box turkey

It is an American tradition. Go big or go home. 

Thanksgiving 1: at Katie’s, Thanksgiving day.  Thanksgiving is a little more special for Katie for whatever reason and she made the all-American traditional Thanksgiving (minus the yams).  There was the turkey pieces (whole turkeys are not hard to find, but just unnecessary for a whole turkey) with trimmings, the stuffing, green beans, cranberries, pumpkin pie, and something else I cannot remember.  She invited all her Domincan Republic friends and in all there were about nine of us.  It was pretty fun, but they spoke Spanish the whole night.  I am pretty used to it, they all know me, and I can entertain myself fine, so I did not mind at all.  It was nice seeing Katie’s friends again, it had been a while since I had been out with them.  

Thanksgiving 2: at my work house, Friday.  I did everything pretty much day of, hoping that everything would come together ok.  I did not want to make this not so important holiday to me a big deal or stressful.  Plus, I was not making anything elaborate that needed preparation.  I got most of my recipes from wholefoods.com, and since this was a sit down dinner I did not feel the need to go super all out.  At least at our family Thanksgivings in the states, we do the ‘i have to get everything in the line because it tastes so good’ buffet style.  So good. I went in the morning to the marché to get the vegetables and fruits I would be needing.  Then I picked up the box turkey! from this gourmet frozen only market called Picard.  Gourmet frozen food, ha. Seriously, it is a fabulous store despite that it is all frozen food.  The box turkey was stuffed with maroons and mushrooms and it actually turned out really good, thanks to the grandparents who came and helped me out with the directions for the turkey.  I tried to ask the housekeeper, but I just shook my head up and down smiling that I knew just what to do.  He was helpful and I understood pretty much what he said, but if I had listened to him, we would have had an overdone turkey.  Other than the turkey, I made brussels sprouts, mashed potatoes (with garlic and french cheese), and a salad. Not that much, not that conventional, but it was a good dinner.  And apart from the food, the company was great: the whole family, even the boys for a little bit, Bénédicte’s parents (love the grandparents, plus the grandmother made me the poire tarte she made for my birthday!), Katie, and a surprise guest, Elizabeth.  We spoke French most of the night and I was glad that the family could meet my friends.  We all had a good time and I believe we really appreciated everyone’s company of the mix between the French and the Americans. 

Did not know Elizabeth was coming on Friday, thought she was coming on Saturday.  She was supposed to meet up with friends here, but the friend is in the hospital with pneumonia, so things were kind of frantic for her to find a place.  But it was good to have her at Thanksgiving.  

Elizabeth leaves on Tuesday for the south of France and then cousin Katy will be visiting! Then two more weeks and I am home!

It has gone by way to fast.