Thanksgiving is possibly one of the strangest, yet greatest holidays we celebrate in America. In honor of our nation’s ancestors and founders, we gather around a table, usually not at normal dinner time, to gorge ourselves with enough food for three weeks. We ignore any real reasons that we’re here honoring a turkey and spend the weeks before the feast planning menus and selecting whom to share the meal with. We purposely avoid admitting to the oppression and conflicts between the Pilgrims and Native Americans and instead idolize their relationship and use it as a model for our own.
Aside from the original reason for our gathering, Thanksgiving is a great time to appreciate what you have with your friends and family. As Collegiette’s, we know it’s not always easy to make it home for the holidays and sometimes you wish you could spend this special time with your friends as well as your family. Although, It is possible to enjoy Thanksgiving dinner on campus, with your friends, on a budget and without setting off the smoke detector.
Gobble, gobble!
Cooking a turkey can be difficult, expensive and time consuming.
If you’re not an every day Paula Deen, cooking a chicken is usually a much more manageable task.
A 4-pound chicken is usually suitable for about 5 people (so use that as a base depending on how many people you plan on sharing the meal with.) While pre-heating the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, clean the chicken (inside and out!) spread butter (or olive oil for the more health-conscious) all over the chicken and season with salt and pepper. Once the oven is heated, it will need about an hour to cook, or until all the juices run clear when poked with a fork. Keep in mind, the bigger the chicken the longer it will need to cook.
On the side.
No Thanksgiving feast is complete without a side of stuffing and a mountain of mashed ‘taters.
There is no shame in not wanting to spend hours peeling potatoes so it is completely acceptable to grab a box of instant mashed potatoes. According to Good Housekeeping Magazine, Idahoan Original Mashed Potatoes ($5.29 for 34 servings) is the best quality for price. Betty Crocker Creamy Homestyle Butter Mashed Potatoes ($1.82 for 8 servings) was also on the list of best instant mashed potatoes. A can of gravy is usually a dollar or two and Kraft Stove Top Stuffing mix (about 6 servings per box) is my personal choice for easy, instant stuffing. Canned or frozen vegetables, salads and dinner rolls are an easy way to add variety to the spread and fill up the table.
À la mode.
Cut and bake cookies and frozen pumpkin and apple pies are always crowd pleasers: both easy and delicious.
Oh, and not like it needs to be said but adding ice cream to anything always makes it more enjoyable.
This easy menu and some cute, festive décor (scented candles, cheesy paper turkeys and colorful foliage) can make any college-style Thanksgiving feel just like home.