Holiday Table for Two

When you wish to celebrate a cozy Thanksgiving a deux, you may face a dilemma. Even a 12-pound turkey is too big for two people who don't want to eat leftovers for weeks to come. Enter Cornish hens: perfect poultry for a pair. And you'll enjoy marking the holiday with the rest of this equally streamlined―but no less festive―menu, which features all the right flavors for the season.

Wine Note
The right wines will turn this simple dinner into a feast. Pair the celery salad with something fresh and snappy. The J Pinot Gris 2001 (Russian River Valley, California; $18) has an exotic fruity aroma and a flavor that's evocative of peaches, apricots, and limes. Then serve the main course with a wine that's juicy and packed with lively fruit flavors. A top Beaujolais would be great. Try the Georges Duboeuf Beaujolais Fleurie or Moulin-a-Vent 2000; each costs about $15.