How to Celebrate Thanksgiving in a Pandemic

Things are different now. Change has happened, recognize and embrace it. Now is your opportunity to be creative with Thanksgiving. Try something new this year! Afterall, it’s 2020 – ditch the traditions and enjoy spicy enchiladas (like my family has done for many years alongside our golden turkey)!

DRIVE-BY POTLUCK. Everyone loves a good potluck where you can try a bit of this and then a little bit of that; however, those 20+ hands touching the same spoon for Aunt Mildred's Jell-o Salad isn't the best idea this year. Trying out a drive-by potluck is even better. Here's how:

• Assign recipes to your friends + family ahead of time (that way you don't end up with five mashed potato side dishes)!
• Put your assigned recipe into disposable containers that can be tossed easily. (No one really likes spending hours doing kitchen clean-up and dishes!)
• Each guest then drops off a portion of their dish at others’ homes on doorstep at a specified time before you plan to serve the meal. (It could even be the day before to simply reheat and enjoy!)
• Get others involved, afterall, it's a potluck! Coordinate with local neighbors or family & friends.

It’s a great way to safely share food and minimize waste, especially with larger traditional dishes like casseroles.

OUTDOOR TURKEY TROT. While the traditional Turkey Trot that attracts hundreds and hundreds of runners/walkers each year may not be happening next week, get your immediate household together for an outdoor run or hike! We like going to Good Earth State Park in Sioux Falls for hikes many times throughout the year. There are plenty of other hiking/walking trails around the area. Here my friends from Experience Sioux Falls have put together a great list.

Get out. Get active. Start a new tradition by dressing up with turkey feathers in your hair and go for a run or hike before you gobble down!

RECIPE SWAP + SHOW. Virtually share your own recipes for traditional dishes, desserts, and drinks with friends and family that you would normally bring (unless you want to keep it a secret!). Just like a good old fashioned show + tell.

• My champagne cranberry sauce is one that everyone wants the receipt for – now’s the time to fess up the secret sauce!
• Another fun activity that is a bit like a show + tell would be a Recipe Cook-Off Competition! Have a few family members + friends make the same recipe and show it on Zoom to see which one turned out the best? Pull in a friend or neighbor to be the judge (virtually, of course!). Awards could be for: The Best Looking Side Dish or The Best Plated Turkey. So different. So fun.

PIE + PAJAMAS. This may be one of my most favorites! While you’re home, get comfy. Embrace the PJ’s all day, grab your favorite slice of pie, click on a movie or stream your favorite season of Parenthood. Better yet, start those holiday movies early! Oh, and did you see that I said pie? Now’s your chance to try all of those different kinds of pie that you have always wanted to over the years.

Pie = comfort! Get comfy + get pie = best “new” Thanksgiving holiday tradition! I'd love to hear, what's your favorite pie? Mine is french silk!

A TIME OF THANKS. While we know it has been a difficult season for so many of us, spend some time to pass along the thanks.

Pick up some notecards from any of your favorite local shop, get a variety of them (support your local businesses!) and bring your family together in the morning after breakfast to write handwritten thank you cards to family, friends, small businesses, teachers and health care providers. 

TRIVIA + TURKEY. Now, I'm not talking about trivia about turkey or how you should properly baste your turkey. I'm talking about finding fun printable turkey trivia questions online and share with friends + family members ahead of time, then ask them to join you via Zoom for a fun game of Thanksgiving trivia after you finish your meal.

There are some fun printables that can be found here – share them with all that are joining you via Zoom. Some questions on the trivia cards are:

• What do you say ‘no thank you’ to on the Thanksgiving table?
• What if Thanksgiving were twice a year?
• If you could make one Thanksgiving dish really well, what would it be?

These questions really get your guests thinking and also brings everyone together to learn a bit more about each other!

FRIENDSGIVING CAN STILL GO ON! And last, but certainly not least, Friendsgiving. The photo featured above is from our Friendsgiving two years ago (last year we did a fun Friendsgiving Fiesta) and is a fun tradition that we have. Guess what? Friendsgiving can still go on! Go virtual with it by looking into ordering food from the same local restaurant - together. Pick out a menu, pick up the food and all enjoy the same meal together. Better yet, you could even share the same recipes for everyone to cook in advance. Same meal. Same friends. Then, gather on Zoom to connect and get together and feast!

STAY SAFE. STAY STUFFED. You know that I love a good party with lots of people. But this year, we are not gathering in large groups and choosing to celebrate with my immediate family, those that you’ve been in close contact with already. 

Stay safe. Stay home. Stay stuffed.