An American (Holiday) in Germany

So, I did it again. I made Thanksgiving happen in yet another country. Apparently, I am spreading the seed of Thanksgiving spirit everywhere I go. Well it is my favorite holiday of all time, and I just couldn't let a year go by without a day dedicated to eating, drinking, and being merry.

So I organized and I planned and I organized again - yeah I know what you are thinking, Brittany, planning and organization just don't go together, but I guess when the motivation is right, all bets are off! Then I shopped shopped shopped and I cooked cooked cooked ... and cooked some more. And after three days, it went off without a hitch.

Of course this success was not without it challenges and obstacles. We first had to figure out where to get a whole turkey, where to get canned pumpkin (and in the end we didn't, we steamed it ourselves), how to make 8 courses in an european kitchen in an european apartment, with limited supplies and cooking space, and how to get just the right people to food ratio. But in the end we made it all work somehow.

There were 8 of us there, 6 germans and 2 americans...and on the menu, two turkeys (a 6lb-er and a 3.5lb-er), mashed potatoes with shallots, sweet potato mash with goat cheese and lime zest, apple-pecan stuffing, spicey cranberry sauce, gravy, green beans, and of course pumpkin pie, all entirely made from scratch and all delectably scrumptious... so much so, that I surprised even myself :-) Or rather, the more surprising part, was that it was all ready and enjoyed before midnight!! However this little tidbit I credit to my friend Birgit, who was my righthand through it all, and without whom my pension for disorganization would have been allowed to take control and complete chaos would have ensued. But, the point is that I resisted the urge to let stress overwhelm me, and instead enjoyed every minute of it. I embraced the challenge and basked in the uncertainty of it all. And when things got a bit rocky, I rode the wave, played it by ear, and trusted my instincts. In the end, it is this I realize that is the secret to any kind of success in life, and, as was proved tonight, especially in the kitchen.

All in all, it was a great evening, great in its simplicity. It was a night dedicated to the three crucial C's: company, conversation and cuisine. It was about friends, new and old, gathering to enjoy a meal and each other. And I believe that no matter where you are in the world, whether you are american or kenyan or chinese, it's nights like this one that make you stop and realize what it is you have to be thankful for.

(One more thought: Until this time I never really fully appreciated just how much work and time and effort and mental energy goes into Thanksgiving. I have to hand it to grandma [and all the other moms and grandmas who do it], for making Thanksgiving happen year in and year out, for 15 - 20 people at a time...truely a great feat. Thanks grandma!!)