A Tiny Feast

Thanksgiving 2020 was quickly approaching, and I found myself facing a potentially lonely and sad holiday season, too socially distanced from family and friends for comfort.

Still, my mom has always taught me to make the very best of whatever circumstances I find myself in, and I decided Thanksgiving in the time of COVID-19 would be no different. Although it would be a small dinner for two, just for Nathan and I, I was determined to make a delicious and beautiful feast for us.

And feast we did.

The Menu

Planning a holiday menu that is small enough for two, and large enough to include a taste of all the beloved traditional flavors required some research and planning, but let’s be honest: what else was I doing?

Below, you’ll find a roundup of the recipes I used, including Gluten-Free Biscuits, mouth-wateringly saucy Honey Garlic Butter Roasted Carrots, and easy 1-Pot Mashed Potatoes.

For the main dish, I made the Perfect Crockpot Turkey Breast and gravy, which took the pressure off preparing an over-sized turkey that Nathan and I would never be able to finish. I always love a crockpot recipe for its ease, and this 3 pound turkey recipe set us up with just enough leftovers for sandwiches the next day.

We finished things off with my very own Pretty Perfect Pumpkin Pie, which I decorated with an autumnal leaf crust as an act of defiance to any pandemic that would try to convince me that the holiday season can’t still be beautiful.

We may not be able to make the holiday season perfect this year, but when have we ever? Let’s let that idea go, and instead focus on making every moment meaningful, whatever the size of the dinner table.

BONUS: If you’re looking for some cozy tunes to really help set the mood, try my Pumpkin Pie Chai playlist. It pairs perfectly.

Recipe Haul: A Holiday Menu for Two

We weren’t necessarily aiming for a gluten-free meal, but these biscuits from Minimalist Baker are my go-to favorite—and they paired perfectly with gravy. I baked them before I started the vegetables, and gave them a quick warming up before setting them on the table.

I may have been taking a chance by using this recipe without testing, but as it turned, out the first time was the charm. These roasted carrots from Cafe Delites were decadent, which isn’t a word I regularly use to describe veggies, but it’s the only way I can think of to describe their mouth-watering yumminess. I prepared the carrots after baking the biscuits, and gave them a final quick toss in the honey garlic sauce to reheat them right before serving.

Some people crave cranberry sauce. Others dream of thick gravy. As for me, I could take or leave just about any of the traditional holiday tastes, as long as I get my mashed potatoes. I like mine served in a classic style, with plenty of butter and garlic, and that’s just what this Minimalist Baker recipe delivers. There is a vegan option, but since I had plenty of butter and milk on hand, I made them the old-fashioned way, and you can bet I felt nothing but comfort and joy when I dished up a second helping. I started the mashed potatoes once the carrots were in the oven, and kept them warm on the stove until we were ready to dish up.

I love a crockpot recipe, especially if I’m making a big meal. The crockpot does the heavy work and leaves me free to prepare everything else—which is exactly how it happened on Thanksgiving day. I started this turkey recipe from The Recipe Rebel in the morning, and carried on with the rest of my business until it was baked to perfection, five hours later. I’m not a gravy girl, but Nathan could merrily drink the stuff, and this gravy did not disappoint.

Confession: I smiled very proudly when I pulled my pumpkin pie out of the oven. I’d spent the entire afternoon the day before Thanksgiving working the crust into pretty leaves, and it paid off. Turns out, digging into a perfectly baked pumpkin pie, decorated with festive, hand-crafted pie-crust leaves, sparks joy. These days, I’ll take all the joy I can.

And I’ll make all the joy I can. This pie was one method.

Here’s to celebrating the 2020 holiday season with purposeful joy, and honoring our loved ones, however near or far they may be.