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This year many families are going low key for Thanksgiving.
This nasty pandemic is putting a damper on the normal Thanksgiving get togethers. Typically my husband and I go to my niece’s home with the rest of the family – my sister and her husband, my niece’s family, my brother, my grandson and his girlfriend and anyone else wee can find to bring. It’s a loud and wild event and we have a lot of fun and eat too much. And everyone gets a little turkey to take home for sandwiches later. Bot not this year.
This year my grandson will stay home with his mom and sister. My niece will have her mom and dad (my sister and brother-in-law) and my brother will be home with his room-mate. And my husband and I will celebrate alone. But we intend to enjoy it!
We’ll stay in our PJ’s most of the day. No chores except cleaning up after ourselves allowed. And we’ll even have a Thanksgiving meal – with enough leftover for sandwiches!
Here’s How to Do it:
Let’s start with the turkey. Just two big turkey thighs will produce enough drippings for gravy and enough meat for two plus sandwiches later! Like lots of leftovers? Use four turkey thighs!
In a small bowl, mix together the spices and rub the turkey on all sides. Let it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator for about four hours or overnight.
Make the cranberries the night before too. Simply mix everything together and refrigerate. Easy!
Mix the garlic and sea salt with the butter and rub the skin gently with it. Place the thighs, skin side up, in a roasting pan and bake at 350° for about 1-1/2 hours.
The skin should be crispy and brown.
Let it sit for five minutes or so
and carve the meat off the bone.
Side dishes? We used stove top cornbread stuffing with some sautéd onions and pork sausage. Of course there were mashed potatoes and gravy from the pan drippings. Add all the condiments you like and enjoy a downsized Thanksgiving meal.
And later, the sandwiches!!
© Copyright 2020 The Lazy Gastronome

An easy, downsized Thanksgiving for 2020
- 2 large Turkey thighs or a turkey breast
- 2 teaspoons garlic salt
- 1 teaspoon ground thyme
- 1 teaspoon rubbed sage
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- 1 Tablespoon butter, softened
- 1/2 teaspoon sea salt
- 1 14oz can whole cranberries
- 1/2 teaspoon raspberry balsamic vinegar
- 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
- 1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
- 1 Tablespoon chopped walnuts
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Let's start with the turkey. Just two big turkey thighs will produce enough drippings for gravy and enough meat for two plus sandwiches later! Like lots of leftovers? Use four turkey thighs!
-
In a small bowl, mix together the spices and rub the turkey on all sides. Let it sit, uncovered, in the refrigerator for about four hours or overnight.
-
Make the cranberries the night before too. Simply mix everything together and refrigerate. Easy!
-
Mix the garlic and sea salt with the butter and rub the skin gently with it. Place the thighs, skin side up, in a roasting pan and bake at 350° for about 1-1/2 hours.
-
The skin should be crispy and brown.
-
Let it sit for five minutes or so and carve the meat off the bone.
-
Side dishes? We used stove top cornbread stuffing with some sautéd onions and pork sausage. Of course there were mashed potatoes and gravy from the pan drippings. Add all the condiments you like and enjoy a downsized Thanksgiving meal.
-
And later, the sandwiches!!
© Copyright 2020 The Lazy Gastronome
We were featured on Grammy’s Grid Thanksgiving link up!
Here are some things that are perfect to use for this recipe!
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MAN that looks good! And thanks for reminding me to get peas and a good, dark bread and some lettuce for those sandwiches!
That’s the best party of turkey! LOL – Happy Thanksgiving!
How smart to think ahead and figure out how to make just enough turkey for two!
We knew it was going to be a different kind of thanksgiving. Today I’m making homemade rolls to go with it all too! Happy Thanksgiving to you!
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Thank you for sharing at #OverTheMoon. Pinned and shared. Have a lovely week. I hope to see you at next week’s party too! Please stay safe and healthy. Come party with us at Over The Moon! Catapult your content Over The Moon! @marilyn_lesniak @EclecticRedBarn
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Thanks for stopping by!
One question…is the “pork sausage” like a Jimmy Dean breakfast sausage? Or some other kind of pork sausage?
Last year I ended up ordering a fully cooked Thanksgiving meal from Harp’s…big mistake.
This year I’m doing your Thanksgiving For Two as I should’ve done last year!
Happy Thanksgiving 2021 to you!
Yes – I used a sage pork sausage, but any kind of sausage you like would work. We’ll be doing dinner for four this year. Small and quiet and relaxing. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for stopping by!
It will be my son and I this year with maybe someone stopping by for dessert.
But we will fix everything so there are leftovers but on a smaller scale.
Thanks for sharing on omhgww #285
I hope you have a lovely Thanksgiving Day!
Leftovers are a must! LOL – the best part of Thanksgiving. Thanks for stopping by – Have a wonderful week and happy Thanksgiving!
This will be us this year. Thanks for the ideas on how to “go small” Your dinner plate looks delicious!
Coming from Grammy’s Grid #63 & 64
Thanks Mandy!!And thanks for stopping by – have a wonderful week!
Thanks so much for linking up at the Unlimited Link Party 61. Pinned!
Thanks – I really appreciate how hard you work to make parties so successful.
Visiting again to say thanks so much for linking up at A Themed Linkup 82 for All Things Thanksgiving. Pinned again!
Thanks,
CONGRATS! Your post is FEATURED at A Themed Linkup 83 for Recipes in a Jar from my previous linkup for All Things Thanksgiving.
Awesome!! Thank you! I’m honored and excited!!
Perfect! Again! And possibly again NEXT year! Thank you, Helen. Happy November.
Hope you enjoy it! Happy Thanksgiving!
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Such a wonderful post. There aren’t enough holiday recipes for 2.