A Tale of Two Thanksgivings

I can't say I planned it this way, but what a happy accident!  I got to have Thanksgiving twice this year!

Of course our German friends would be devastated if we didn't do our annual feast; we start talking about the next one as soon as the current one is over!  This year's menu didn't stray far from the standard one:  turkey and dressing, mashed and sweet potatoes, beans, black-eyed peas, cranberry sauce and plenty of gravy.  The soup, always different, was pumpkin with ginger and coconut milk.  Very good, but I think a bit  more coconut milk next time would do it better.

Steps must be taken!  Set the table.  There are still the "bird" plates from long ago, but I prefer the older ones. And the centerpiece is always a bit small since it has to be removed to make way for the food!

The bird - at 7.7 kilos a bit more than usual.  We tried for a 6 kilo one but none were to be had.  I guess that was OK since the folks at the market gave us a discount since it was too big.  That's weird. 

 We did a dry rub this year instead of the brining and it was still very moist and yummy.

 After the feast, a bit of a walk to make room for the dessert.  It was a beautiful day, though (since it is Germany and it was November) a little on the coolish side.

And finally dessert - pumpkin pie, pecan bites, apple cake, which was a total disaster in my humble opinion.  No picture.  Unceremoniously into the can.

Before dessert was over, Jeremy and Nicole arrived on their way from Rotterdam to Berlin and helped take care of leftovers.  But there was still enough for sandwiches the next day and the day after, and the day after.....

AND THEN it was time for Thanksgiving AGAIN, but this time in Florida where it was warm and sunny.

The furniture was removed from the living room, rental tables and chairs set up for the 23 lucky folks.  Dylan helped Mom get the napkins ready and Grandma Loucks' china helped grace the table.

 Appetizers?  Well, when the folks come a couple of hours ahead to visit, you need some munchies.

 Then it was time!  Lee + Crissy took care of the turkey, dressing, mashed potatoes and corn and everyone else pitched in - beans times two, mushroom and artichoke casserole, sweet potatoes and more.

 

And dessert, of course. There were lots of pies, but this cake took the cake.  Chocolate tower cake.  Tall as a tower.  Seven or eight layers with lots of icing between, chocolate dollops on top and chocolate sprinkles on the towering side.

It was a family feast to remember.