Thanksgiving hysteria: Get it grip, it’s only 1 meal

While most of you will have had your turkey feast by the time you’re reading this, I’m writing this on the Monday before Thanksgiving, so bare with me. Although I catered a big party on Sunday in Teaneck, and was pretty busy the last week, I was still privy to all the food hysteria around me. People in the supermarkets, on radio and on TV have all been talking turkey.

Really? Come on now, people in the kosher supermarkets that I overheard, are you really panicking? Not Long ago, for three weeks almost in a row, you shopped and prepared for three, three day holidays. That would be six festive meals each week, with Yom Tov-Shabbat combinations making it especially hard. Before that was Shavuot and before that Passover.

And for those who went away, you had to eat all those meals so it was sort of tough on you, too (we understand, no worries). 

So why, when all you have to do is prepare one meal, is there such hysteria and planning going on. It’s one meal, for heavens sake, and you don’t even have to overthink the menu — it’s pretty much the same as it was when the pilgrims shared it with Indians.

The only issue I have is whether to prepare the bird the traditional way or try a recipe my friend Ellen Finkelstein swears by. Just slather the turkey with Crisco (more calories than I eat in a week) and Kitchen Bouquet, place it in a huge paper bag and staple it shut. No basting no checking, nothing. 20 minutes per pound up to 4 hours, not more. Sounds easy, right. I don’t know, Crisco, paper bag high heat — that just sounds like a fire in my oven waiting to happen ala I Love Lucy, but I tell you, I’m tempted. And since I’ve exhausted all my “Jerry” stories, I just might try it, so I can tell you about my turkey adventure.

While on the subject of Thanksgiving, let’s talk Black Friday. There was a time when the sales actually started on Friday, in the wee morning hours the day after Thanksgiving.

I have a friend who actually got up and was at Toys R Us to buy all the birthday gifts for her three kids to bring to each and every birthday party they went to. We all chuckled, but in honesty she paid a quarter of what the rest of us ended up paying throughout the year. 

Thanksgiving wishes