of course, what we’re really celebrating is a group of WOEFULLY unprepared english types who arrived in the colonies with things like 200 pairs of shoes (for one guy), musical instruments, and encyclopedias, but no farming equipment, hunting equipment, fishing line, or anyone who knew anything about living off the land or in the wilderness. Seriously. (All knowledge cribbed from Bill Bryson’s excellent I’m a Stranger Here Myself.

so despite the subsequent massacre of the amerindian peoples, we continue to celebrate the fall holiday with a load of buttered foodstuffs, family and friends and it’s the best holiday of the year. Without the awkward drunkeness of halloween and the family fights that seem to focus around christmas and did i mention the food? lots and lots of food!

turkey for me, turkey for you

i guess i grew up in a fairly assimilated immigrant family – my family barely paid attention to chinese new year (traditionally the most important chinese holiday), but thanksgiving? it was a big deal! we spent about half our turkey days in foster city (driving up from los angeles) or inviting about 3-4 families to our place. And we had the traditional meal too – sure there were additions that you wouldn’t find next door – stuff like chinese greens, stuffing made with chinese sticky rice and preserved assuages, roast duck or char siu for the chinese relatives who thought that turkey was too dry – but otherwise it was the usual meal of turkey, stuffing, green bean casserole, etc.

here in shanghai we had about 15 people over to have turkey, mashed potatoes, salad, stuffing, sweet potatoes, shells and cheese, daal, cranberry relish, homemade pumpkin pie, homemade cinnamon ice cream, delicious pecan tarts and chocolate cake. it was pretty awesome, but next year i want to try making a turkey myself.

here’s some photos of the night. not enough food photos because i was eating.