I honestly can’t believe that this year’s Thanksgiving is already over.  There was so much planning and time that went into it and the week leading up to it was a huge whirlwind of pumpkin pies. All of that craziness ended in putting together a dinner for 30 people and now, two days later, and it’s all over.  Part of me is sad about that (because I love Thanksgiving and because I love hosting big parties), but also a part is relieved nothing got burned, no wine got spilled, and everyone had a great time.

Let’s back up and talk about the fact that from Tuesday to Thursday night, I made over 65 pumpkin pies.

It was an insane amount of work (I baked for 17 hours on Wednesday!), but it was not nearly as stressful as past years due to the fact that I don’t have another job to go to during the day.  In past years, I had to fit in baking pies (in a toaster oven, mind you) around working for 4+ hours a day (and the commute), while trying not to alienate my roommates.  This year, I knew it would all get done (assuming the oven wouldn’t break)- it was just a matter of making the pies and having the energy to do it.  By Wednesday afternoon, I had completely sold out of pies (meaning, I was out of 3 cases of pumpkin (72 cans total!)) and I promised myself I WAS NOT MAKING ANYMORE PIES OR ACCEPTING MORE ORDERS.  Imagine my surprise when I found myself running to Taste of America for more pumpkin (13 more cans).  What can I say?  I love baking, but even more, I love giving the pies to all of these people that came all the way to my house for them and getting to hear about their Thanksgiving plans.  My doorman (portero) 100% thinks I am a drug dealer, but…. that’s ok!  It was a long and exhausting week, but it all led to Friday’s extravaganza of getting ready for our Thanksgiving 2018 party.

My good friend, Sarah, graciously offered to come over and help set up, so with her help, we were able to pull it all off.  I baked the last 3 pies on Friday morning while starting to prepare the other dishes.

Last year, I made the mistake of thinking I would bake the other food after the turkey was done roasting, but this year I learned from that and did the ‘other baking’ earlier in the day.  I roasted the butternut squash for the fall salad, then roasted the potatoes, then baked off the mushroom stuffing and the sweet potato casserole (which I prepped the day before during a pie “break”).  Once those were out of the oven, I got started on the turkey.  This thing was MASSIVE, but didn’t have those same beautiful, long legs as last year.

I called my Mom in a panic to ask about what I need to do with the FEATHERS still attached to the thing.  She told me to pluck them out!  Still gives me the heeby geebys when I think about it!!!  We followed a recipe that calls for stuffing it with oranges, lemons, and vegetables, and rubbing herbs all over it and then pouring beer on top (a very drunk turley, we had!) before throwing it in the oven (more like gently placing it in the oven cause that was one heavy bird).

Once the turkey was peacefully roasting, we got to work!

We had to set up the living room for 30 people (not an easy feat) and there may or may not have been 4 people eating on the ironing board and 2 people eating on a covered Bose box.  

We heated up tortillas, made cheese plates, put crackers and chips and pretzels and peanuts and olives into bowls, added cranberry sauce to bowls, opened up bottles of wine (we finished TWELVE bottles of wine… and a bottle of rum… over the course of the night).  We turned on the fire place (as you see above), got the music going, and then got ourselves ready.  Of course, none of this was as fast as it looks and Sarah and I worked non-stop for over 5 hours.  SHE IS A LIFESAVER!

Sarah is on the right, and Cristina is in the middle- also one of my best friends here <3

By 9.30, we were running around putting the final touches on everything, and then we took some time to get ready.  Do you think I was a sweaty, greasy mess after working all day?  I was.  But… I think we cleaned up nicely!  

People started arriving right at 9.30 ish (I literally put 9:30 ish) on the invite and they followed.  By 10:00, Luis said, “Bruja. how many people are coming?!” Hhaha

We pulled the turkey out of the oven, and I have to say, I am so proud of how it turned out!

I was smiling but also saying “take the darn picture before I drop this thing!!!”

No one wanted to give the carving a go, so it was up to me…

We may or may not have had to Google “how to remove the legs and wings from a turkey”, but you know Google knows it all.  We added the turkey to the spread of food and called everyone in to feast!  It was potluck style and people brought the most delicious foods!  Let’s see if I can remember, but there was: stuffing, homemade mac and cheese, homemade cheesey something with bacon, bacon wrapped dates, a potato- zucchini bake, deviled eggs, the things I made, and more.  The only thing I would do differently next year is add little cards with what everything is because while us Americans know what most things are, the Spaniards didn’t know everything.

People claimed their seats- the kings and queens and princes and princesses at the tables, and the peasants on the floor.  Lol.

The aftermath:

After a couple hours, we whipped out the pumpkin pie (one that I could hardly bare to taste… I was knee-deep in pumpkin all week and wanted nothing to do with it on Friday).

Then out came the cocktails and the rest of the night got… fuzzy haha, but it was SO MUCH FUN.

I am so very thankful for all of these people (and the 10 or so that left before this photo was taken, including my brother) that make Madrid feel like home.  Already looking forward to Thanksgiving 2019!

And thankful for him!  (The photo was too blurry in color…)