How NOT to Cook Your Thanksgiving Turkey
Posted: Saturday, October 11, 2008
by Sandra E. Graham
My Books and Articles
Packing a couple of suitcases-just enough clothes for a four-day stay-Papa and I checked all the doors and windows, then headed out to garage and loaded up our suitcases. Backing out of the garage, I mentally checked over our list of things to take and things to do before we left. Just as the garage door touched down, I asked Papa,
"Did you put the cat out?"Back behind the wheel again, we sit and go over our list of do's and don'ts before I turn the key on this time. I think we have everything, clothes, toothbrushes, heavy coats-it's much colder up near the Missouri border-and water pills. After closing the garage down for the third time, we have finally made it down the drive to the highway.
"Don't ask me if we have forgotten anything else, because I'm not going back." Papa is a bit testy now. So I just give him the look. Then smiling sweetly I turn onto the highway and go North to our daughter's home for her-first-time-ever-to-cook Thanksgiving Dinner.
I had always cooked dinner at our house for our three children and their families so this year was a much-looked-forward-to break from the kitchen and the aftermath. If you have ever cooked for a large family, then you know what it's like-you wash dishes three times as you cook and at least twice afterward! And the cooking. My, oh, my! You have to start cooking the night before! I was curious to see how my daughter fared, this being her first time.
Three hours later we entered her front door to the smell of warm pumpkin pie, turkey in the oven, fresh baked yeast rolls-goodness, I'm getting hungry! There is nothing like the smell of Thanksgiving or Christmas cooking on a cold winter's day. Eggnog and Hot toddies (no alcohol for me, please) but the smell is incredible. Freshly baked pies and cookies and loving smiles all around. Family gatherings are wonderful. Heads bow all around the table and Papa says grace. "Thank you, Lord, for this bountiful table and bless this family as we sit together in Your loving grace. Amen."
Then everyone begins to talk at once as the food is passed around. My daughter's husband stands at the head of the table and smiles as he begins to carve the guest of honor, a huge beautifully browned and luscious looking turkey. Looking around the table, I pick up the gravy boat and pour gravy onto my mashed potatoes. The gravy looks a bit strange-not like my gravy.
"Dear, where are the giblets?" I look questioningly at my daughter.
"Where's the neck?" Papa always wants the turkey neck-his favorite part of the turkey.
Her mouth full; my daughter can't speak right away, so she just frowns and looks around the table.
"Whaaa….?" She finally manages around the yeast roll on which she's munching.
Oh, dear. We all look at the turkey. Sure enough, my son-in-law digs his hand into the turkey innards and pulls out a bag still filled with the turkey parts.
Then all eyes go to my daughter. Her face has turned bright red to match her sweater.
"Nobody told me." She had finally emptied her mouth, as we all had or we would certainly have choked from laughing so hard.
I guess the moral of this little pre-Thanksgiving Day tale is to remember to remove the turkey giblets from the bag-before cooking the turkey. You will need some of them to put in the gravy. Rest assured that your mother or mother-in-law will be quick to notice if they are missing!
Sign up Now to be a SearchWarp author:
http://www.SearchWarp.com/Register.asp
Sandra E. Graham, author, AMOS JAKEY and NICOLINA published by American Book Publishing. I also write book reviews for authors through Book Pleasures. Visit my website for more information on my books that are in print now and reviews I have written.
http://www.sandragraham-articles-books.com
This Article has been viewed 893 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
More commentsDear Sandra, what a nice gesture of yours :)I think it is quite convenient to hear a nice way of cooking from a person, who sounds to be pretty professional, though.Thank you for your information and I thank you for your lovely way. It doubles the joy of reading your article dear Sandra.big Hugz,Sandra.Thank you, Anna, for reading and commenting.Welcome to searchwarp.Sandra
I loved this one, Grannie. Mom needs to read it--although, she might get upset that hundreds of people will now know about her first turkey! Ha.Love you. BrittanyThank you, sweet Brittany. Glad you liked the article. Hope your mom does, too.Love ya.Grannie
Nice homespun story. I liked that the punch line (finding the giblets, neck, etc.) wasn't made up or exaggerated - just true and thus more funny. I suppose the greater humor is in knowing the people around the table - it's gotta be funnier to you. But, we all know those, "getting out the door on a trip" trips back for stuff. We also know those table moments when everybody laughs. Thanks.Thank you so much, Amos, for reading and commenting. Glad you liked the article.My father's name was Amos--you might like to check out my website and read my book about him (AMOS JAKEY). I think you would like it.Also, Welcome to Searchwarp, glad to have you join us.Sandra
That was another wonderful story. I love to read your stories, they are always great. Funny thing is, I bet that happens all to often! hahaThank you for reading and commenting, Freida. Yes, I'm sure this happens a lot. I'm glad you liked the article.Sandra
Funny, funny story. I'm sure everyone got a great laugh out of that. But, Miss Freida is right, it does happen quite often to young homemakers.Good story. Loved it.Annonomous.Thanks, Annonmous. I'm glad you enjoyed the article. It was a fun time for all of us and the turkey really was delicous--even with its innards still bagged up.Sandra
Ok Sandra... now that your story has been out for a while and hopefully everyone has read it.... I'll confess... I've done that too.... several times... My turkeys are always perfectly cooked - I've got that down pat, but when I get up at 5 am on Thanksgiving Day, I just seem to forget about those stupid giblets and the neck - why do they need to freeze them inside the bird anyway!!?? I decided to just make it MY tradition to cook the giblets inside the turkey - maybe that's the secret to my perfect turkeys and I just don't know it. Why mess with something that works??.... I make white gravy anyway. :)Thank you so much, Jean. Apparently it is not all that uncommon. And my daughter's turkey suffered not at all from the misplaced giblets. It was eaten down to the wishbone with none to spare! Beats me why they do that--I guess it just keeps them from getting lost?????Sandra
Very passionate writer! Writes very well and does a great job painting a picture. However, articles about cooking are not for me.Thanks so much, Marc. But, yes, we all have our 'druthers'---cooking isn't for me, either--I'd 'druther' be fishing.Welcome to Searchwarp. I'm looking forward to finding out what your interests are in writing.Sandra
Ha ha ha...I love the pictures that you put Sandra! Again a good piece from the "Bag of Sandra's experience". God bless you...Thanks so much, TC. I'm glad you enjoy the little pictures I stick on my articles. Have and good day and God bless you.Sandra
Hi Sandra,Found your article very interesting. Hope your family is well.RegardsJohnThank you so much, John, for reading and commenting. Have a good day.Sandra
Great fun at a family gather. Always good to share. Great article, I loved it.Chuck.Thanks so much, Chuck. Glad you enjoyed the article.Sandra
More comments
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.