Postings from Germany

Thanksgiving

I know, it's early. But we have to do it early since we can't celebrate on Thursday next week and the next weekend is too late.  So we do it now.

This year the menu included the usual mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes (with orange butter sauce and fresh cranberries), and cranberry sauce.  Brussels sprouts with garlic and basil and black-eyed peas made a return appearance along with pecan pie, pumpkin pie and ambrosia.  Mr. Turkey came from the organic shop down the street, and we all agreed it was more tender and tasty.  We'll have to do that again.

BUT SMALLER.  You know our kitchen and the fridge are not standard American.  Mr. Turkey took up the whole middle of the fridge and this year we had no snow and cold weather to have our ersatz fridge outside! 

The newbie every year is the soup.  This year it was a suggestion from Michelle from the very last issue of Gourmet magazine.  I'd put in a link, but it isn't there yet, but it's Scarlet Carrot soup.  The scarlet comes from the beets and I can promise you that such a red is seldom to be seen.  Wow.  Besides that, it was incredibly tasty.

It's always fun setting the table with pretty things and then having the guests ooooh and aahhh. 

We used to have 10 and then we kinda lost one along the way but this year it was down to 8 since our good friend Ursel came down with the flu (standard, not swine) and decided not to share it with us.  Thank you, Ursel!!

After a glass of sparkling wine and the carving of the bird, we served our plates.  Ready here to dig in!!

Unlike previous years, we started early this time (3:00) so had time for a walk between the meal and the dessert.  Some of us here with one of the statues at the harbor.  She's holding the lantern that we took with us to light the way ----  DARK here at 4:30 these days!

Sunday we got up and after breakfast filled two plates with leftover goodies and took them to Mutti and to Ursel.  MORE happy faces and more Thanksgiving joy.  Wonderful.