This past weekend I was lucky enough to celebrate Thanksgiving multiple times with family and friends. On Thursday I enjoyed a wonderful meal with about 20 of my closest family and friends. We had everything from mashed potatoes, turkey, steamed broccoli, sweet potato fries with melted marshmallows on top, onion gravy, cranberry sauce and so much more. Every Thanksgiving we like to incorporate our Russian traditions into the Thanksgiving dinner including a variety of dishes that include fish, salads and other recipes. Even though we are Russian, my family really appreciates the holiday because they give thanks to our country for allowing them and us to be here. They are thankful to America for letting them in 30 years ago, letting them start a life for themselves and their children. Its safe to say that after my meal on Thursday everyone in that house had to be rolled outside to their cars because of how full we were. But the food didn’t stop there. On Friday, my friends and I decided to have a “Friendsgiving.” At 12 pm, all the girls gathered at my friends house to start cooking. We began with the turkey, putting all of the stuffing inside of it, which consisted of dried fruits and rice. After, we wrapped the whole turkey in bacon and placed it in the oven for it to start cooking. Then, we began preparing the side dishes such as baked mac and cheese and pizza bread. Our pizza bread consisted of tomato sauce, cheese, onions, garlic, and a few other spices. Following the bread, we made steamed vegetables: string beans, broccoli, peas, and some others. At about 4 pm, everyone else joined us at my friends house to indulge in this delicious meal. 

This is what our meal looked like, two portions of everything and the turkey that was wrapped in bacon. It wasn’t exactly a very traditional Thanksgiving dinner but that was the point. We incorporated our own ideas and favorite dishes into this Friendsgiving dinner. Last but not least, my family and I indulged in our last turkey of the year this past Sunday. My mom has an adult day care business in which the elderly absolutely adore my mother. Therefore, one of the grandmothers decided to make my mom a turkey to show gratitude for everything she has done for the center and everyone within it. 

This is the turkey that the grandmother prepared for my mom. My brother, my mom, my dad and I enjoyed this wonderfully delicious meal Sunday night to put an end to Thanksgiving.