Thanksgiving 2020

 What a year it has been.  Between COVID-19, lockdowns, and an election, I'm exhausted and ready to hibernate for the coming winter.  But before that, I just had to celebrate Thanksgiving.  Let me tell you about the one I had. It was as unusual as 2020 has been!

For several years, I have hosted Thanksgiving dinner for a group of friends; usually about 7 of us gather to eat and chat. I'm the host because one of my favorite things to do is cook Thanksgiving dinner. I enjoy cooking, especially when there are people who enjoy eating it.  As my sister described on the phone yesterday when asked how she was doing "I'm having the time of my life!"  That describes it very well. But this year was not to be like any other. 

Earlier in the season we pondered whether to have Thanksgiving at all.  None of us were willing to be indoors with anyone except family members.  I've been really strict about this since I'm one of those who are compromised health-wise. In the end, we decided that we could get together, but it would have to be outdoors. The weather at the end of November in Albuquerque can be a bit iffy but we figured that if we used a couple of space heaters, a charcoal grill, and a gas grill, plus dressed warmly, we would get by.  Rules were established -- only 2 people in the house at one time, with masks on. We were all set, sort of. 

Two of our group decided that this was too risky for them, so they bowed out. Then a couple of days before Thanksgiving, another of the group reevaluated his status (he's a nurse and while he doesn't treat COVID patients, there is so much COVID at the hospital that he felt he couldn't risk the rest of us getting sick if he unknowingly was infected. You gotta admire and respect that kind of decision.  That left 4 of us. 

About 10 days before the holiday I placed my online grocery order for everything I would need for the dinner, turkey, potatoes, and all the other stuff I didn't have on hand. The grocery store texted me just before I was to pick up my order -- no turkeys, would I like a turkey breast instead.  No thank you, I said.  Then promptly e-mailed all the other guests and told them my predicament; would they please look for turkeys as they did their shopping and let me know.  Kathy found some at Costco that afternoon and called -- 3 or 4 times -- but I didn't hear it because I had left my phone in the car.  So she went ahead and got the smallest turkey they had -- 20 lbs!  At least we had a turkey! But there were going to be a lot of leftovers! 

Since we were eating early in the day (to take advantage of the sun) the turkey would need to go in the oven pretty early in the morning, making it prudent to assemble the stuffing ahead of time.  That was accomplished on Wednesday morning with only one small cut on my finger.

The next job was pie.  One of the guests normally gets one from Costco, but I really like making pie, so this year was able to convince them not to buy one, but let me do it.  They relented!  Pie achieved on Wednesday afternoon. By now I'm feeling pretty pleased with myself and my organization skills! 

Thursday morning dawned early, and by 7 AM my turkey was stuffed and in the oven.  I hadn't thought about just how heavy a 20 lb. turkey might be, but it was a struggle to get it safely in the oven.  

The forecast for the day was sunny and about 55 at midday.  A bit cool, so I gathered some quilts and put them on the backs of chairs just in case they might be needed.  Table set, drink area arranged, potatoes cooked, mashed, and put in a crock pot to keep warm. I'm on a roll!  

About noon, I decided to check how the turkey was coming along (it was supposed to come out of the oven about 12:30 PM) but when I stuck the thermometer in the breast, it sailed way past 160 degrees to almost 180.  That bird was DONE.  I didn't think I would be able to lift it out of the oven safely, so I called Dave (who lives just around the corner) to ask if he could help.  Of course he did!  

By dinner time, it was 60 degrees on the patio, the sun was shining, and we didn't need any space heaters or anything else.  We were out there in shirtsleeves (and fleece vests!). Dinner was lovely, even though I forgot to turn on the surge protector that all the crock pots were plugged into, but the gravy was hot and that made everything OK.  We all had a most delightful time, until the sun went behind the neighbor's house and it began to cool off pretty rapidly. 

 I spent this morning dealing with the leftover turkey.  There is LOTS, even though everyone took plenty home. The carcass is stewed, broth strained, meat removed and saved, and now I'm dreaming of turkey and dumplings, turkey soup, and any other turkey dish I can think of that will feed me through the winter. 

   

Happy holidays, everyone!