A Ghanaian-Style Thanksgiving

Clockwise from bottom right: sweet potatoes, deviled eggs, chicken, bread, stuffing, carrot salad, corn, ham-and-beans, green beans, coleslaw

Yesterday Mr. Joe and I hosted a dozen Ghanaian friends for Thanksgiving. We tried to mimic American dishes as closely as possible, but some items just couldn’t be exactly replicated. We had to be satisfied with Ghanaian-style chicken in lieu of turkey (and satisfied we were!!); we sautéed slivered almonds and onions to top the green beans instead of French-fried onions; and alas-and-alack, there were no marshmallows to top the sweet potatoes. For dessert we had strawberry jello with bananas, and fruit salad made of bananas/pineapple/papaya (mmmm!). The bread from a local bakery was the only baked item on the table, since we had no access to an oven.

Some of the dishes were a little strange for some of our friends…but most of them were pretty satisfied with the obruni food. ;) I have thoroughly enjoyed the Ghanaian food here (and in fact am getting treated to a very traditional dish tonight: banku), but a little taste of home was pretty sweet too.

Happy Thanksgiving! Truly we have much for which to be thankful. =)