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Like so much else about our new normal, Thanksgiving 2020 will be different. We’ll still be gathering together to enjoy the holiday with friends and family, but we’ll need to think about protecting ourselves and others from COVID-19. The CDC recommends lower risk activities, such as hosting a small dinner with people who live in our household, having a virtual dinner party over Zoom or Facetime, or socially distanced dining outdoors (if weather permits).
Dr. Anthony Fauci has chosen to celebrate Thanksgiving safely with his wife at home, and his three daughters will join them virtually. “We decided to make it a very, very close family type of thing,” the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told CNN. “That was my decision. I’m not going to criticize people who do it differently, but look at the individual situation in your own family and make a decision that way.”
Even though we may not be travelling across the country to share the holiday with our extended family, classic Thanksgiving traditions will live on — turkeys will still need to be roasted, pumpkin pies will need to be baked, and potatoes will need to be mashed!
So, see what you’ll need out of the staples we’ve listed below — when you organize your menu in advance and have everything on hand for the big day, there’s nothing left for you to do but enjoy it. (Besides the cooking and the cleaning of course.) As Culinary Queen Ina Garten says about Thanksgiving, “It’s my favorite holiday of the year because it’s all about the food.”
And remember, even if this year’s Thanksgiving isn’t what we expected, there’s always something to be grateful for. More than ever before, this Thanksgiving is a time for you to count your blessings and find special ways to make the holiday meaningful for everyone.
Checklist for Thanksgiving: Appetizers and sides
Nothing is worse than running out of something when you’re in the middle of cooking. To make sure your plans are on point and you’re fully prepared and stocked up, here’s a checklist of essential Thanksgiving pantry supplies (based on recommendations from Serious Eats, Rachael Ray and Martha Stewart) to have on hand, so there’s no rushing out for apple pie filling when the turkey just came out of the oven! Remember however, that your mileage will definitely vary. Be sure to adapt this list to your specific menu, your special family traditions, and your dietary needs. Tofurky, anyone?
To begin, here’s a list of essentials to turn out those appetizers and side dishes that everyone loves:
Produce
• Potatoes – fresh or instant mashed
• Cranberries – fresh, frozen or canned
• Veggies – fresh, frozen or canned
• Carrots
• Celery
• Onions
• Garlic
• Shallots
• Fresh herbs
• Sweet potatoes
• Lemons
• Oranges
• Salad – fixings and dressing
Dairy
• Butter or margarine
• Heavy cream
• Whole milk
• Evaporated milk
• Cheese – for appetizer plate
Pantry
• Seasonings – sage, thyme, rosemary, herbes de Provence, bay leaves,
nutmeg, poultry seasoning, etc.
• Flour
• Cornmeal
• Salt
• Pepper
• Sugar – white, brown
• Oil
• Apple cider vinegar
• Olive oil cooking spray
Misc.
• Dinner rolls, cornbread, or biscuits
• Bread
• Marshmallows – for sweet potato casserole
• Mushroom soup – for green bean casserole
• Chips and dip
Checklist for Thanksgiving: Main courses
And it doesn’t have to be turkey!
Every family has its own favorite choice, and turkey isn’t always the star attraction. Other traditional favorites are ham, beef or pork roast or salmon. And sometimes, the centerpiece is never what you’d expect “My Korean mom loves lasagna,” Young C. who runs a preschool in Seattle, Washington earlier told Mom.com. “So, I make her lasagna for Thanksgiving.”
Main course of choice
• Whatever your main course is, make sure to order ahead of time (delivery times are going to be tight because of COVID.) Demand will be especially high for smaller turkeys, because of anticipated smaller gatherings. “If you are looking for a smaller turkey we do recommend you shop early so you have the best selection,” Butterball senior brand manager Rebecca Welch told TODAY.com.
And don’t forget these essentials:
• Stuffing – mix, breadcrumbs, or bread
• Sausage – for stuffing
• Gravy – mix, canned, or stock if you’re making it from scratch
• Broth or stock – chicken or turkey
Checklist for Thanksgiving: Desserts and beverages
Pies and wine — some people think that’s all you need for a complete meal. Here are some things to have in your pantry to keep those partiers happy:
Baking ingredients
• Pie crust
• Pie filling
• Apples
• Cream cheese
• Whipped cream
• Butter
• Canned pumpkin
• Spices – cinnamon, pumpkin pie spice, allspice, clove, etc.
• Sugar – white and brown
• Honey
• Baking soda
• Baking powder
• Flour
• Nuts
• Eggs
• Heavy cream
• Whole milk
• Buttermilk
• Vanilla extract
Non-alchoholic beverages
• Water – still and sparkling
• Juice
• Soda – sugar-free and regular
• Coffee – regular and decaf
• Tea – herb, green and black
• Ice
Alcoholic beverages
• Wine – white, red, rosé
• Champagne – if you’re fancy
• Beer
• Hard cider
• Vodka, gin, bourbon, tequila, etc.
• Cocktail mixers
• Cocktail additions: olives, cherries, salt, limes, lemons, etc.
