Canadian Thanksgiving

I was able to experience my first Canadian Thanksgiving and well, it wasn't that much different.  Minus mom's home cooking, the food was pretty much the same.  The only major difference, it was on a Monday and it wasn't really that big of a deal.  There wasn't any special football game, except for Monday night football.  I was fortunate enough to experience a double dose of Thanksgiving, Saturday with family friends and then Sunday with Shereen and her family.

Shereen and I made all the sides including:  brussel sprouts with onions, apple pieces, and bacon, baked carrots with honey and rosemary, mashed potatoes, Stove Top stuffing, cranberry sauce from a can, and leftover sweet potato casserole from the day before, while her brother prepared the turkey with butter, herbs, and bacon.  The meal was quite the feast and topped off with a bit of white wine and some pumpkin as well as pecan pie we picked up at Safeway.  The group included Shereen, her brother and father, her dad's grandparents, as well as myself and another friend.  

I found it a bit humorous how her father and grandparents quite often praised her brother for making the Turkey, but said little to Shereen about the sides.  It must be a cultural thing where more respect is paid to the males, because I think they like Shereen.  Just an observation and as in the past, I may be wrong.  Alas, I'm done and here are the photos from the meal we had Monday.  Lots to be thankful for...

 (Shereen was getting artsy with the water)

 (The dining room table with the place settings)

(Her brother as he carved the turkey)

(A close up shot of the bird)

(A plate with all the goodies - carrots, brussel sprouts, cranberry sauce - obviously not my plate - turkey, sweet potato casserol, mashed potatoes, and stuffing.)

 (Here's the feast laid out on the table)

 (I think Shereen was pretty proud of herself so she took a few pictures of the food)

(Her grandpa was great - Muhammad, and we had quite a few laughs.  He's from Iran and a beekeeper and had some great stories to tell.  I think he got in a little bit of trouble for telling me some of his stories, but none of them upset me...)

(Dad Sayeed, brother Justin, grandpa, Shereen, and her grandmother Vagi)