Kiwi Thanksgiving

Tonight Jude prepared a Kiwi-enhanced Thanksgiving meal. She spent all day in the kitchen looking up American traditional recipes, inquiring about how Katie's and my family celebrate the holiday and the fare we feast on.

She made stuffed chicken the size of a small turkey, mashed potatoes with butter and fresh herbs, kumera- a native sweet potato, salad from the garden, homemade bread and pumpkin pie with butterscotch ice cream. When she couldn't match an entree exactly she improvised inlcuding serving black currant and balsamic dressing instead of cranberry sauce. I usually don't eat the stuffing, but I scrapped the bowl clean with my spoon. Her homemade crusts and pie had me eating in the smallest bites I could managed to make the sweet pumpkin and spice last as long as possible.

Jude has a magnet on her fridge that says, “The torch of love is lit in th kitchen,” and I tasted her love and nurturing spirit in every bite.

The elderly German couple staying at the B&B, Jude, Roger, Katie and I toasted glasses of Sauvignon Blanc to gratitude and an American holiday we were all thankful for.

Earlier in the day I sent my love 17 hrs ( I called them at 7 a.m. Friday my time, which was 2 p.m. Thursday in Ohio) back in time to member of my family in the States who were feasting on their own Thanksgiving festivities.

Holidays don't mean much without loved ones to share them with and I was happy to hear their familiar voices. My grandma coralled everyone up near the phone, so we could all chat over the speaker. My young cousin asked when I would be home and another gave me his best monkey impression.

The day was executed in a familiar fashion, so even though I was miles away I knew how everyone was carrying on without me.

I love being abroad, but today I missed home.

Jude replicated our traditions better that the real deal (foodwise...sorry family), but she couldn't replace the people.