Thanksgiving table in Italy true blessing

When my husband and I returned from living in Italy for the past year, we knew we'd had an experience of a lifetime. We studied Italian for a year, read everything we could get our hands on about Italian culture and what documents we would need and prepared for whatever a new life there would bring and what we could give back to Italy as expats there.

We lived in the small hill town of Montefalco, in the Umbria region of Italy, known as the Green Heart of Italy. It seemed perfect for two people from the Pacific Northwest, and we have fallen in love with this area of Italy.

We met incredible people, and many will remain friends for our lifetime. As you can imagine, there are many stories and experiences from 14 months of living there, but this one seems appropriate with Thanksgiving approaching.

One of our friends, an expat from West Chester, Pa., who owns and operates a B&B outside the walls of Montefalco, had promised her Italian neighbors and friends she would one day serve an American Thanksgiving to them all. That day came last year on the Saturday before our traditional Thanksgiving.

They all were excited because they had seen movies of our Thanksgivings and had wanted to taste things like stuffing, mashed potatoes with giblet gravy (not even knowing what that was), pumpkin pie and all that was part of our Thanksgiving feast that we take for granted.

There are many items that are not part of the Italian diet: cranberries, yams, pecans, canned pumpkin and those canned French-fried onion rings. We wrote to friends and family and requested these items, knowing they might not be there in time for the dinner.

An order for a big turkey was placed with Davide, the local macceleria (butcher shop) in Montefalco. John and I made green-bean casserole and French-fried onion rings made from tempura batter we had found in Spain.

Angela, an expat from England, brought back garnet yams from Barcelona, and Susan, our hostess, bought canned pumpkin-pie filling in London on a visit with friends. The dinner was beginning to take shape.

Our friends were coming from Seattle to spend Thanksgiving in Italy with us, and they graciously brought fresh cranberries, pecans and Miracle Whip (for the day-after sandwiches) stuffed in their suitcases.

As all 14 of us sat down to the beautiful table with the huge turkey laid out in splendor, there was a gasp from the Italians. "It is just like the movies," they all exclaimed in wonder.

As all the serving dishes were passed around, our Italian friends asked if the food was all to be placed on the same plate. Do you eat it all at once? They were amazed you would not eat all this food in courses, as they do with their meals.

It was a Thanksgiving we will never forget and one that embodies the meaning of it. We were so thankful to have shared this experience with such an incredible gathering of people. Our Italian friends still talk about this meal and want to have another one this year.

Candace Sheehan lives in Seattle.

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