in the kitchen: Our first Romanian Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving is important to me. My family doesn’t have any real iron-clad traditions surrounding the day, but we do have family recipes that we pull out for the occasion.  And I have great memories of being in the kitchen with my grandparents, my mom, my family pulling together a Herbert family feast.

Being so far from home, early upon our arrival in Romania, I talked up a group Thanksgiving at our place.  I knew that the combination of being busy, being with fellow volunteers, and being in the kitchen would ward off bouts of homesickness.

This past weekend was our first Romanian Thanksgiving.  Rather than writing a book, here’s a  list (with pictures) of some of the highlights/little victories:

Ordering and picking up the turkey from the farmer who then showed me around his poultry farm and didn’t charge me for cleaning the turkey AND gave me “bonus” (as he called them) eggs for our celebration.

Making pumpkin and mincemeat pie with Gretel at 2AM.  She and I can talk forever and she makes a mean crust.

My removal of the “presents” inside the turkey cavity — heart, liver, kidneys.

Alex’s battle with the turkey neck (which was still attached) and Alex’s subsequent naming the turkey Evan.

Excitement of people arriving with their contributions to the meal.

Cooking a turkey without a meat thermometer but having it be done and tasty!

Having everything pull together a little late, but simultaneously.

Eating familiar foods/casseroles with Romanian ingredients.

Madness with fresh whipped cream. (there are pictures!)

Relaxing in the glow of food coma.

It’s been a crazy busy weekend — between the cooking, the worrying, the apartment full of guests, the coming, the going.  But it was warm, full of gratefulness, and good friends and food.  Although I’ll miss my family this Thanksgiving, I’m thankful to have spent it with my new Peace Corps family.

All of the pictures from our celebration can be found here.

A funny post about our Thanksgiving by our pal, Ted, can be found here.

And a special thanks to Dawn Witt, Amber Smith, and my momma for sending us Thanksgiving meal supplies.  Really, we felt your T-day love as we chowed down!