Small Scale Holiday Meals

This year has been a rollercoaster ride and the holiday season looks to be no different. Many families are re-thinking their holiday gatherings and making adjustments to accommodate a smaller celebration with just their households. This may seem simple, but if you are used to planning large events, scaling back can actually seem daunting and complicated. With this in mind, I have put together some tips to help you scale back and enjoy the holidays.

Re-think your menu

If you are used to cooking a giant feast with multiple sides, it is time to sit down and refocus. A good rule of thumb is 1 appetizer, 1 vegetable, 1 salad, 1 starch, and 1 dessert choice for 4-6 people. Poll your family and find out what their favorites are and only cook those special items that you really enjoy. Protein selection can also be tricky when serving a smaller group, a 20 lb turkey feeds 14 people, so even with planned leftovers that will be overkill! There are several options to solve this problem though, you can look for a smaller turkey, but I suggest shopping early as I expect they will go quickly this year. Another solution is a turkey breast, or buying pre-cut turkey (usually you can find packages of just legs, thighs, wings, etc) and only buying the parts that your family really enjoys.

Order-In

We all know that restaurants are struggling right now, and I am noticing more than usual are advertising full holiday dinners for carry-out. This year there seems to be a wide variety of options available at all price points. So whether you want fine dining or simple holiday comfort food, bets are that your local restaurants or groceries have a pre-order holiday meal package for you. You do not have to go “all-in” with this option either, you can order the basics of your meal and still cook a few dishes that are special favorites for your family. This just may be the year to take the day off, let someone else do the cooking, and help out a local business! Just be sure to order early and be mindful of your pick-up times.

Go non-traditional

There is no hard and fast rule that it has to be all about turkey and dressing. In fact, many families have discovered this low key holiday option long before the 2020 chaos. Re-think your celebration and instead of the traditional meal cook something that your family loves but you don’t make often because it is time-consuming or complicated. You can even pick a cultural theme and make it a learning experience. The point is spending time together and that does not matter if it is spent with turkey or lasagna the results are the same.

Don’t forget others

Scaling back is hard, I struggle with it even when there are not gathering restrictions, so if you absolutely cannot get your menu pared down then share the love. Let your elderly family members and neighbors know that you plan on cooking for them, then cook your feast and makeup to-go plates for the people on your lists. Make plans to deliver your to-go meals that morning before your family enjoys its meal. If you are so inclined you can even create a Zoom link and have a virtual meal with the recipients. This is a great way to get the whole family involved with the plating and delivering and give back. You may find this becomes a tradition!

No matter how you handle the holidays this year, don’t forget to take a minute to be truly Thankful!