As it goes closer to Thanksgiving, we realize that the world is not the same place it used to be. Maybe we all need to take a closer look at how we will celebrate this year. The pandemic is still here and celebrations will look very different.
It has been months since many of us have seen our extended family. Some of have not seen elderly parents or other elderly friends. I know my brother and sister-in-law have not seen their daughter or their grandchildren for over a year. While I am grateful I am able to see them, I feel terrible that they have not seen the people who are the closest to them for so long. My brother and Shelley are very close to their grandchildren and are very hands on grandparents. My niece, Leslie and her family live in Connecticut and my brother and Shelley live in Florida. Visiting her parents is not a problem, it’s the length of the quarantine they would have to abide by when they come home. Both her children are in school and can not afford to take the time off from learning (one of their children is in the classroom and not doing remote learning).
I have elderly Aunt’s and Uncle’s that I have not seen since last Thanksgiving. I miss them. Talking on the phone is okay, but I miss having them over for dinner and just being with them.
“Right now, in many areas of the country, COVID-19 rates are starting to surge again,” says Dr. Tina Tan, pediatric infectious disease specialist at the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and professor of pediatrics at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Tan fears that the lure of holiday parties as well as more indoor activity because of the colder weather may result in more illnesses.
Now, although wonderful tradition that is celebrated by people all over the country, the CDC has advised that the festival should be curtailed this year. They recommend that you limit the amount of people who come to your home, as well as checking the amount of COVID-19 cases in your community s as well as where attendees are coming from, and whether they will increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees. Family and friends should consider the number and rate of COVID-19 cases in their community and in the community where they plan to celebrate when considering whether to host or attend a holiday celebration. Here are some other recommendations from the CDC:
Where to gather: indoor gatherings generally pose more risk than outdoor gatherings. Indoor gatherings with poor ventilation pose more risk than those with good ventilation, such as those with open windows or doors.
The duration of the gathering: gatherings that last longer pose more risk than shorter gatherings.
The number of people at the gathering: gatherings with more people pose more risk than gatherings with fewer people. CDC does not have a limit or recommend a specific number of attendees for gatherings. The size of a holiday gathering should be determined based on the ability to reduce or limit contact between attendees, the risk of spread between attendees, and state, local, health and safety laws, rules, and regulations.
The locations the attendees will be traveling from: gatherings with attendees who are traveling from different places pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area. Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, or where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees.
The travel behaviors of the people coming: gatherings with attendees who are traveling from different places pose a higher risk than gatherings with attendees who live in the same area. Higher levels of COVID-19 cases and community spread in the gathering location, or where attendees are coming from, increase the risk of infection and spread among attendees.
Unfortunately for me, I have guests who fall into all of the warnings of the above to think about. Elderly people should not be traveling on a plane, nor risk themselves being exposed to people who are not following guidelines, i.e., teens and young adults. I usually have about 50 or more people. My home is big enough to accommodate all these people, but it just is not safe to have them all in my home, since I probably don’t have enough windows and ventilation to keep them safe. My main priority is to keep all my guests guarded, and since I can not guarantee all the safety precautions, we have decided to cancel this incredible tradition that my family has observed for over 20 years. I am not even sure what I am doing for the holiday. I am waiting for some people to get back to me, but I have a feeling I will be celebrating at my cousin’s home, just her family and ours.
No matter what your family decides to do this year, this is one dish that you do not have to wait until Thanksgiving to make. It is a very light dish, yet it is packed with flavor. The tomatoes add sweet and tangy freshness. The heat provided by the crushed red pepper flakes is the perfect amount for this dish. The olives, parsley and capers add full-blown savory goodness. The tuna is another tasty addition giving this dish more light but delicious flavor.
This recipe is courtesy of America’s Test Kitchen and will serve 4 to 6 people, safely gathered around a festive table.
Ingredients for Spaghetti Puttanesca with Flaked Tuna:
3 tablespoons 6 rinsed and minced
4 garlic cloves, minced
1/2 teaspoon red pepper flakes
½ cup chopped
3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
2 tablespoons rinsed
1 pound
Bring 4 quarts water t0 boil in a large pot.
Meanwhile, heat oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat until just smoking.
Add anchovies garlic, and pepper flakes and cook until fragrant, about 1 minute.
Add tomatoes and cook until slightly thickened, about 8 minutes.
Add tuna, olives, capers and cook, breaking up any large tuna chunks, until heated through, about 2 minutes.
Off heat, stir in parsley.
Cover and keep warm.
Add spaghetti and 1 tablespoon salt to boiling water and cook until al dente.
Reserve 1/2 cup cooking water, drain pasta, and return to pot.
Add sauce and toss to combine, adding reserved pasta water as needed.
Season with salt and pepper.
Serve.
It’s that simple!
