We had been asking around to try and find a suitable restaurant serving a traditional thanksgiving dinner whilst we were here in Hampton.  We had expected that this would not be too difficult to find - it would be something like Christmas day at home, some places open and do a traditional style set menu, probably in a local hotel.  However, this was not the case, all the girls working at the bar in the marina tried really hard to think of somewhere, but there seemed to be nowhere suitable.  After a short while, Sara, came back and said she had spoken to her mum, and we were most welcome to join them at their home, another 2 would make no difference as they were cooking for 20 already!  This was the perfect answer, a real Thanksgiving family experience.

Thanksgiving is very important in America as it is the only festival celebrated by everyone, regardless of religion.  Christmas is less important because of that.  Also, here in Virginia is where it all started with the first English colonists, and this is where the first Thanksgiving was celebrated.  Hampton is actually longest continually English speaking settlement in America.  

We were a little nervous as we arrived at the house, as we hadn't met our hosts, but were assuming that if they were anything like Sara, they would be charming and friendly.  As soon as the door was opened, it seemed we were immediately part of the family, we were warmly greeted by everyone there and, as there were so many people, we instantly forgot names, and spent the rest of the day trying to work out who was related to who - there were four generations of family at the party!  This however made no difference at all and we had a wonderful day with them, we were really pleased to have been invited.

Dinner was a real treat. There was a table set up in the first room which was the 'buffet' table.  In the main dining area, there was one table set for dinner, where Sara's parents and their siblings sat.  In the lounge area there were two 'emergency' trestle tables and chairs where the rest of us sat, keeping half an eye on the American football match.  The big match however was after dinner, the whole family are big Washington Redskins fans and thankfully the result was in their favour.  We had been warned in advance that football made everyone quite boisterous - it was a great atmosphere. 

The food - where to start?  For the main course we had:

Turkey 

Ham

Mash potatoes

Sweet potato casserole

String bean casserole

Broccoli casserole

Oyster casserole

Stuffing

Cranberry sauce

Sprouts

Mac & cheese

Cornbread pudding

Rice

Gravy

 The main course spread

Then for dessert there was a choice of:

Pound cake

Apple pie

Pumpkin pie

Sweet potato bread pudding with praline sauce

Coconut pie

Marshmallow bake

Chocolate chip cookies

Petit fours

 The dessert spread

 Sara's pound cake

Whilst we tried to sample all the dishes for the main course, we couldn't do that with dessert, so we had some of the pound cake, made by Sara, to her Grandmother's recipe, in her Grandmother's tin, and some apple pie.  Both were delicious!  I have seen pound cake before in supermarkets and it is always loaf shaped, so I thought that was where the name came from, the pound sized tin it was baked in - not so.  The actual recipe for pound cake is 1 pound each of flour, sugar, butter and eggs, as you can imagine it is very rich!  This wasn't made quite the same, a few less eggs, only 6, and with the addition of vanilla, and I think lemon as well.

After all the food and wine, we left about 9pm, having had a great day and making a lot of new friends as well.  

 John and I with our host family.

Thanksgiving is always followed by 'Black Friday' - this is mega sale day and is similar to our Boxing Day sales.  It is a chance for retailers to get back into the 'Black' and raise their profits pre-Christmas.  I was warned yesterday, NOT on any account to go shopping today, as there are more people killed on Black Friday, or injured due to other peoples obsession with getting a bargain than there are in the entire US ski season!  Can you imagine, it makes Boxing Day seem quite tame!  People have been known to queue for days leading up to the sales starting.  I was advised if I did venture out, to go armed with at least pepper spray - I have decided it is far safer to stay in!!  We are leaving tomorrow to head south to Charleston, so I have plenty to keep myself occupied!