Thanksgiving for two

[MissMillie]

I was planning on just doing my baking today, and then cooking everything tomorrow. But I'm beginning to have a change of heart.

The menu is pretty simple because there is just two of us. But I'm still beginning to believe that I can get everything except the turkey, gravy and vegetable side done today. (Which means, really, just making the stuffing, mashed potatoes and cranberries today.) Am I cheating if 1/2 of my meal is "reheated"?

My sister was unable to get a Covid test this week due to long lines and instead of traveling to Maine to visit w/ our other sister, she'll be home alone.

She only lives a couple of street over, so I will deliver a big platter of food to her, including some pie. (She's not part of our "bubble," so it's safest to remain distant.)

[FoxNewsSucks]

1. It's not cheating,

I usually fry a turkey, and make a lot of other things, and everyone brings something. So to get ready for 20-30 people I would have started Monday and Tuesday prepping.

No big dinner this year, I'll just make something for myself and watch TV tomorrow

[Rorey]

2. A sweet thing to do.

Reheating isn't cheating.

Back in the day, when I hosted big Thanksgiving feasts, I'd actually cook another turkey the day ahead so it'd be ready just in case we ran low, and would also be ready to send home with family members to have a leftovers.

I haven't really planned my Thanksgiving dinner yet, but considering that it's just for me, it doesn't matter all that much. I'm vegetarian, so I don't eat turkey. I'm thinking I'll just have roasted veggies. Easy.

I did make a pumpkin pie. I really want something chocolate, but maybe I can resist.

[Shrike47]

3. It's not cheating to cook today. That's what we do. Small oven so We can't cook everything at once.

Today we’re making dressing and maybe a pie. Yesterday we made gravy and cranberry relish with oranges. Tomorrow is turkey, salad, potatoes day.

I find that as I age, spreading it out is a lot easier physically.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

4. If that's what you want to do, just do it that way.

I'm going to make my Thanksgiving for One tomorrow, because, just because. It's simply not complicated to mash the potatoes and make the gravy tomorrow. I will actually make the stuffing today and put it in the bird tomorrow.

I did get my son to set up a Zoom Thanksgiving with him on the east coast, family in Kansas, and myself in New Mexico for tomorrow afternoon. It should be giant fun.

[csziggy]

5. Not cheating at all!

In fact I just put my turkey into the oven. That way it can cool and making nice slices is easier with cool meat than hot.

I also baked two pecan pies - one traditional with my slight changes (recipe on the Karo syrup bottle with 1/2 the sugar and twice the vanilla) and a chocolate pecan pie in a pecan crust.

It's just the two of us but I give away a pecan pie to the people who take care of the farm. If the chocolate pecan pie is good, I may bake that to give away next year.

I've cut up the vegetables for the dressing (so I could use the trimmings inside the turkey to flavor it) and assembled the ingredients for the rest of the meal.

We're having:
Turkey with dressing, mushroom gravy, cheddar corn spoonbread, green peas, and cheddar biscuits - and of course the chocolate pecan pie. Yeah, way too many carbs so we'll have to stretch out the leftovers, but I don't indulge myself very often this way.

A lot of the leftovers will be frozen so we can have turkey dinners throughout the year.

[Retrograde]

6. Think of it as planning ahead rather than reheating

I made the cornbread for the stuffing on Monday since it needs to dry out well before going into the turkey after it's mixed with massive amounts of butter, onions, celery and sage (yes, I put my stuffing inside the bird: what I don't do is let it sit there after the turkey comes out of the oven). Tonight I'll make a cranberry relish and defrost the Brussels sprouts I froze earlier. I'm still debating about what - or if - to have for dessert. I'd like a traditional pumpkin pie, but that's too much for just 2 people.

I swear Thanksgiving dinners are easier to do for 8 to 10 - or even 20+ people - than for two!

[japple]

7. My sister and I did our contribution to the family feast today. She made a Blueberry Lemon Tart

and I made 3 lime pies (at the request of family members.) I will make a big pan of mac & cheese tomorrow, also requested by family members. Nephew is deep frying the turkey, which I'm not crazy about, but at least we will have a turkey. I think my brother is making dressing. Dinner will be served at my niece's house which is next door. We are not in the bubble with anyone else in the family, so we will just go thru early (wearing masks) before everyone else, fill our plates, and come back home to eat.

My brother, SIL, niece and her husband and kids all had Covid back in April and it was horrible for my brother and his wife, though they both seem okay now. The others had milder cases and recovered fairly quickly. My nephew and his SO & children have not had Covid and they will also be there but I have every reason to avoid them as he is an anti-masker and they are all out in the public every day.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the C & B group. I hope you all have a lovely day.

[yewberry]

8. Just two of us also.

"Roast" is in the fridge defrosting. Mashed potatoes are done, cranberry chutney is done, husband is halfway through making killer vegan gravy. All the chopping for stuffing is done, so I just have to make that, throw the "roast" in the oven and make the poached pears for dessert.

Also stuffed poblano and guacamole for tonight done. Now just chilling.

Usually I'm at brother's house in Boston, prepping up a storm for 30 guests.