What are you doing for Thanksgiving?
Tom is asking for a friend. Also, some Santa Fe tips, and a deep, but not dark secret. . .
(Tom is very concerned about your menu choices for Thanksgiving this year!)
Next Thursday is Thanksgiving—probably my favorite holiday. This is the one day of the year focused on counting the blessings in your life and sitting down with your family and closest friends to enjoy good food and good wine. It was the last American holiday to succumb to commercialization.
It can also be incredibly stressful for the hostess or host, as it involves preparing large amounts of wildly different kinds of foods, including roasting a large beast; coordinating the side dishes and desserts brought by family members; deepcleaning the house for the overnight arrival of guests; and making sure all of the prep work is completed by the appointed hour.
I ask you: Is it really a holiday worth enjoying if the hostess is a sweaty, exhausted mess in a sweatsuit spotted with gravy and cranberries? Of course not! That’s why after many years of experimenting with all manner of Thanksgiving feasts, from wildly untraditional vegetarian lasagna to slightly offbeat Cornish game hens, and even some stabs at the Great Roast Beast, I have become an advocate for a less-is-more approach to the day. A simple, but high-quality main dish, a carb-rich side dish that can do double-duty as a gravy receptacle, a fresh green side dish or salad, and your family’s version of one of the traditional desserts will not only result in comfortable satiety, but in a hostess who can relax and enjoy the day without worrying about having to take on the role of culinary field marshal summoning the troops to the table.
There are several ways to destress the menu and meal-planning. A complete list of local options can be found at Santa Fe Foodies NM:
Order the whole meal from a local deli, grocery store, or catering shop. This is expensive, but convenient—but you won’t enjoy that creative satisfaction that comes from cooking at home.
Order a roast turkey or turkey breast from your favorite deli or catering shop, and prepare your family’s own favorite side dishes. This choice removes the stress of trying to get the turkey done just right, but you still get to enjoy your own family traditions. (This is also the most effective way to take Thanksgiving to elderly relatives! Just don’t mention the turkey was boughten. 🤫😉)
Roast some Cornish game hens, alias “baby turkeys”. Much easier to roast than a massive turkey, and ideal for a small gathering. Better yet, get the household grill master to cook the birds for you.
But my favorite option after years of experimentation? Grill some bison steaks, and make a pilaf or salad featuring wild rice. Both bison and wild rice are foods native to the North American continent, so you can be both traditional and new-wave at the same time. 🙌
Our plans are slightly different, and more nerve-wracking, this year. We’ll be having some old college friends and their adult son to dinner. We are really looking forward to this get-together, as they have just moved back to New Mexico, and we are excited to welcome them and looking forward to more good times together ahead . They have generously offered to bring their family-recipe yeast rolls, mashed potatoes, and green bean & Hatch chile casserole to add to the table. They’ll even be bringing their famous secret-recipe pumpkin Whoopie pies with maple buttercream filling! Wow. I timidly asked if they would enjoy bison filets instead of turkey. They were—not disappointed, but definitely nonplussed. So of course, I offered to do a turkey instead.
Readers—I must confess: At age 61, I have only roasted 3 turkeys in my adult life! If you’re American or Canadian, you will know how unusual that is. I placed an order with local butcher Beck & Bulow for pick-up next Tuesday. I’m more than a bit nervous—wish me luck! If you have any tips for wrangling the Great Roast Beast, please leave a comment.
You always make me want to visit Santa Fe with your recommendations and stories! I’ve been once on a solo road trip and just loved it but didn’t get to explore as many restaurants as I would’ve liked. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
I also have never roasted a turkey! I am right where you are at regarding less stress making for holiday times.