Good Eats

Thanksgiving plans took a giant turn this year, but I still felt like having a Thanksgiving meal. Well, guess what? I have never cooked one. I thought when I got married that we'd have a traditional Thanksgiving every year. But what exactly is traditional? Simply what you are used to, I guess. I learned that holidays didn't have to be as they were for several years prior. I learned that you could have a pleasant holiday without what you felt was necessary. We have spent so many Thanksgivings traveling, I can't remember the last Thanksgiving that I didn't go anywhere. I think it was the Thanksgiving just after our honeymoon, when Jesse was in Cuba and I was at home with my parents.

Well, when it became clear that we were going to be homebound for Thanksgiving 2012, I decided that I wanted to cook my first Thanksgiving meal. Guess what? It was pretty darn good for a rookie! This is the second time this pan has been used since we registered for it nine years ago! (I think Jesse's parents used it when they visited us in Weinheim for one Christmas...if not, then this was the first time it has been used.)

Turkey going in...

And, it came out burnt. It was black. I didn't take a picture of it because I just wanted to eat something and clean up the mess before heading off to surgery the next morning with Fletcher. It was crisp, but tender under the skin. It was something I was glad that nobody was there to witness, aside from my lovely neighbor Heather. It was humourous to me. But, I'll tell you something...it was delicious underneath. So, it served as great Thanksgiving leftovers that I had planned for the week following Fletcher's surgery!

Jump ahead a bit...I was invited to a friend's friend's house for Thanksgiving and quickly my obligation for food changed from nothing to...Can you bring a turkey? I was so glad that I had tried a turkey the week before! This time, I tried a different recipe, but look how golden it turned out! It was great once again, although nobody got to enjoy it for the actual Thanksgiving Dinner. It was left on the counter. However, I'm certain that it, too, provided wonderful Thanksgiving leftovers for a few people!

I must say, I'm glad that my first few times of cooking the big bird were times where I didn't feel any pressure. Now I know I can do it when we want a "traditional" meal! And, possibly when we want to host a Thanksgiving Meal!