Thanksgiving for Two: Make it a Party!

This post was written during the COVID pandemic.

If the kids aren’t coming for Thanksgiving because of COVID concerns, you might be tempted to skip the holiday. However, I think you should go ahead with Thanksgiving for two. Just keep it simple.

For example, Thanksgiving isn’t complete without stuffing (or dressing). An easy choice is a cornbread stuffing with sausage, prunes and pecans. In fact, ours takes just about a half hour to make. And it’s delicious!

Meanwhile, roast a turkey breast, a whole chicken, or chicken thighs. When served with the stuffing, you have a Thanksgiving feast.

The Featured Recipe

Harvest Stuffing

• 1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter
• 1/2 pound reduced-fat pork sausage meat
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 1 1/2 cups (about 9 ounces) chopped prunes
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans, toasted
• 1/4 cup chopped parsley
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme leaves
• 1 teaspoon ground sage
• 1 1/4 cups chicken broth
• 1/4 cup dry sherry
• 1 box (6 ounces) cornbread stuffing mix (about 2 1/4 cups)

In large saucepan, heat butter over medium-high heat until melted. Add sausage and cook for 1 minute, breaking up the meat; then mix in the onion and cook 1 minute more, stirring and continuing to crumble the meat.

Next, put the prunes, pecans, parsley, thyme and sage in the skillet; cook and stir 5 minutes or until onion is translucent and meat is browned. Pour in the broth and sherry; bring to a boil. Reduce heat; cover and simmer 5 minutes.

Finally, stir in stuffing mix until moistened. Cover; let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Makes 8 servings.

Recipe adapted from the California Prune Board, my client many years ago.

Notes:

• You can cut back on the prunes, if you want a less-sweet stuffing.
• Of course, eight servings is a lot of stuffing. Actually, I like having the leftovers. However, if you don’t, you can easily cut the recipe in half or freeze the remainder for another time.

Now round out the meal with some buttered green beans and a salad, and call it a day.

If you’re doing a zoom Thanksgiving with the family, play fun Thanksgiving family games.

But don’t forget to plan for dessert. You could order a pie from the bakery. Or pick up some pumpkin ice cream from the supermarket.

Finishing Touches

And to finish, set a nice table. Ordinarily, with company coming, that would have been my first priority. Use the good china. Remember, there are fewer dishes to hand-wash when there are only two people, and it will make a simple dinner feel like a party.

Consider the elements I gathered for my Thanksgiving table last year, for example. It’s a collection of pumpkins, squashes, fresh fruits and Indian corn that I used for my table centerpiece.

While Thanksgiving is a time that’s beloved for family gatherings, if you can’t be together this year, then at least treat yourself to a tasty, home-cooked dinner. And most importantly, remind yourself, that by sacrificing now, we can all look forward to better Thanksgivings in the years ahead.

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