While we Aussies might not have a holiday quite like Thanksgiving, the idea of gathering with friends to share a meal and good company is something we definitely appreciate. So, as an Aussie living in Chicago, we opted in to hosting a memorable Friendsgiving, complete will all the festive trimmings!
When I first told my partner I wanted to host a few people around for a turkey dinner, I think he thought it was going to be another couple or two popping round to share a meal and enjoy a bottle of wine... but he was wrong. 15 people and a baby were on the guest list, and we went into full event production mode to make this Friendsgiving meal work in our 1 bedroom apartment!
Once we figured out how many plates, knives, forks, glasses, chairs and tables we'd need, we had to actually do the cooking...
Now my partner cooked a turkey last year at Thanksgiving, so it wasn't our first rodeo, but this year, we went for a much bigger turkey with heightened pressure to get it right for many more guests! He carefully selected the turkey, studied how to brine it properly (I did not know that was a thing...), and I researched the best stuffing to have with the turkey. As it turns out, Americans refer to stuffing as "dressing" and its often cooked separately to the turkey, so its not actually inside and nothing is actually stuffed... This was bizarre to me, so I decided to bring my Aussie nature to an American thanksgiving and actually stuff the turkey with home made stuffing; risky, but it turned out pretty tasty!
Our menu was classic Thanksgiving, but less Americana in the sides (read: mac and cheese was not on the menu)
Appetizers: Onion tarte tartin and bacon wrapped stuffing balls
Main Course: A traditional roast turkey, served with stuffing and homemade cranberry sauce, supplemented by some delicious pork belly bites.
Side Dishes: Roasted root vegetables and pumpkin seasoned with sage and rosemary, green beans sprinkled with toasted almonds and feta crumbles, buttery mash, a lemony sprout salad and some balsamic mushrooms.
Dessert: For dessert, a classic apple crumble, and some caramel maple cake bites for a sweet finish.
Beverages: Enough champagne, wine and beer to make it a real celebration!
Did we cook his all on our own? Absolutely not! Our guests all chipped in to bring a dish, which left us with a broad assortment of sides (and less pressure in the kitchen!)
With the food, beverage, and abundant company, our Friendsgiving was a success! And now we are well practiced to do it all over again for Christmas...
留言