I'm thankful for...

We definitely aren't Americans but that didn't stop me from hosting a Thanksgiving Dinner on Friday (American time, you know?).

As you are probably aware, The Husband is obsessed with American sports and declared on Thursday that he would like to eat some turkey to which my brother Joey got on board and low and behold, I was shopping for a turkey by 5pm. 

I also hustled to USA Foods in Moorabbin for some pumpkin pie in a can. I won't lie, I went to coles and looked for pumpkin in a can per the american recipe. What a doofus.

I arrived at USA Foods before they even opened the doors and just loitered out the front until the flipped the sign to 'open'. I can't believe I have never been there before, I was in and out in a flash but am looking forward to going back for some more artery clogging goodness.

Pumpkin Pie in a can. I like how the Americans think. 

I won't lie to you, I was freaking out about cooking a turkey. 

All internet articles mentioned that turkeys are notoriously dry and to just keep on basting them but let me tell you, my turkey was freaking good.

I surprised myself, and everyone else I am betting.

This is the recipe that I followed however my turkey was only about 2.5kg and I cooked it for 2.5 hours, basting it twice. 

No matter what, I always set my cutlery incorrectly. 

I know that it's wrong, I remind myself before I automatically do it, but I still go wrong.

I don't even eat left handed it's just the way my brain functions for some odd reason.

The Husband says "if you know it's wrong, change it" but it's just not that simple.

I didn't have any Thanksgiving themed decorations or place mats so I wrapped the place mats that I do have in a simple yet effective wrapping paper. I'm pretty impressed with my efforts, lets be honest.

It's nice to use the nicer things that don't get love every day. 

Salt & Pepper shakers - Whitehill

Champagne flutes - Vera Wang

Water jug - Don Sheil 

Vases - old spice containers (perfect bud vases)

Serving platters - Vera Wang

Filler flowers? Perhaps. 

Only $8 a bunch at coles? Definitely. 

I sauteed green beans in a shed load of butter and topped with slivered almonds.

Once again, they were delicious and I surprised myself.

My sister in law made delicious cauliflower and cheese, carrots and mash.

I had attempted to make cranberry sauce but it ended up like toffee with hard cranberries. 

Nothing that a can of the premade stuff couldn't sort out.

Joey took this photo of me and my weird bendy fingers without me knowing and Nelly cracks me up, just hanging out chewing on a bean. 

Does this photo make you want to wipe your computer screen? Me too.

Okay so I cheated on the pumpkin pie by using a can and a pre made base and it came back to bite me in the butt.  After cooling the prepared pie for two hours I tried to take it out of the aluminium casing, causing it to crack and begin to die. 

I propped up the cracked part with a teething rusk borrowed from Nelly and though that whipped cream would hide the situation.

A word of advice? Don't cover in whipped cream, it just sinks into the pumpkin pie filling and looks terrible. 

I have to say, I am not a fan of pumpkin pie. It just didn't feel like something that should be a dessert, or eaten at all for the matter. 

Perhaps its an acquired taste, like oysters.

Anyway, our faux thanksgiving was a success and I have too much in my life to be thankful for so I wont detail them here or we will be here all damn day.

Did you whip up a thanksgiving dinner? Where did I go wrong with my cranberry sauce and pumpkin pie?