First turkey a success.

Thanksgiving was quite a party. We had 17 people, including ourselves. We had a typically international crowd with folks from US-Mainland, Australia and NZ, Spain, Colombia, Japan, Mexico, and also one gypsy. It was great fun, and I think by and large a success, but I think we might have more than maxed out our space with this many people...

I cooked my FIRST TURKEY. Well, not a whole one, but a goodly portion of one--a turkey breast. No giblets, but it cooks much faster. It's a trade off. We'd originally not planned to do the serious Thanksgiving turkey/mashed potatoes/stuffing gig, but when I realized it was some of these folks' very first (and maybe their only) Thanksgiving, I just had to go with tradition for the basics.

We did the whole brining thing (thanks for the advice there, Sister) and it worked out really well. We didn't have a bucket quite large enough for the bird AND the brine so we invented a bucket expansion system by lining the bucket with one of those suitcase-sized ziploc bags. It worked perfectly. And the turkey came out so moist, so yummy. Really, really good. I'm so proud! I did much of the logistical planning, but Husband did much of the labor. Couldn't have done it without you, darlin'.

That turkey, paired with our usual cranberry chutney, could be my entire feast, but we also had fish, potatoes (thanks again to Sister for that recipe), salad, couscous, quiche, edamame, and more. Desserts included turrón (a chewy nougat with almonds that is such an important Spanish tradition, there is even a Museo del turrón in Alicante), sweet potato pie (it's the orange peel!), and a pumpkin cake actually shaped like a pumpkin (a friend's specialty).

We are so lucky to be able to have this great food, in our relatively large apartment (by local standards), and to have such great friends here. It was a nice way to spend the holiday.