In most ways, we are an untraditional family, making our own path as we go. But in some ways, we are rigidly traditional, like when it comes to turkey day. Over the decades we have honed our recipes, and tweaked them to perfection. There is a little wiggle room on the appetizers, but the main players are the pillars of this meal, and we count on their predictable deliciousness.
We bake our pumpkin pies in the morning, then the turkey goes in the oven. Meanwhile we make Waterloo County stuffing, Corn Cheese Bake from the More With Less Cookbook, Paul’s loaded mashed, Paul’s Mom’s broccoli cheese bake, bacon-wrapped scallops, and vegetarian versions of whatever is possible.
Whether we’re in Guatemala or Paris, we often have trouble finding a few ingredients. It’s become part of the family challenge when Thanksgiving approaches to conduct a scavenger hunt for the elusive ingredients. Paris was an interesting challenge. One would think that in a culinary capital the likes of Paris, sourcing ingredients would be easy, right? Wrong. Paul walked all over the city, and it wasn’t until we discovered a store called, “Thanksgiving,” that our Holy Grail was found, canned pumpkin pie filling. Sure, sure I’ve heard crazy rumors that you can make a pumpkin pie from an actual pumpkin, but I’m pretty sure that’s an urban myth.
In Search of Parisien Pumpkin Pie
Ingredients for last year’s Thanksgiving in Paris.
Tiny European counter space we had to make our entire meal.
Going Thanksgiving ingredient shopping this year in Miami was positively anticlimactic. We were all geared up for the hunt. But I didn’t even have to go to a separate store, in fact I didn’t need to go past the front of the store, since shelves of all the ingredients you would possibly need were at the front of the store when you walk in.
Even with the hunt a total bust, the best part of the day is high energy of having everyone present, cooking and baking together. We are a loud bunch, with the girls often talking simultaneously, trying to out humor each other, many moving parts, new stories, opinions, and conversations. While sitting down for the meal is lovely, my favorite part of the day will always by the messy, loud, prep time. I’m glad we get two a year, the Canadian and the American one. Perhaps we should add a few more.