We’ll Take the Turkey To Go

On the heels of Thanksgiving, our first Big Eatin’ holiday on the road, I’m feeling grateful. We’re camped for the rest of the year at Sun Outdoors Islamorada, and we love it so much that we’re already reserved for next year. We’ve got the ocean, a swoon-worthy pool, great restaurants nearby, and generally happy, good-vibe-y people around us. It feels like vacation. (Doesn’t happen too often, no matter what our social media presence suggests.) Colan’s parents flew in from Pennsylvania to join us, and we all agreed it was a top-tier Thanksgiving. Company willing to fly, rent a car, drive hours, and then be game to rent a fifth wheel to be by us? You know they love you. And they deserve good eating.

For our first road warrior Thanksgiving, I needed to rethink the menu. Why cook an entire turkey for four people (who’d rather not eat turkey)? I want to tell everyone I know and everyone they know (and then, if you could tell everyone you know) about Thanksgiving Turkey and Stuffing Meatballs over Gravy. Google yourself a recipe, and then don’t ever look back. All of Thanksgiving's comfort and traditional tastes in an infinitely more exciting and tasty delivery system. Plus, it’s ultimately one-pot (I cooked outside with my trusty portable induction burner) and can be kept warm in a crock pot. (We even, enthusiastically no less, ate the leftovers, and Colan and I LOATHE leftovers of the nonpizza variety). Mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce made days earlier, a few quick-cooking veggie sides, and a full spread was born. None of us can even talk about the freshly baked rolls without risking a fugue state. (Getting pool dips between proofing stages definitely added to their sublime-ness.)

Setting a special table is the other big key, maybe just as important. You aren’t going to believe me, but our compostable, disposable plates and bowls looked fancy stacked the right way (with a real cloth napkin on top to ensure they didn’t blow away, hah!) under the glow of candlelight. I’m telling you, I got that table looking fun-formal. Is that a thing? It should be. (I wish I had gotten good pictures, but I was too busy losing my mind in the final stretch of my stress-free Thanksgiving game plan.) The table, the food, the people— it all felt extraordinary—eating under the stars and sharing our new life with people we love. Drinks and digesting around the bonfire before dessert certainly didn’t hurt.

I hope you and yours had a wonderful holiday or, at the very least, got through it with no lasting grievances, rifts, or black eyes. (Which could be win enough!) And if the thought of hosting from an RV seems impossible, maybe rethink what hosting a holiday looks like. It’s impressive what can be done with so little. And a husband who helps wash the dishes (even the pots that need a soak and elbow grease!) makes virtually any meal possible. Find or borrow one of those, if you can. (But not mine; He’s busy washing dishes.)

Hope to see you out there! -CL