Since Thanksgiving is an American Holiday, I was able to meet up with the previous aupair who worked for my family who was cooking a Traditional Thanksgiving dinner for her Dutch girlfriend’s family. It was my job to bring dessert and, as you know from yesterday, I could not make pumpkin pie, so I chose instead to do Paula Deen’s Peach Cobbler…mmm mmm good. I substituted the first cup of sugar for brown sugar, which makes for a wonderfully rich syrup-y goodness…
Then I baked it and it came out looking even more delicious…
So after letting it cool (I was smart enough to think of that ahead of time) I packed it up and walked to the bus stop. Once I arrived, I met Esther, her mom, her dad, her mom’s boyfriend, her sister, and her sister’s boyfriend. I sat on the couch sipping my wine while smiling and not knowing what ANYONE was saying. Every once and a while Esther would lean over and explain what was going on, but I’d get lost a minute later anyway. Mags however was busy running around like a chicken with its head cut off (or maybe it’s more appropriate to say turkey?)…
The table was set, and Mags' Mom had even sent her festive napkins to make us feel more at home...
We enjoyed a yummy cranberry/cheese mixture on top of crackers for an appetizer and then it was time for the feast. Mags had made carrots, green bean casserole, mashed potatoes, stuffing balls (regular stuffing, but formed into balls and broiled…so delicious!!!) sweet potatoes (but since there are no tiny marshmallows here, she used pinapple…I highly recommend it) and a turkey. It all looked amazing…
Of course Mags had to special order a large turkey and when she went to go pick it up this morning, they said “Here’s two little ones.” Turkey, especially whole ones, are not common in Holland. But it ended up being just enough food. By the time we were good and stuffed, I put in my cobbler to reheat. I wasn’t sure how it was going to travel or reheat, but let me tell you, it was just as delicious! We had it with vanilla ice cream, and the tiny bit that was left over was taken by the boyfriend (who was a cop) so he could enjoy it while gloating to his fellow officers also stuck working the night shift. All in all, it was a success!After dinner we sat around drinking coffee, while they marveled in the custom that is a combination of a food coma and tryptophane while discussing other American traditions. I commented on the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade and the new floats for this year, Mags commented on Football, and surprisingly, Esther’s father told us the history of Thanksgiving according to the Wikipedia page. He had looked it up especially for tonight so as to be more aware. It was very sweet (and surprisingly fairly accurate.)
So with our bellies stuffed, and our hearts full of thanks, we parted ways and I came home happy to go on Skype and talk to my cousins who I don’t get to see today (at least in person)…
For all you reading out there, Happy Thanksgiving! I’m thankful for everyone in my life who has affected me in some way. I’m especially thankful for the people who convinced me that coming here was the correct idea. I miss and love you all.And on a lighter note…
Word of the Day: Dankjewel - Thank You
yummmmm!!!
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