Thanksgiving’s A Bit Different

Times sure are different now—back in my day the whole family would get together to celebrate Thanksgiving. This year seems to be a bit different with the CDC giving advice about gatherings and a warning about travel—including a caution for university students.

Food safety tips are still important, even with a smaller crowd at the table. The USDA has shared some at home advice for food safety this Thanksgiving, including tips on thawing the turkey, avoiding cross-contamination, the two-hour rule, and properly storing and reheating leftovers. We can learn a few lessons from our neighbors in Canada about their Thanksgiving last month.

Jayson Lusk (Purdue) provides insights about Thanksgiving food prices, and the American Farm Bureau Federation’s 35th annual survey indicates the average cost of this year’s Thanksgiving feast is down 4%.

This year we’re trading the turkey and ham for a rump roast, multiple pies for a simple dessert, and various side dishes for one or two. In past years the family would arrive mid-morning, then the cousins and some of the parents would find Farm-Opoly, The Game of Life, and Apples to Apples and bring them up from the basement to start playing in different groups. It seemed like as soon as we were getting to the good part of the game, we’d break for Thanksgiving dinner. After a couple of hours sitting at the table, we’d go back to our games and play until we figured out the champion of the game for the year. No matter how we all adjust to this year’s changing times, the CAST staff members wish you a great holiday!

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