down feast. And, even if you make a little too much food, simply portion it out and freeze the leftovers for a rainy or snowy day.
Here are some easy ways to scale down your feast:
- Substitute the entire turkey for a fresh turkey or chicken breast. Not only will the portion sizes be reasonable, but it will cut down on preparation and cooking time, and it will save you money.
- Use boxed stuffing. Not only is it price-friendly, but it also provides sensible portion sizes, and it’s quick and easy to make.
- Substitute mashed potatoes with baked regular or sweet potatoes. That way, you can make the exact amount you need.
- Do quick and easy vegetables. Instead of preparing a large green bean casserole, simply steam some broccoli or microwave a serving of corn. To enhance it, add a pat of butter to the hot vegetables, along with a mini sprinkling of Parmesan cheese. Finish with a bit of cracked black pepper and salt.
- If you enjoy bread with your meal, consider buying a package of little potato rolls rather than a whole large loaf. Not only are they tasty, but you can also freeze the ones you don’t eat and defrost and warm them to accompany other meals.
- Some pies are too big for one or two servings. Instead, enjoy a scoop of vanilla ice cream, served with a fresh homemade easy apple-cinnamon-honey topping. Simply cut a medium apple into cubes (discard the stem, core, and seeds, of course.) Melt 1 Tbsp. of salted butter over medium heat. Then add the apple cubes plus 1 ½ Tbsp. Honey and ground cinnamon to your liking. Cook and stir over the heat for about four minutes. Cool slightly and serve over ice cream.
Whether you’re flying solo or are spending the day with a friend or spouse, Thanksgiving is worth celebrating. Even if your gathering is limited, don’t skip the feast. Instead, keep the tradition going by simply scaling down the meal. And, if you know someone who is alone, and you enjoy company, be sure to extend a dinner invitation. For those who can’t part with the idea of making a whole turkey, you can always make lots of leftover casseroles or offer a meal to others in need. Remember that Thanksgiving Day is about being grateful, generous, and joyous, so feel free to extend the cheer! Happy Thanksgiving!
