You're in the middle of creating that perfect Thanksgiving dinner. Everything seems to be going well except you've either run out of or forgot a crucial ingredient? The stores are closed? What do you do? Sub it. Try to find substitutes that can fill in for the real thing.
The worst thing is being out of flour . We do tend to use a lot it before Thanksgiving , especially for our pie crusts. Yet' it's also a crucial ingredient in gravy. If your gravy needs it and you've run out of it not to worry. Cornstarch can do the trick. You can also use arrowroot and tapioca powders too. however be aware that those can cause a gravy to become stringy. Another idea is roast veggies like carrots, onions,carrots, whole onions or red peppers. Puree them and use the mash to thicken the gravy (your best bet here is the onion because it will add the most to the sauce). What happens when you didn't buy enough potatoes to maked mashed? Add about a cup of potato flakes to it to stretch it. If not try adding spinach or kale to make that Irish favorite colcannon. You make be creating a new holiday tradition with this dish. Another idea is using those sweet potatoes in the recipe. It's an interesting and tasty way to make sure that everyone get a scoop of mashed.If you;ve run out of butter then sub in olive oil. It gives a silky texture to gravies and mashed potatoes.
What happens when that salad isn't going to be enough for the Thanksgiving meal? How do you stretch a bowl of greens and tomatoes? Add anything. Nuts like almonds and walnuts work. You can easily make croutons by air frying any bread. Just cube the slices , coat in olive oil and season with either garlic or onion powder. Air fry for about five minutes at 350 degrees Farenheit. Also if you have any jarred veggies, add them. Any salad can benefit from peppers , olives or artichoke hearts. Another troubling thought is running out of whipped cream at dessert time. Many love a big blob of it on their pies. Yet what happens when everyone wants a lot and it runs out? Not to worry. You can use ice cream as a side or if you want a fresher take. try Greek yogurt if you have it.It;s just whipping cream with the addition of vanilla and sugar.Use a hand mixer and whip the yogurt and vanilla until soft peaks start to form. Gradually blend in the sugar. Continue to whip until the peaks are very stiff.
Don;t worry if you run out of something on Thanksgiving. There's always a substitute to fill. You'll still have a great holiday meal.