Millions of Americans are wondering how to deal with myriad draconian COVID rules this Thanksgiving. From no singing to wearing masks between bites, the Centers for Disease Control and power-hungry governors are teaming up to make Thanksgiving 2020 a dull and dreary event. But with all the rules and regulations may come new and unexpected freedoms.
Please Pass Aunt Thelma's Jell-O
Such as it is, a creative cook can look at this as an opportunity to forego the old family traditions and go bold in the kitchen. What do we mean?
Forget having to serve Aunt Thelma's awful green Jell-O mold or Cousin Jimmy's fried turkey that tastes as if it came out of a McDonald's deep fryer. Then there's your sister-in-law's sweet potato casserole topped with enough Fluffer-Nutter to make your teeth chatter. You know you have to put some on your plate, or she'll be insulted. But after gingerly dishing out a small spoonful, you glance over to see her scowl and quickly add another helping to your already overflowing plate. When she rewards you with a smile, you can't help but understand why she struggles so with her weight.
A smaller, more intimate Thanksgiving could mean renewed liberty to march to the beat of your own drummer, sans the family traditions that you've had to endure for years; Make what you like, try out a few new recipes, or perhaps even enjoy the holiday instead of suffering through it.
Freedom in the kitchen is only one of the potential newfound liberties that may be lurking around the corner for you this Thanksgiving. Imagine not having to listen to boorish Uncle Fred waxing about the joys of being a Democrat? You won't have to listen to all the lefties at your table extolling the virtues of AOC or the "president-elect." The liberty of not having to endure all this political chatter could be life-changing. Perhaps the new tradition of a small Thanksgiving will be so liberating that you'll want to make it a new annual ritual?
Cough, cough, sneeze, sneeze – so sorry I can't have ya'll over this year.
Fire Up Your Imagination
Back to the kitchen: If you're dead set on turkey, you might try a Turkey Pot Pie this year with a fluffy golden crust and smooth, creamy gravy to give that bird a moist new spin. How about stuffing muffins instead of a dry bread stuffing casserole as long as your arm? Some traditions could remain – maybe you'll want to add that favorite whipped potato recipe that your mom has perfected over the decades, but this year you won't have to peel two bags of potatoes. Finish your new bold menu with mini pumpkin tarts and poof – you could be staring at a Thanksgiving feast to remember.
The possibilities for a liberating Thanksgiving are endless, depending on your perspective. Below are a few recipes that we've culled together for you to consider when planning a menu:
Thanksgiving Turkey Pot Pie recipe found here.
Amy Lee's Whipped Potato recipe can be found here.
Stuffing Muffins can be found here.
Mini Pumpkin Pie Tarts recipe can be found here.
Our final thought for the day comes from the greatest of Thanksgiving guests called Anonymous: "It's not what happens to you, but how you react to it that matters."
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Read more from Leesa K. Donner.
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