A Belgian Thanksgiving

Hello dear readers, newlyweds here! Sorry for the lack of posts this month, but it's been a busy one! Mom came to visit a few weeks ago, we got to spend a wonderful weekend in Paris, and then we came home to the rather unpleasant surprise that we'd been robbed. It's been a difficult few weeks trying to get everything back in order, but things are just things and they can be replaced. All new security has been added to the building, so we're safe and sound... just a few laptops, ipods, cellular devices, etc short of normal.

However! That is NOT what I want this post to be about! THANKSGIVING is TOMORROW! And with my immense love for the Holiday season combined with the stress of the robbery, I have thrown my whole self into planning a fabulous first Thanksgiving with my husband (and our guest, Brigitte!) This entailed three separate trips to the market and five different stores, but a feast has officially been planned and I am currently staring with glee at all of the supplies scattered across the kitchen counter!

So what does one Martha Stewart-wannabe do for Thanksgiving when she's on another continent and there isn't a sweet potato in sight? She just gets a little creative. I didn't really plan it like this, but the menu for tomorrow is a nice mix of classic family favorites and new Belgian dishes. I know you're all just itching to know if the great Belgian-Bird-Drama of '11 has reached it's conclusion, and you'll be happy to know that it has. And because I know my mom will want to know, here's what's on the menu:

Starter: Pumpkin mozzarella soup with French bread
Sides: Cheddar and Gouda Mashed potatoes, and Aunt's Nancy's famous Broccoli Casserole :)
Main Dish: Bacon-wrapped garlic and herb Poussin! We'll each be having our very own Poussin, which is a "spring chicken," or young chicken. It feels slightly like a cop-out to have chicken for Thanksgiving, but it's really much more tender and juicier than normal (older?) chicken, and Poussin is a traditional European Holiday meal... aaaaand they fit in our tiny oven soooo...win win win!
Dessert: Mini Caramel Apple Spice tarts and Apple Pumpkin muffins
And our drink of choice will be Wassail! A delicious hot spiced cranberry cider recipe we had every year at the Wisconsin Singers holiday parties, and I usually find some excuse to make it every year since then because it's just so yummy!

Let's be honest, I'm cooking enough food for a family of twelve. You don't mind leftovers for a week, do you, honey? I'm just glad we were able to tie-in some old traditions with some new ones. This Thanksgiving will be a little different, this is obvious. We're on a completely different continent than our family and friends, without all the same traditions and foods that we're used to, but that's part of what will make this one so special. We're our own family now and it's time to start making our own traditions and our own memories.

This Thanksgiving, we're so thankful to God for this opportunity to be in Brussels. Even with all the ups and downs that it's brought, we would do it all again in a heartbeat. We're thankful we're able to spend it together and with Brigitte (!!!), and we're thankful for all of the love and support we can feel from our family even though we can't be together. Those, and a million other blessings, will make this a very thankful Belgian Thanksgiving. :)

On a less sappy note, check out our newest facebook album of our weekend in Paris!

We'd like to wish everyone a blessed Thanksgiving! We miss you all so much, we'll be home soon!

Love,
The Newlyweds