Turkey Devoured

Belt Loosened


Well, I got through Thanksgiving Day little worse for the wear, and I couldn't have asked for a more appreciative audience than our dinner guests Bruce, Ski, and Walt provided.

I like guests that walk in the door with bottles and bottles of wine, liquor and dessert, then insist on leaving the leftovers.

Likewise, a better kitchen assistant could not be found to have exceeded Pat's efforts. She managed to put together a new baked sweet potato dish and a Hors d'oeuvre tray, all the while avoiding being yelled at or stepped on by my size 13 feet while I spun in circles around her. I'm afraid that I'm a tyrant in the kitchen when I'm cooking.

After a couple of hours of conversation and cocktails had slipped by, we had also made a serious dent in three pounds of spiral sliced ham, a really juicy five pound turkey breast that spent the night brining in the fridge, a pot of smashed red potatoes, a pan of cornbread stuffing, a big boat of turkey gravy, and a fairly mediocre pot of last minute green beans (I have high standards for fresh vegetables).

I made perhaps the best 12" pone of cornbread I've ever made, using bacon grease because of it's low cholesterol properties. It was almost a shame to have to crumble it up in a bowl and soak it with chicken stock to make stufffing with. I don't think that anybody missed the little wedge that I consumed in my quality control efforts.

I also tested out a new baked apple dish to which I have to give mixed reviews. It involved coring the apples, slicing them into thick, thick slices, and then stacking them back up in a baking dish stuffed and layered with a chutney of pitted dates, apricots, and port wine sauce; then baking them in the oven for a while. I used giant Granny Smith apples, and it was good, but not great. I think that they need to bake longer at a lower temperature next time.

Oh well, like I always say, if you can't test out new dishes on close friends and family, who else can you risk poisoning?

Now it's back to the theater again on Friday for a few hours of set construction--It's really tough being me...