Holidays are going to look very different this year with social distancing and significantly smaller gatherings. As someone who has lived away from home for a while, I’m used to solo (or small) celebrations. While I’ve never missed a Christmas (check on me next month this time), I never go home for Thanksgiving because the ticket prices are always out of hand. The holidays are usually so hectic and I’ve come to really enjoy a quiet Thanksgiving. Here are a few tips for making the most of a small holiday:
- Make your favorites: Of course on any family table there are one or two things you could do without. Focus on making the very best version of your favorites and skip the rest. To be honest, I’m not a big carnivore. I could truly live without turkey and haven’t had a bite of ham in over a decade, so I fry fish. I rarely fry food so I treat myself to fried fish over the holidays.
- Remix the classics: I love to take the opportunity to try something a bit different – a twist on the classics.
- For greens, I opt for the Kitchenista’s Coconut Braised Collards. They are just SO good.
- Instead of candied yams, I go with Chef Resha’s Roasted Sweet Potatoes with Savory Cider Caramel. I literally also want to swim in the caramel. Just YUM.
- I make my own Warm Potato Salad with a vinaigrette instead of mayo. I add a ton of Kalamata Olives because they are also a favorite.
- Drink up: I always make a nice signature cocktail for dinner and cooking. I opt for a holiday sangria with apples, pears, cinnamon, pomegranates and repurpose the leftover cider from the Cider Caramel. Other ideas for a signature cocktail include:
- Holiday mule with vodka, pomegranate / cranberry juice, and ginger beer
- Cranberry martini, or even a Cosmo. You could use a little homemade cranberry sauce as a garnish or mix in.
- Portion control: Not you – eat what you want. But it can be tricky to cut recipes, especially when baking.
- I know, I know, baking is a science. Blah blah. Just look at the number of eggs from the recipe and cut the recipe from there. 2 or 4 eggs and you can easily cut it in half – 3 and its thirds. This Hummingbird Cake is perfect for dividing into thirds.
- Another dessert hack – use cupcake tins. You can use them for cheesecake and even pie. This way you can have variety with your dessert without make whole cakes or pies.
- For your turkey – If you don’t want to make a whole bird, turkey parts are just as yummy. Turkey thighs almost taste like pot roast when its braised. I also love a wing smothered in a mushroom gravy.
- Store bought is fine: Chile, any grocery store worth a damn will have a good roasted chicken and decent sides. You can make what you like and buy the rest. If it’s good enough for Queen Ina, its good enough for you. You can add a little dazzle dazzle to the sides to make it feel less store-bought.
- I always buy my bread option. Parkerhouse rolls are my favorite and I simply cannot be bothered with making bread from scratch.
The most important thing to do this holiday season is to do the best you can and enjoy! Don’t put any pressure on yourself. Whatever you chose, MAKE IT ENOUGH!