Thanksgiving 2010

 

Thanksgiving is almost upon us, less than a week to go! Having married an American means that this tradition has been adopted on our little Isle by my family. We have had Thanksgiving for the last 2 years since Adam and I got married, and each year the invite list seems to get bigger. I find Thanksgiving very different to Christmas. Despite being a Turkey based meal, the flavours are very distinct. Not only that, but it's also a much more relaxed affair in our household, with considerably less formality than Christmas.

 

 

This year Adam and I will be making roast Turkey with Bell's traditional stuffing, Stonewall Kitchen cornbread, candied sweet potatoes and roast veg (parsnips, carrots, onion) all with a side of cranberry sauce. So excited!Unlike Christmas which my Mum usually hosts, Thanksgiving is about Adam and me doing something for the family and we try to do all the cooking (my Mum can't help herself sometimes!) Adam makes the pie's each year, he wouldn't have it any other way. He will be making 2 pumpkin pies and one apple pie, and both are always delicious.

 

 

I believe that continuing to celebrating Thanksgiving is very important for Americans in Britain. I really like the fact that my family have taken on this American tradition and enjoy it so much. Most Americans I know living here use it as a time to get together with friends and share something that most British people have only heard about before, never actually tried. As I mentioned before, the  guest list for Thanksgiving is ever growing in our household and we're hoping that next year, once we move into a bigger place, we can have more friends to join us in celebrating Thanksgiving with our family.

 

 

If you would like to get hold of some American products for your own Thanksgiving meal there are a few place you can go. The first year we went to the American foods department of Bentalls in Kingston. This year my Mum has brought back some goodies from her trip to New England, but we also went to Garsons Farm in Esher to pick up some tinned pumpkin. It's currently 3 tins for £6 which is a bit of a bargain compared to elsewhere. Online you can try the American food shops on eBay and Amazon.

 

 

Anyway, I hope all of you celebrating Thanksgiving all over the world have a great day on Thursday!