Although Thanksgiving abroad is a regular old day here in the Middle East, I can make it special. My family, especially my son-in-law, loves American food, and Thanksgiving is his fave.
Each year that I have lived here, I have ordered a fresh turkey from a specialty shop in Dubai. It’s expensive, about 250 AED, but so far it’s been worth it to have the biggest I could find, because I break it down afterwards for a variety of leftovers: turkey enchiladas, turkey pot pie, open face turkey sandwiches with gravy, you know, the regular stuff.
This year, though, for some reason, turkey prices are outrageous. A hefty $10 USD per kg. Which adds up. So my SIL and I, neither one, is willing to pay $500-$700 for a turkey. I am going to use whole chickens instead, with all the regular fixin’s. It’s not a big deal because no one here is keen on leftovers like we Americans. I have learned to cook just enough.
The holiday magic is subtle, as it is just another day here. But the afternoon meal is just about the right time of day to carve up a turkey (or chicken). Everyone is home from school and work.
It’s a challenge to find some of the traditional supplies; I had no luck finding fresh or frozen cranberries this year. I usually get stuffing shipped over from Amazon, as well as big turkey cooking bags. I definitely have to plan ahead.
The best part is getting to watch the Thanksgiving Day Parade at the end of the day, as we all plop down, overstuffed and happy and starting to think about pie.
