Since I started hosting my own Thanksgiving celebrations three years ago, it’s become hands-down my favorite holiday.
When I first started the tradition, I had absolutely no idea how to host Thanksgiving.
I’ve since learned that it’s a lot of fun, but also a lot of work.
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I also knew it wouldn’t be easy.
In the end, I pulled off a pretty convincing American Thanksgiving in Berlin.
Honestly, though, it was even more of a challenge than I expected.
I wasn’t the only American on the hunt for Thanksgiving food.
Here’s how it all went down.
But as Thanksgiving grew closer, the list grew smaller.
I heard a lot of, “Sorry, something came up.
I wasn’t the only American on the hunt for Thanksgiving food.
I’ll catch you next time!”
This is pretty common when youre planning a get-together, be it a birthday party or some other celebration.
But…thats not how Thanksgiving works!
you could’t just flake.
It’s not some run-of-the-mill happy hour.
Neither of those ingredients are available in Germany, so that dish was off the table.
My tiny Turkey.
To my disappointment, Parker House rolls were also a no-show on T-Day.
I wasn’t the only American on the hunt for Thanksgiving food.
In Berlin, Facebook groups are a big thing.
Sweet potato casserole for the win!
There are apartment hunting groups, lost and found groups, volunteer groups, even mental health groups.
And, of course, there are expat groups.
It was expensive, but it did end up making enough cranberry sauce forleftovers.
Since I’d gathered the ingredients, she agreed to pick up the pie tins.
Then, tragedy struck.
Apparently pies have a season in Germany, so I had to run to the nearest T.K.
They weren’t ideal, but they got the job done.
Because you just can’t have Thanksgiving without pie.
Only problem: The turkeys I did find were teeny.
(Still getting used to that metric system.)
Plus, it freed up more oven time for pie.
Another thing they don’t have here: Measuring cups or spoons.
Other than my metric system struggles, dinner came together pretty seamlessly.
Immediately, they were skeptical.
“Is this a religious thing?”
several of them asked.
Maybe it sounds lame, but it was a very sweet moment.
Sweet potato casserole for the win!
There was also the cheesiest mac and cheese, the fluffiest stuffing, and steakhouse-style mashed potatoesa true feast.
And I swear, I’m not just tooting my own horn when I say this.
Germans don’t sugarcoat anything, and they don’t hand out a compliment unless they really mean it.
And it wasn’t just him!
