Thanksgiving with neighbours

Thanksgiving came early to Castle Ryan, with a lovely feast for my neighbours last night.

As an American living abroad, Thanksgiving is a little harder to celebrate. For one, the fourth Thursday of November is generally a workday here in Scotland. Finding a fresh turkey (I got a frozen one) and the supplies for all the traditional dishes – like pumpkin pie – is also challenging.

What’s easy to find for Thanksgiving, however, is people to share a meal with. It seems that people are so familiar with American Thanksgiving from television and films that they are curious and also keen to experience it for themselves.

The dining table at Castle Ryan seats six people comfortably, so I decided I could invite five guests for Thanksgiving. I chose to invite my neighbours – four widowed retirees, one of whom is the carer for her adult son who also joined us. They have all lived in their houses since they were built in the late-1960s so have known each other (and the neighbourhood) for nearly 60 years.

I planned a simple and traditional feast: Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, candied yams, brussels sprouts, cranberry sauce, and gravy. I also made buttermilk biscuits, pumpkin pie, and cranberry bread.

As with most Thanksgiving dinners, I got started the day before with the pies and bread, preparing the bread for stuffing, and generally planning out the day’s cooking. Thanksgiving is a relatively “easy” meal to make if you know how to cook so it just comes down to getting the timings right – especially in the last 30 minutes when everything starts to need attention.

When I woke up on “Thanksgiving morning”, it was snowing quite heavily (where I live). I was very thankful at that moment that I didn’t need to buy any last-minute groceries and that my guests only had to walk next door or across the street. I was also happy because I got to make my first snowwoman at Castle Ryan. (She’s called Eilidh.)

My guests arrived at about 5 pm for drinks and nibbles before dinner was served at 6 pm. It was wonderful to sit and share a meal with everyone – more so because they all seemed to enjoy the food. They never had candied yams, biscuits, pumpkin pie, or cranberry bread before, and I think it’s fair to say they would happily have them all again!

By 10 pm, my guests were gone, and I began the process of cleaning up – a task made easier because I have an automatic dishwasher. With the leftovers stored, the first load of dishes washing, and the rest stacked and ready for their turn, I finally sat down to relax and think about all that I have to be thankful for.

And there is so much to be thankful for! Not least that I have a lovely new home with wonderful neighbours whom I’d happily share more meals with. I truly am blessed.

It’s now the day after my Thanksgiving feast and I am still thankful for the wonderful day. And thankful that I am a skilled cook who knows how to use up these leftovers. Indeed, the turkey bones are already cooking down for bone broth, and I’ve created a delicious Thanksgiving leftover menu for the coming days.

Happy Thanksgiving to one and all – no matter when you celebrate it.