The Recipe for a Zen Thanksgiving

So we're celebrating quietly at home this holiday season...this is a good thing (fewer awkward family moments) and a bad thing (we can't share the cooking across family members and multiple household kitchens). But we still want the whole Thanksgiving shebang!

This means we are in charge of ALL of the cooking, but for fewer people. We've done it before. Everything comes from a small kitchen...all 6 courses: appetizers, soup, mains, dessert, cheese, coffee. Just because it’s a smaller crowd, it's not a smaller effort.

Holidays are supposed to be fun. This is why you should treat yourself first--with a really good breakfast or coffee. After that, we'll start cooking! The keys to making this special is doing as much as possible ahead of time or picking it up from your favorite shop.

Here are the super-secret menu and super-secret sources we usually don't tell the relatives. 

Thanksgiving 2020:

Appetizer: Caprese salad skewers. Super-simple and delicious. cherry tomatoes, fresh basil, ciliegine mozzarella, tooth-picked together and drizzled with olive oil, salt, and balsamic vinegar. Quick, easy, and the kids can help.

Soup & Bread: If we don't have "liquid autumn soup" from The Inn at Little Washington at Thanksgiving, it's just not a holiday. Apples, squash, rutabaga, onion, maple syrup, cream...it's a whole to-do, but can be done days in advance and is soooooo worth the effort. https://theinnatlittlewashington.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/Recipe_Apple-Rutabga-Soup.pdf

Easiest bread you'll ever make: https://www.gimmesomeoven.com/no-knead-bread/

Mains: This is where we put in the effort. Turkey, of course. Mashed potatoes. Gravy. Dressing. Haricots verts (or something green-it could be anything). Cranberry sauce (made ahead, or more realistically, out of a can). More bread. We've been known to add Mac & Cheese and sweet potatoes to this, but 2020 is not forgiving, so unless it's important to someone, forget it. It's just not happening. We can have Mac & Cheese on Saturday.

Dessert: Pie, made by your favorite deli/bakery. Whipped cream/ice cream. We're whipping in advance. It keeps easily overnight.

Cheese: This is our favorite course and we pull out all the stops. Easy and delicious. Plate and forget. This year is all about the goat. Humboldt Fog. Goat Gouda. Montchevre Goat Milk Cheddar. Super-simple but elegant store-bought crackers and a little fruit and nuts. (Insert family joke here.)

Coffee: Get out that espresso maker or French Press sitting in your cupboard. We suggest decaf and pretty cups. Tiny chocolates add extra sophistication. Why ignore the extra bling just because you're not showing off to the in-laws? Cherish that decadence!

So really, you can do everything ahead except the turkey, mashed, gravy, dressing and green beans. That menu is manageable and leaves plenty of time for fun. Also, this is the perfect dress rehearsal for next year, so if you have any daring dishes, try them out in 2020. It's all about making the best out of a weird year.

Looking for the East Coast authority? https://cooking.nytimes.com/thanksgiving

Looking for the West Coast authority? https://www.latimes.com/people/ben-mims