Walking through the grocery store you will already notice all the stuff for Thanksgiving is out. Baking supplies. Frozen turkeys. Pumpkins. It may seem awfully early, but it’s time to start planning. Even though we haven’t passed Halloween yet, we have learned that for bachelors, planning is key to having a trouble-free event, no matter what it is. In fact, advanced planning makes shopping, cooking, and even eating easier and healthier.
Bachelors rarely cook a whole turkey. It’s a lot of work for way too much food. If you live alone, don’t be afraid to make something else. Turkey may be traditional, but you’d be better off with something smaller rather than rely on a frozen dinner or one of those processed turkey loaves swimming in salt-laden gravy.
A good choice is just a plain old chicken. You’ll get a few meals out of it and it goes better with a wider variety of side dishes. It’s easier to cook and goes a lot faster.
A duck is also a good choice if you like duck. A little extra care has to be taken to ensure it isn’t dripping with grease, but it’s not that hard.
A goose is something different if you’re having just a few people over. But the same rules as cooking a duck apply. You can usually find geese in the frozen meat area of your grocery.
Another good choice for one is a Cornish game hen. These are just the right size for one, you cook them the same as a chicken and there are no leftovers.
Whatever your choice, remember that this is a holiday for relaxing and enjoying the bounty of the harvest. It’s not the time to stress over cooking or entertaining or even spending a holiday on your own. There’s always football to watch, at least. And don’t think you have to cook a bird. Ham, roast beef, whatever you like is all good.
Plan now and save yourself a lot of trouble later. You’ll also avoid a lot of the crowds. There will be plenty of those during the holiday season.
