Just Family
As we were getting ready for Thanksgiving yesterday I was fussing at the boys a bit to pick up. They were relatively good natured about it, Owen clearing the table and putting laundry away and Leo vacuuming. And as they did it, Owen commented that, "you know, it's just family coming over." It made me so happy to hear that he thinks of our friends Teri and Brian that way. Our family is small and so when our chosen family becomes real family to the guys, it brings me great joy.
The dinner may not have been my best, but the turkey was wonderful if I do say so myself, and the sum was greater than its parts. It was a lovely day.
I dry-brined (formerly known as salting---a comment I read online that amused me) the turkey with aleppo pepper and thyme....I think Ernie did it Tuesday morning. I dithered a bit trying to decided what temperature, etc. to cook it. We were kind of intrigued with several articles we'd read recently that recommended roasting it until the white meat was done, then removing the legs and thighs and finishing them by braising them in the cooking juices for another hourish. We decided we would try it. I started the turkey at 450 for a half hour, then turned it down to 325. I checked the temperature of the white meat about an hour before I thought it would be done.....the freaking thing was done. Way earlier than I wanted and no chance to braise the dark meat. I worried a bit that I had over cooked it but we just shrugged our shoulders. Our guests weren't even here yet so I decided to cover the turkey. So yes, we used my Dad's turkey cover (and my sister Debbie reminded me that when Dad bought that from Marshall Field's antiques department, without telling my mother, he not only had it delivered to the office, but also had it gift wrapped. So when my mother opened it, she first thought it was a lovely gift, only to find out her husband had bought it for an ungodly amount of money and not told her. Man she was pissed. It was always best to give Mom a heads up....she wasn't crazy about surprises). I wondered if it would fit over the turkey....Ernie grabbed it and dusted it off (and no it's not polished, and no, we never could find the mark on it Jim and Diana...maybe this year) and it fit perfectly over our 21 lb turkey still in it's roasting pan. We giggled with delight! My father would be so pleased----between this and Leo's 100% on the Constitution test, my Dad is having a hell of a great week in heaven!!! (poor wording perhaps?). I got to enjoy my favorite part of Thanksgiving....the cook's treat of nibbling the top of the stuffing that get dark brown and crunchy in the oven. No matter all the advice not to put the stuffing in the turkey....I must say the white meat was delightfully moist, the dark meat completely done and my gravy was stellar thanks to the gravy base I'd made ahead and the lovely pan drippings!
Teri and Brian showed up, we hung out, sipped prosecco and nibbled on lovely appetizers they brought. They make a gingerbread house every year....eventually putting it outside so that their cat can be entertained watching the squirrels devour it. I love that! So Brian and Owen started on the construction of it.
We still ate an hour and a half later than I had planned, even with the turkey done earlier. It's not a matter of cooking, it's just a matter of me liking to prolong that time before dinner, drinking wine and chatting....I hate to end it. Eventually we did pull everything together. We sat and ate....it was so fun to use my mother's Spode, the sterling and I filled in with the Coin Silver spoons which were still beautifully polished from last year. It gives me such pleasure to use these things. Ernie and I picked out a selection of some of our favorite flint goblets to use. We ended with Bull's Eye and Fleur de Lys, Bellflower, Frosted Leaf, Comet, New England Pineapple and Lincoln Drape. I guess those details are for you Jim and Diana, because I don't who else will be interested in that. I told Ernie my new goal is to get a Bull's Eye and Diamond Point goblet....have never gotten one.
Afterwards we sat and talked at the dining room table. Leo told them all about the Union Pacific Big Boy and other train engines, Brian worked on the gingerbread house, Owen danced throughout periodically, and Ernie and I were happy. We put a fire in the fireplace and talked some more. I packed up some leftovers for Brian and Teri and the evening slowly drifted away.
Thanks to Teri and Brian, and a belated Happy Thanksgiving to all our relatives and friends who make up our family. We are indeed grateful and thankful.