Cooking a true American Thanksgiving in a small euro apartment

Ladies and Gentleman: The Thanksgiving bowl 2013

We achieved  the impossible last Sunday, it took three separate kitchens, 2 Americans, an 8 Kg turkey, a huge cart of groceries, and 5 willing Euros to test our thanksgiving cooking skills on….and in the end we passed with flying colors.

How do you know you've had a successful Thanksgiving? You are lying on the floor in pain and agony laughing uncontrollably and for reasons you can't explain.. this is what we call Turkey drunk. This happened. Being the Americans we proudly wore our stretchy pants, filled our Thanksgiving Bowls (we went for bowls this year instead of plates, maybe because of lack of dish ware, but in the end…life changing) multiple times and chowed down on our hard work. 

Dish ware and utensils provided by Apartment #3, danke Alyssa!

Come starving, leave bulging. Success. Love these girls.

Just cutting like a pro.

The full spread. YUM

You know your kitchen is too small when... cooking moves to the floor

Chopping up a storm, Apartment #2

Bagging/Cooking the turkey, Apartment #1

We ended the evening playing a crowd favorite, "Pin the tail on the Donkey" But in the spirit of the holiday and apart of the awesome Thanksgiving care package from Alyssa's mother in America, we played "Pin the sparkly feather on the Turkey" ..hilarious to say the least.

Our one feathered big footed turkey standing on grass near a lake, next to the setting sun and a fire. Yup. Nailed it. 

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday and one of the hardest for me to be away from America during, but I have been fortunate every year overseas to be apart of bringing the great American tradition to my euro friends, and nothing warms my heart more than seeing their faces when they see the bird they are going to eat and the serious spread of food we prepare. 

As much as I miss being away from my wonderful family on this holiday,

20 family members chowing down at my house in Colorado this Thanksgiving <3

I am very thankful to be able to share apart of my culture with another part of the world. 

There is always something to be thankful for, and this year I am thankful for a great American to share this holiday with of preparing and gorging ourselves with pounds of food. I've been solo Americano the past couple of seasons and I have been loving the company of such a great individual in my life this year; she brings me laughter, the ability to speak quickly aka American mumble, without having to think and stories and memories for a lifetime. This Thanksgiving wouldn't have been near as memorable without this wonderful gal. 

My Hamburger American other half

And it wouldn't be a holiday without a Jimmy Fallon sing a long. This is SO great. 

Happy Thanksgiving from my small euro apartment to your home :) 

xoxo