The holiday season is one filled with traditions, many of those revolving around food. Think secret family recipes, relatives packed into the kitchen, and dinner seating for twenty. But what do you do when a pandemic takes your loved ones out of the equation?
As of this week, my extended family’s Thanksgiving feast is officially cancelled. As a decidedly “foodie” clan, with certain potluck dishes assigned to individual family members, this puts a big wrench in what has always been a tradition. I’m lucky to have my family healthy and at home this November, a privilege that many others don’t have. However, with Thanksgiving parties out of the picture and Christmas following suit, the diminishing of the Most Wonderful Time of the Year just seems like salt in the wound.
So, what do you do when family dinner traditions aren’t COVID-friendly? You adapt. First off, if quarantine has left you with a lot of time on your hands, it’s time to get cooking. Making your dinner a grand affair not only emulates your usual parties, but it gives you an excuse to still cook the dishes you wait for all year long. This is the perfect time to go all out on your Thanksgiving dinner, right down to the gravy. Is there a family recipe you’ve always wanted to learn? Take the time to perfect it. Consider trading your Stovetop Stuffing in for a big casserole dish of the homemade version. Isn’t a hot plate of favorite comfort foods this year what we all deserve?
To extend the holiday, consider baking in batches: you’ll have delicious Thanksgiving leftovers to take you through Cyber Monday. This is a great option for those dishes that can’t be made in small portions or the desserts that you can’t only have one slice of. Trust me, you’ll be happy Friday afternoon when you have a big bowl of mashed potatoes waiting for you. At my house, one of our favorite traditions is making homemade bread with my grandma’s recipe, using her trusty Universal No. 4 Bread Maker from the 1900s. It’s perfect with a pat of butter or loaded up for a turkey and gravy. This year, with all the extra time, we’re making a bakery’s worth: Thanksgiving sandwiches, anyone?
However, don’t feel like you need to stick completely to tradition. This year, I’m scouring the Internet for those not-your-grandmother’s recipes that put fun twists on old classics. For those of you who are spending Thanksgiving alone or with a small group, take this opportunity to experiment with the holiday stalwarts. If you need some inspiration, take a page out of my dad’s book: make homemade cranberry sauce (it’s easier than you think!) and mix in cinnamon spice and orange zest. It’s the perfect mix of sweet and tangy that will make you come back for seconds.
Even though the holiday season looks different this year, we can still honor long-held Thanksgiving traditions — or create new ones! If food is the center of your usual celebrations and you’re looking at some extra time on your hands during quarantine, it’s time to test your skills in the kitchen.
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