Ideas for a "weather dependent" Thanksgiving 2020?

Question

Hi hounders! 2020 has thrown a curveball to everything, even my normal Thanksgiving routine. I was hoping to pick your genius brains about a dilemma that social gathering during coronavirus has presented.

My in-laws decided that they would be comfortable getting together to celebrate Thanksgiving but only if it could be held outside. They picked the Saturday before Thanksgiving as a possible date with the Thursday of Thanksgiving being the next date if the weather is bad. 

Normally, I follow a schedule and thaw a turkey. This year, with the celebration potentially being 5 days apart, what are some of your ideas to be able to pull out of the freezer and prepare the night before a party? They don't have to be traditional Thanksgiving food but I do have two family members with celiacs disease so gluten-free is a plus.

Thank you in advance for help☺️

Answer

Cook your turkey Friday, Slice and refrigerate it for a Saturday gentle reheat (with broth), Freeze it Saturday if instead it needs to be held until Thursday, move it back to the fridge Wednesday night.

Answer

These polenta (cornmeal), corn and cheese stuffed red peppers are a filling and festive-looking side. Can easily be made night-before, baked day of. Note there's a typo in the recipe -- correct cornmeal to water ratio should be 1:2 so use 1 1/2 C. cornmeal for 3 C. water if making a full recipe. https://www.marthastewart.com/318917/polenta-stuffed-peppers

Answer

We're normally attending a family potluck, during my busiest time of the year ... so I make dishes ahead of time / to hold. These are pretty great:
https://www.seriouseats.com/roundups/20-make-ahead-thanksgiving-dishes-that-travel-well

https://www.bonappetit.com/recipes/quick-recipes/slideshow/thanksgiving-recipes-you-can-make-ahead

Just mashed potatoes:
https://www.seriouseats.com/2014/11/3-ways-to-make-mashed-potatoes-in-advance-thanksgiving-easy.html

Answer

What about a butternut squash lasagna? I've made a decent lasagna with the Tinkyada brand GF noodles. You could freeze it if you don't end up serving it on Saturday.

We love this one:
https://www.epicurious.com/recipes/food/views/butternut-squash-and-hazelnut-lasagne-105911

We don't include the hazelnuts. To make the bechamel GF, you can use brown rice flour.

Answer

Weather is always a crap shoot, I'd go with items that can be easily held in the refrig just in case you need to delay the event. Another option would be to rent a tent that can be equipped with side walls and interior heaters.

Enjoy your family time, being with family and friends will always surpass food.

Answer

Without knowing what your family expects (my parents would hate this), I would go with a beautiful (big) charcuterie board. Almost everything can be bought ahead and assembled before. Buy everyone separate tongs at the dollar store or make everyone their own prepared ‘box’ ahead of time (individual charcuterie seems to be popular here). Dress the board with festive things like cranberry relish, pumpkin seeds etc. 

I would also do a soup like roasted butternut squash or curried pumpkin (all the ingredients can be done ahead of time) and have a few toppings ready like spicy pumpkin seeds, crumbled bacon, thanksgiving inspired season croutons (gluten free bread) etc. 

If you are set on turkey, I would do it ahead and make turkey banh mi or banh mi Thanksgiving inspired rice bowls (maybe mashed potato bowls?)

Answer

We are possibly doing the same - gathering outdoors under a big pavilion in my brother's backyard (5-ish people.) He has a grill, a smoker, a real fireplace in the pavilion, and a large electric heater (like they have at restaurants.) 

I think it's likely we'll grill something like steaks or he'll smoke a brisket or ribs - we'll just avoid the holiday traditional food altogether - and I'll supply a couple of sides that can either be kept warm in the smoker (baked potatoes) or served room temp.

Or, we might order pizza and eat it by the fire :)

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Ideas for a "weather dependent" Thanksgiving 2020?

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