Happy Thanksgiving!

The Day of the Dinde

We did indeed have a proper Thanksgiving meal here in Paris! I can't believe that we were able to make all of our favorite dishes in our tiny, ill-equipped kitchens, but we did, and it turned out wonderfully. Shopping for ingredients was challenging (brown sugar, ground nutmeg, stuffing, and cranberry sauce all have to be bought at specialty stores). The specialty shops were filled yesterday with Americans looking for pumpkin pie spice, Stovetop stuffing and other essentials.

Between the 15 American students in the program only one of them had an oven...a very small oven. Harlan was, of course, in charge of the turkey. Despite the fact that the turkey could barely fit into the oven and we didn't have a roasting pan- it was actually the best turkey I have ever had! He also made the gravy and stuffing, which were equally delicious. The rest of us made our dishes at home and then brought them to the party. I made sweet-potatoes with butter, brown sugar, ginger and orange zest and applesauce with cognac and cinnamon. Our lovely roommate made the most delicious brussel sprouts that were sauteed in balsamic vinegar, almond slivers and honey. Other guests brought green-bean casserole, mashed potatoes, creamy onion and zucchini casserole, mulled wine, salad with goat cheese and cranberries, homemade cranberry sauce, roasted potatoes, pumpkin pie, Martha Stewart's chocolate pudding with wafers and banana, and French fruit tarts... and many baguettes!

It was definitely a very special holiday. Many of us had never met before celebrating together, and this was also a first Thanksgiving away from family for many of us. But, between the food, the American football playing on the TV, and taking turns saying what we were thankful for, it felt very much like home.

And now, just as we are recovering from last night's meal, we are getting ready for Thanksgiving #2 tomorrow with some dear friends who couldn't make it yesterday!