Most likely, the first thing you will want to search for is a turkey for your Thanksgiving dinner. Don't worry, many large grocery stores do carry frozen turkeys in many different sizes. If you can't find turkey, you will certainly be able to find a chicken breast for a substitute. For those vegetarians among us, it is possible to find tofu turkey. However, it is very difficult to find. If you really have your heart set on tofu turkey, it's probably easier to order it online and have it delivered right to your door instead of running all over place.
Once you have obtained your turkey (or substitute), the next big task is trying to cook it. If you're anything like me, you've never cooked an actual turkey before. I recommend taking advantage of the Butterball ™ website which will give you step by step instructions on everything from cleaning to roasting the turkey. I kept my computer near by so I could skype my parents with any questions I had through out the process. Cooking a turkey is actually relatively easy once you know what you're doing.
The next must have for Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes. I was not able to find the instant mashed potatoes in the store, so making the mashed from real potatoes is your only option. If you've never made mashed from scratch, don't worry, mashed potatoes are super easy to make. All you require are potatoes, milk/buttermilk, butter, and salt and pepper. First, wash and peel the potatoes. A peeler is the best tool to use but a sharp knife will also do the trick. Cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes and put them into a pot of salted boiling water. Cook the potatoes until they break apart easily with a fork. Next you have to mash the potatoes. If you have a hand masher, it will make you life much easier. If you don't, a fork with get the job done, but, of course, will take longer. I mashed the potatoes in small batches to ensure I mashed the potatoes were very smooth. Finally, cook the potatoes in a pot with enough milk and butter to make the potatoes moist and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste and there you go! You now have delicious mashed potatoes to serve to your guests.
The final must have for a Thanksgiving is cranberry sauce. Canned cranberry sauce is not available in Germany, however, Preiselbeeren sauce is similar in taste and is very delicious. But if you want the real deal, try making your own cranberry sauce. It's the simplest thing to make. Cook 1 cup of orange juice and 1 cup of sugar over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add 12 oz of fresh cranberries (you should be able to find these during this time). Cook the mixture until the cranberries start to pop and the sauce becomes a rich red color. The sauce will thicken as it cools. Place the sauce in the refrigerator until dinner. Serve the sauce at room temperature.
Hopefully these tips will make you feel a little more at home and will help you have a wonderful Thanksgiving abroad.
The next must have for Thanksgiving dinner is mashed potatoes. I was not able to find the instant mashed potatoes in the store, so making the mashed from real potatoes is your only option. If you've never made mashed from scratch, don't worry, mashed potatoes are super easy to make. All you require are potatoes, milk/buttermilk, butter, and salt and pepper. First, wash and peel the potatoes. A peeler is the best tool to use but a sharp knife will also do the trick. Cut the potatoes into 1 inch cubes and put them into a pot of salted boiling water. Cook the potatoes until they break apart easily with a fork. Next you have to mash the potatoes. If you have a hand masher, it will make you life much easier. If you don't, a fork with get the job done, but, of course, will take longer. I mashed the potatoes in small batches to ensure I mashed the potatoes were very smooth. Finally, cook the potatoes in a pot with enough milk and butter to make the potatoes moist and creamy. Add salt and pepper to taste and there you go! You now have delicious mashed potatoes to serve to your guests.
The final must have for a Thanksgiving is cranberry sauce. Canned cranberry sauce is not available in Germany, however, Preiselbeeren sauce is similar in taste and is very delicious. But if you want the real deal, try making your own cranberry sauce. It's the simplest thing to make. Cook 1 cup of orange juice and 1 cup of sugar over a medium heat until the sugar has dissolved. Add 12 oz of fresh cranberries (you should be able to find these during this time). Cook the mixture until the cranberries start to pop and the sauce becomes a rich red color. The sauce will thicken as it cools. Place the sauce in the refrigerator until dinner. Serve the sauce at room temperature.
Hopefully these tips will make you feel a little more at home and will help you have a wonderful Thanksgiving abroad.
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