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Thanksgiving Meal for Two
Susan Maria's Small & Happy Thanksgiving for Two. Why Not Stay Home Again and Be Thankful!
This Thanksgiving, even though you may have canceled plans for the last few years, you may still feel the need to edit this years holiday. Staying close to home and celebrating your blessings in your immediate bubble is not the end of the world.
We have learned that older people are more vulnerable and will always need to be protected from the world. I feel that holiday life with family and friends has been forever changed.
In 2020, my husband Ty turned eighty one and we had planned on flying the entire family in to celebrate Thanksgiving at our home in Arizona. Well the world imploded in a pandemic, so that did not go well. At the time we knew it was not smart to gather even though we are strong and healthy.
Even if health is not an issue for you, the airlines have not recovered to have ample staff, fight cancelations are crazy, plus prices to fly have doubled. I don't see my flying our family out west until things have stabilized.
Ty and I have not had Covid (knock on wood) and while we are not afraid of getting it, we are definitely more careful and very thoughtful. We happily celebrate Thanksgiving for Two.
I have built a wonderful small meal for just Ty and I that doesn’t produce leftovers for days by choosing dishes that are easy to make in small amounts. There are also food shortages to consider due to supply chain interruptions and lack of people hired to provide services we used to take for granted. The key will be to have FLEXIBILITY. No turkeys in the market? Buy a Pork Roast.
Here is my menu for our big table for two. Even taking into account what the last two years of near isolation has taken from us, we have too many blessings to count. Focus on the positive and you won’t have any space for disappointment.
There are no recipes, just a simple narrative for preparation. You can do it!
Shrimp Cocktail
My favorite protein is old school fancy. I'll arrange poached colossal shrimp over ice on a pretty platter with lemon slices and a dish of homemade cocktail sauce - 1/2 cup ketchup, squeeze of a lemon wedge, 1 tablespoon prepared horseradish (buy the kind thats in the cold section near the smoked salmon in grocery store), a couple drops of Worcestershire, couple shakes of Tabasco. Chill. A lovely nibble with glass of white wine while I cook and we listen to music.
If you cannot find shrimp in your markets, make lobster cocktails! I buy online from Lukes Lobster. It comes flash frozen in one pound packages and is shipped overnight with dry ice from Maine to your door.
