For many college students, Thanksgiving is a much-needed break to head home to the comfort of family and homemade cooking, but some unlucky students remain stuck in their dorms, unable to partake in a traditional turkey day. The first thing that comes to mind when you think of Thanksgiving is, naturally, food. It’s hard to prepare a turkey with all the fixings when all you’ve really ever attempted is microwavable dishes. Here are a few simple recipes that you’ll be happy to gobble down: Cut your turkey down to size: Instead of shoving a full-sized turkey into your common-room oven, downsizing your meat portion to turkey cutlets. Sprinkle some garlic powder, pepper or other seasonings of your choice, and set the slices into a frying pan. Cook for about ten minutes until the inside has a white coloring. Mix and Mash: Potatoes are simple. All you need is a pot and a potato masher. Cut up the potatoes and place them in a pot full of water. When the water begins to boil, drain the liquid. Then it’s time to mash, which not only will make this dish melt-in-your-mouth smooth, but it is a great way to take out some anger of making these yourself. After that, just add some butter. (More is always better). Practically Pumpkin in Every Way: Don’t settle for a store bought box. Snag a Pillsbury pie crust and make your own pumpkin filling. Here’s what you’ll need:
1 cup of canned pumpkin
1 egg
½ cup of half and half
½ cup of granulated sugar
1½ teaspoons of pumpkin pie spice
After pre-heating the oven to 450 degrees, place the pie crust inside. Bake for about 13-15 minutes. Then plop the pumpkin mixture into the partially cooked pie, and let it bake for another 30-35 minutes. Soon you’ll have the pie you’ve had your heart set on. Don’t forget to plan post-meal activities: Food is fantastic, but it tends to disappear faster than one would like. So it can’t be the only thing you have on your to-do list. Throw a holiday-themed movie marathon:What is better than binge watching movies on Netflix when on break from your studies? Nothing much comes to mind. Get yourself into the seasonal spirit with “Planes, Trains and Automobiles,” “Home for the Holidays” and since your feeling a little mopey, “A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving.” You may just find yourself thankful to have some peace and quiet far away from your family. Get some exercise: After not leaving your futon or bed during this movie marathon, it’s the perfect time to sign up for a 5K run. Most areas have a “Turkey Trot” in some form. It will get you moving and interacting with other people while being able to burn off some of the calories you’ve consumed. It’s a win-win. Be a Tourist: Explore the territory off-campus. There are probably historical sites and other attractions in your area that you’ve never noticed or simply brushed off. Now is the time to take yourself on a mini-adventure. Safe travels. Give back to the community:The story of Thanksgiving is one of generosity and sharing, so what better way to celebrate than with some volunteer work. Visit your campus community service office to see if there is a trip to a local soup kitchen scheduled for the weekend.
Host a great Thanksgiving dinner from your dorm
