“Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” Rumi
Hi there,
It is very interesting to me that my contributors to this Thanksgiving Edition have submitted recipes for small Thanksgiving dinners. All year I have been reading about ways the Pandemic has changed us, and I suppose this is another example of that change. It seems we are very content with smaller, more intimate gatherings.
What follows is my friend, Helen Fern, http://www.lazygastronome.com, recipe for Thanksgiving for two.
Thanksgiving for Two
Posted on November 23, 2020 by HelenFern
This year many families are going low-key for Thanksgiving.
This nasty pandemic is putting a damper on the normal Thanksgiving get togethers. Typically my husband and I go to my niece’s home with the rest of the family – my sister and her husband, my niece’s family, my brother, my grandson and his girlfriend and anyone else we can find to bring. It’s a loud and wild event, and we have a lot of fun and eat too much. And everyone gets a little turkey to take home for sandwiches later. But, not this year.
This year my grandson will stay home with his mom and sister. My niece will have her mom and dad (my sister and brother-in-law), and my brother will be home with his roommate. And my husband and I will celebrate alone. But we intend to enjoy it!
We’ll stay in our PJ’s most of the day. No chores except cleaning up after ourselves allowed. And we’ll even have a Thanksgiving meal – with enough leftovers for sandwiches!
Here’s How to Do it:
Let’s start with the turkey. Just two big turkey thighs will produce enough drippings for gravy and enough meat for two plus sandwiches later! Like lots of leftovers? Use four turkey thighs!
In a small bowl, mix together the spices and rub the turkey on all sides. Let it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator for about four hours or overnight.
Make the cranberries the night before too. Simply mix everything together and refrigerate. Easy!
Mix the garlic and sea salt with the butter and rub the skin gently with it. Place the thighs, skin side up, in a roasting pan and bake at 350° for about 1-1/2 hours.
The skin should be crispy and brown.
Let it sit for five minutes or so
and carve the meat off the bone.
Side dishes? We used stove top cornbread stuffing with some sautéd onions and pork sausage. Of course, there were mashed potatoes and gravy from the pan drippings. Add all the condiments you like and enjoy a downsized Thanksgiving meal.
And later, the sandwiches!!
© Copyright 2020 The Lazy Gastronome
Servings: 2 people
Author: HelenFern
Ingredients
Turkey Thighs
- 2 large Turkey thighs or a turkey breast
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
Cranberries
- 1 14oz can whole cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon raspberry balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon chopped walnuts
Instructions
- Let’s start with the turkey. Just two big turkey thighs will produce enough drippings for gravy and enough meat for two plus sandwiches later! Like lots of leftovers? Use four turkey thighs!
- In a small bowl, mix together the spices and rub the turkey on all sides. Let it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator for about four hours or overnight.
- Make the cranberries the night before too. Simply mix everything together and refrigerate. Easy!
- Mix the garlic and sea salt with the butter and rub the skin gently with it. Place the thighs, skin side up, in a roasting pan and bake at 350° for about 1-1/2 hours.
- The skin should be crispy and brown.
- Let it sit for five minutes or so and carve the meat off the bone.
- Side dishes? We used stove top cornbread stuffing with some sautéd onions and pork sausage. Of course there were mashed potatoes and gravy from the pan drippings. Add all the condiments you like and enjoy a downsized Thanksgiving meal.
- And later, the sandwiches!!
Recipe Notes
© Copyright 2020 The Lazy Gastronome
Thank you, Helen, for allowing me to use this wonderful post, and I hope everyone will stop over and become readers of Helen’s posts at http://lazygastronome.com.
30 responses to “NEW CLASSIC RECIPE – THANKSGIVING EDITION”
The skin looks so crispy and irresistible!
GM Angie, I agree. And, after the stuffing, crispy skin is my favorite part of the meal. Thanks for reading.
There will be two at our house as well so I appreciated reading your recipes. Thanks for sharing.
You are so very welcome Judy. Thanks for stopping by.
Perfect for a small group. I will save this for Christmas. Thanks.
Thanks Darlene. I am sure Helen will be flattered.
It’s all about the skin!
For sure!
What a good idea to cook turkey thighs, I bet they are very flavorful!
Thanks Jenna. I have all but given up the breast meat.
💜 I AM DROOLING!!! like Homer Simpson
…💛💚💙…
You always make me smile.
[…] NEW CLASSIC RECIPE – THANKSGIVING EDITION […]
Thank you again and again Yernasia.
💜 YOU!!! ARE Most Welcome 🙏🏿 🤗 ☺️ 😊 🙌 😀 🙏🏿
…💛💚💙…
I think it’s true for so many people, scaling down the Thanksgiving meal, even after the so-called worst of COVID is behind us. It’s kind of sad to see the shift become more permanent, but it does allow for more meaningful conversation with a smaller group of guests. I like Helen’s approach to this simple yet traditional meal. I’ve always liked the dark meat of the turkey the best.
I like the idea of a more intimate table. So many opportunities to have a meaningful conversation are lost when there is a crowd. Thanks Terrie for your insight.
Using turkey thighs is a wonderful idea. It looks so very tasty. Love the crispy skin! Thank you Helen for sharing. 🙂
Thank you Ronit. I do think, for me, it is all about that crispy skin.
This looks like a wonderful way to celebrate Thanksgiving for two.
What a good-looking meal. Thanks for this – and your blog post itself is so inviting and warm and lovely. Just like you! Happy Thanksgiving. The Rumi quote is perfect. <3
Oh, you are so very nice. Sending you lots of hugs and happiness this Thanksgiving.
<3
Liked – “Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.” Rumi
last year we spent christmas on our own (me and hubby) and this year will be the same. a chicken sandwich sitting on our deck. I refer to christmas as we don’t have thanksgiving here in Aus. :=)
Sherry, as long as there was a glass of wine involved, this would be a perfect Holiday dinner.
Such a great idea to make dinner for two. It sounds like the perfect Thanksgiving meal Bernadette.
I hadn’t noticed how much smaller our Thanksgiving gatherings have become, Bernadette, but it’s true. This year will be a small crew – my daughter’s family will join us. I miss the giant celebrations with all the card tables set up around the room, but this will be fun … and less work. The turkey rub and cranberry sauce recipe sounds wonderful (we eat leftover cranberry sauce on ice cream!). 😀
Richard and I may have Christmas Day on our own this year with family here just before and after. i will save this post just incase. PS – I totally should not have opened it when I was hungry. Too late!
You are too funny. Please have a wonderful Thanksgiving. And, the dessert is so light, you could eat it for breakfast.