Happy Thanksgiving!

One thing I love about blogging is looking back at my older posts and reflecting.

Last year my Thanksgiving celebration was in my tiny one room apartment in South Korea.

Being able to share what this day means with my Korea friends (and one Brit) was amazing.

This year I was able to spend the day with family and friends in my hometown.

The first stop was at my mothers job where she planned a dinner for all the nurses at her hospital.

She also gave me the task of cooking TWO turkeys.

1 for the house and the 2nd for her dinner.

I was a little nervous but I knew Chef John from Foodwishes had my back…again 🙂

The second stop was at my sisters’ friends house. We were super late for dinner and everyone was finished eating when we arrived. So this puts “C.P./Island time” to rest in my book 🙂

A picture story follows!

And so it begins with turkey number one!

My weapons of mass destruction lol

Thyme, onions, celery and carrots !

Butter, sage, thyme, rosemary and 1 piece of lemon grass. That was my secret ingredient aside from Chef Johns suggestions. This was brushed on top of the turkey and the herbs were placed in the cavity.

Butter, chopped herbs with salt/pepper/paprika. This is the butter rub that went under the skin on top of the breast.

Turkey number one = experiement. 14 lbs and it cooked for about 4.5-5.5 hours at 350 degrees f.

Dessert, dressings etc

Cranberries, cinnamon stick, orange juice, orange rine, fresh ginger, brown sugar, 1 packet stevia, anise flavoring and a touch of water.

It was so yummy! I wished I had saved some for the house. But I bottled it for the 2 dinners!

Homemade pumkin pie 🙂

*sigh* a blemish from testing to see if it was finished 🙁

Pie crust in the making!

Turkey number 2

I think this one came out more moist and tastier than number one. It was 21 lbs and cooked for 6-7 hours.

Yum! It was a lot darker too!

The spread at my moms job!

Jamaican rum cake!

There was so much dessert!

More dessert!

Oh I forgot! I also made stuffing (from the box), turkey gravy
AND 2 trays of Chicken parmesan (above stuffing with the spoon in the tray)

The staff is a melting pot. So there was food from EVERYWHERE! Like those “perogies”, and that pie which I dont remember the name of and spanish rice…just to name a few.

My cranberry sauce!

Digging in after the prayer!

“Please not my leg! I already lost my head”..lol

It was a beautiful eveing. I am thankful my mom invited me and my sister.

I don’t have pictures from the second dinner but we mainly just talked all night!

I hope everyone had a happy Thanksgiving!