Thanksgiving is a holiday that people traditionally celebrate with family and friends at home, giving thanks for all of the good things we have in our lives. When you have to celebrate Thanksgiving away from home, it can be just as special of a holiday as the ones you remember from your childhood. Here are some tips for celebrating Thanksgiving from your college dorm.
Decorate your room
Purchase orange and gold Christmas lights to string around your dorm room. Go to your local craft store and buy a cornucopia (horn of plenty) basket, and fill it with nuts, gourds, small pumpkins, ears of Indian corn, apples, and colored leaves that you find outside around campus. Make a Thanksgiving countdown garland by cutting strips of orange, gold, and red paper, and linking them together in a chain. Each link signifies a day until Thanksgiving, and every night you can remove one link until Thanksgiving Day arrives!
Hold a “Hand Turkey” contest with other students on your floor who will also be spending Thanksgiving at school. Buy several different colors of finger paint and large pieces of paper and see who can make the best “Turkey” picture by only using their hands. This can be a nice diversion from the stress of college and bring people together in a fun atmosphere.
Plan a Thanksgiving Eve night out with your friends
The night before Thanksgiving is a very popular night for local nightclubs and bars to hold special events. Check your local newspaper for advertisements for themed parties, live entertainment, and other special events. Most venues allow people 18 and over admittance, but remember you must be 21 years old to drink. If you are over 21 and do decide to drink alcohol, make sure you have a designated driver, or take a taxi back to your dorm. Do not drink and drive.
If nightlife is not your idea of a good time, then plan a Thanksgiving Eve get-together at your dorm. Buy some snacks, make some punch, and have a Thanksgiving movie marathon in your dorm room. You could screen “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles” which is the best Thanksgiving movie of all time, starring John Candy and Steve Martin. “Son in Law” and “Dutch” are also great funny Thanksgiving movies.
Preparing a traditional Thanksgiving spread in your dorm room is definitely possible with a little forethought, a microwave, and an open mind. Check your local grocery store’s prepared food department for a rotisserie small turkey or chicken that you can buy already cooked. Another idea is to buy a frozen TV dinner Thanksgiving meal.
Another option for a person who really likes to cook is to purchase a small fresh turkey or turkey breast and check out these Thanksgiving recipes for side dishes and desserts. Once you buy the turkey, be sure to remove neck and giblets, rinse off and brush with a mixture of vegetable oil and browning sauce, and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Place inside a large oven cooking bag breast up with a cut-up onion and celery stalk in a microwave-safe 2-inch deep baking dish.
Be sure to cut slits in the top of the bag, and do not stuff the turkey. Cook on 50% power for about 9 minutes per pound, rotating the plate every ten minutes. Using an instant-read thermometer, the turkey is ready when the thickest part of the breast is 165-185 degrees. Some side dishes you can make are microwave mashed potatoes, frozen/canned corn, and canned cranberry sauce. An easy-to-make dessert or side dish is Marshmallow Fruit Salad. Combine one can of fruit cocktail (drained), one can crushed pineapple (drained), and one bag of mini marshmallows in a bowl. Stir in one tub of Cool Whip to desired consistency.
Celebrating Thanksgiving away from home or from your college dorm has the potential to be just as special as you remember from your childhood. Thanksgiving is the type of holiday that is as fun and festive as you want to make it. Get yourself into the spirit of the holiday by following the tips above, and do not forget to take some time to give thanks for everything good in your life. Happy Thanksgiving!
