Happy Thanksgiving!

"Gracias a la vida que me ha dado tanto..."

We celebrated Thanksgiving a day early here in Valladolid at the Universidad de Oriente - and we went all out! The English department hosted a dinner for about about 30 university faculty and staff members and we cooked everything in the university's industrial kitchen, right alongside our students (chefs-in-training) who were taking a final exam. I was making the salad as they were busily whisking bechamels, pureeing vegetables, and simmering tomato sauces. I felt like I was making Thanksgiving on the set of Top Chef!
As for our meal, we made two large turkeys, and we had a huge pan of stuffing, a large pitcher of gravy, an enormous pot of mashed potatoes, and another of mashed sweet potatoes. We also had a big salad and some peas and carrots. For dessert, one of the UNO faculty members made three amazing pumpkin pies from scratch (the local pumpkins are very much in season) and we made our own as well: two huge pans of apple crisp. We had vanilla ice cream to go with both.
Cooking in the huge UNO kitchen was great (and a nice change from the little kitchenette in my apartment). It was interesting, as well, to get the chance to see my Gastronomy students in their element, wearing chefs' whites, cooking up a storm.
Everyone ate a lot and it was a big success, I would say, based on the empty plates and bowls. Overall, all of us in the English department put a lot of effort into it and it was a lot of work, but it felt great to be involved in something culturally familiar, and to have our Mexican colleagues here be so enthusiastic to share in the experience. And of course, I love a good turkey dinner!
Happy Thanksgiving to you all!