Subject: Thanksgiving
Hi Mom!
I was thinking: so many of my friends and neighbors in Triemli (Birmensdorferstr.) have been SO nice to me, and have given me so much wonderful food- Mathew's cooked Indian, Hisashi Japanese, and my friend the butcher down the hall (unfortunately I don't know his name, but we talk in the kitchen a lot) Italian! Yesterday he gave me some frutti di mare sauce for my pasta, which was absolutely delicious!! I feel so bad, because I never cook anything that's good enough to give in return!
Then it hit me this morning- I can make a Thanksgiving dinner, and invite them ALL over for a real American meal!!! (I'm going to be in Croatia for Thanksgiving, but I thought I could do this on the first weekend in December instead.)
So I started making a list of what makes Thanksgiving dinner: turkey, stuffing, red cabbage, mashed potatoes, green beans, squash, corn, (cranberry sauce???), and pie (apple, or possibly pumpkin??) ...and to drink?
Then I started thinking about how I could possibly do this (a 20 minute tram ride to school is great for this!) The beans and corn are easy- frozen and canned, respectively, and warmed at the last minute. Pie I'd make the night before (I'm going to have to look for an aluminum pie tin, or something, also canned pumpkin would be a BIG bonus!!!.) For stuffing, I'll have to toast bread in the oven- there is no toaster. But I've never seen celery in the stores here- can you think of a good substitute? Other than that, I'm going to have to ask you for some guidance.
For turkey, I'm going to have to see what they sell here- I may have to be inventive, just cook chicken parts, rather than a whole bird. For stuffing: Make a bunch of toast, break it into pieces. Saute onions and (celery??) in a pan with butter, salt, pepper, sage, and water. Then mix the two together, either stuff in the bird (assuming I can) or put in the oven in a pot. (covered).........is this right?
For mashed potatoes: boil potatoes (peeled), then mash in a bowl with milk, salt, and pepper (and butter too?) For red cabbage: cut into quarters or eighths, dep. on size, boil, with cut up apple, and vinegar?
For squash: cut into wedges, then stick in the oven, with cinnamon sugar and butter on top (for how long?)
NOW for the big favor: could you send me recipes and/or guidance for the stuff I either didn't list, or am not explaining right?
Could you send me recipes for apple AND pumpkin pie, in case I find pumpkin here? (They sell lots of squash, some of which looks an awful lot like fresh pumpkin, and I have seen a few fresh pumpkins, but I don't know what to do with them as far as pie is concerned.)
THANK YOU!!
As for the logistics of this whole thing, I'm thinking there will be 8 people, including myself, and it will have to be b.y.o. plates/utensils. I will probably also have to borrow a few pots & pans too. (I've got 2 pots w/ lids and one pan)
Thanks so much Mom!!! I think this will be great! (Do you feel like Bren's at the Weber's again?) :)
OK, I'll write again soon!
Love ya!
Cor :)
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