Reimagine the season and bring better health to your holidays with Guiding Stars recipes that are easy to make and serve a small, distanced crowd. It takes planning, along with embracing ideas for a COVID-safe gathering and accepting a new take on old traditions. While it may not be the holidays you usually picture, with these ideas and tips, it can still be a season that brings family and friends together, even if while staying six feet apart.
Space-giving
While you may not be able to sit together and savor a traditional meal, you can enjoy festive foods that are easy to eat while gathered around an outdoor heat source or possibly in a broad indoor space.
Starters
Roasted Tomato Soup
Serve a sippable soup that guests can warm up with on a chilly afternoon and easily enjoy while distanced.
View recipe »Mealtime
Bring the flavors of a traditional Thanksgiving meal together with a scrumptious sandwich served on fresh dinner rolls. Begin by blending a bit of cranberry sauce and Guiding Stars rated mayonnaise and top with sliced turkey breast. You can even take it a step further and add a small scoop of stuffing. A thanksgiving meal in the palm of your hand (literally).
Apple, Onion & Cranberry Stuffing
Or go ahead and scoop this stuffing into a muffin tin and adjust to the cooking time to make stuffing muffins!
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Vermont Cheddar Mashed Potatoes
Scoop creamy mashed potatoes into a glass and top with a bit of cheese or more to create a savory parfait.
View recipe »Dessert
Whole pies might not be the soundest plan for sharing dessert. Choose individual options that can be prepared by a masked chef and covered.
Coconut Mango Pudding
Fill individual cups with this better-for-you pudding that you can adjust to your family’s liking and easily enjoy at a distance
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Old-Fashioned Fruit Crumble
Or make this seasonal sweet in separate ramekins for safe serving.
View recipe »Small-giving
Possibly you are seeking to host a distanced, safe, sit-down meal to a small number of guests or family. Here are ten tips for doing it safely:
Test before gathering. Depending on where you live this may be an option, however, keep in mind that a negative test reports on your status that day. Consider quarantining while awaiting results and then again following your test to reduce risk.
Have a table per family. Separate tables are key to hosting family or friends from different households.
Mask up to prep food. Aside from repeat handwashing, plan to prepare foods while wearing a mask, especially for dishes that are served cold.
Pass on the fine china. Use bamboo or recyclable paper goods to minimize contact with used dishes.
Heat on, windows open. I know, it seems so wasteful, but ventilation rules when it comes to indoor gatherings. Likewise, if you have a ceiling fan, change its direction so that it’s sending air up rather than down.
Serve a meal per table. Forget family style serving and provide each table with their own Thanksgiving feast. If this isn’t possible, place hand sanitizer by the buffet so that folks (in masks) can share serving utensils.
Mini pies! Similarly, plan on a petite pie for each table!
Come together safely. With all this eating apart, we need to create ways of bonding and bring family together. Find a way to share your gratitude by giving each family a marker and letting them add to a giant poster in the room or possibly on decorative paper that you can hang.
Identify high-touch spots. Think about places where folks may be gathering, such as at your beverage bar. Spread items out and provide hand sanitizer.
When in doubt, wear a mask. It may not be ideal (then again, is any of this?) but we know it’s the best way to keep loved ones safe. This is especially important for young family members that may not be able to maintain distance.