Friday Routines - 11/28

Cleaning, cleaning, more cleaning and trying not to break the crystal…Thanksgiving is a messy business.

Ten guests and this is all that’s left from the 26lb monster I roasted yesterday. 

Everyone gobbled it up.   I admit, I was a on the nervous side with this one, but didn’t want to tell anyone.  I worried about getting it out of the roasting pan (I used a disposable one to ease the clean up, four actually one inside the other for major support and then put it on a cookie sheet hoping that would stop me from burning my hands - again). I worried about throwing my back out hauling the clucker in and out of the oven for basting (apple cider and butter mixture) and finally I worried about over cooking my stupidly big bird.  Well, not to worry, it all went fine.  The turkey was very moist with just a touch of salt flavor (brining is best!).  Nothing like a fresh bird.  This was the first time I had an Ashley Farms turkey it was a bit pricey, but well worth it…my butcher (Scotts) was right.  Now the left over process begins. So, the carcass is in the slow cooker, making stock and it’s turkey sandwiches galore. 

Then tonight it's turkey surprise.  The surprise being… ME…figuring out what to make.  Tetrazzini comes to mind, but we shall see.  And for the record…I’ll never ever get a bird that size again.  Next year I’ll max out at 15-20 pounds and roast a separate breast for sandwiches.  Now that the tryptophan has worn off I’m shaking my head…26lbs – what was I thinking???