iankh
It's never done till it's overdone
- Joined
- Jan 8, 2005
- Messages
- 7,181
Happy Friday all.
Well, Thanksgiving 2009 is now over. What a frenzy we had yesterday! It was actually a rather laid back and quiet day until about 30 minutes before the guests arrived and then all hell broke loose!
This was the first year I used the electric roaster, and I have to say that I will never go back to using the regular oven!
This was the electric roaster that when everything was sorted out, I got paid $1 to take home.
The dining room which is next to the kitchen was emptied, because the dining table was moved to the front room.
I had the roaster on a folding table in there. The turkey itself was browned for about 40 minutes in a hot oven to sear it and then plopped in the roaster.
I did have the annual thermometer disaster. For the life of me I don't know why after so many years I have not learned where to stick a meat thermometer in a turkey!
The turkey had been in the roaster for only about 1.75 when the thermometer started beeping. I knew it was impossible for a 16.5 pound turkey to cook in that short a time. The turkey came out .... probe, probe, probe, with the thermometer. Back into the roaster, ten minutes later beeping again.
Finally, 5 tries later I got the thermometer in the right place.
Ultimately, the turkey went in at 2:30 p.m. and was done at 5:30 p.m. The most remarkable thing was I never basted the turkey. Just added a little broth over it to supply liquid half way through and that was all.
There was a fair bit of experimenting, considering that this was the first year for brining and the first year for the electric roaster. It was also the first year I've every roasted a turkey unstuffed.
I think I can safely say that everyone LOVED the turkey. There have been friends who have been coming for years and thought that this was the tenderest, moistest and most flavorful.
I have to admit myself that this was the best one I've ever done. The brining added tenderness and flavor, but I think the roaster also contributed a lot, because the cooking space is small there is more vapor and steam in the cooking process.
As I said, browning is a challenge, but between searing it for the first 40 minutes and a browning concoction I painted it with, it came out looking very greeting card-esque.
On Wednesday there was a panic because we thought we might not have enough food, so I added in another dish, green beens sautéed in olive oil with garlic and lemon.
Doing this meant I had to reheat and plate all of the dishes I made in advance AND 3 dishes to finish in 30 minutes before dinner. This is the most number of dished I've had to do at the last minute.
I had to finish the mashed potatoes in ranch dressing, do the brussel sprouts in cream, garlic, basil and pecans, and also do the green beans.
Three dishes to finish at the last minute was really too much.
Prior to this everything was calm. The turkey was out of the roaster and resting. I had done the washing up from the roaster and even finished the gravy.
Then, bedlam!
Unfortunately, I never got to socialize before dinner because I was busy doing the last minute prep.
As it turns out we had more than enough food. Our upstairs neighbors were no-shows for dinner so instead of 11 we were 9. As it was we had enough food for about 14!
Next year, there will not be so many last minute dishes!
I'm so glad that I did so much videoing in advance, because during dessert, our friend Martin reminded me that I had bought a wine to go with dessert.
Kudos to our wine merchant! The wine they selected for me to pair with dessert was perfect and fantastic! I must pop in there today and complement them.
It was really a lovely evening. I think that Jackie's sister Dianne had a nice time. I was a bit concerned considering that she was the only woman among an all male dinner!
It took me until 2:00 a.m. to unwind last night and finally go to bed. I woke up today at the unheard of hour of 8:45 a.m.! The only reason I woke up was because Truman started woofing because he wanted his breakfast. I had literally passed out!
Something that also really worked out well was having the wine and cheese set out in our den prior to the guests arriving. That meant that people congregated in there, rather than in the kitchen as they usually do, crowding me in when I need to get stuff done.
This morning I ache. I've taken ibuprofen. I could hardly walk when I got out of bed! When I fed the dogs, I couldn't even bend over to put their bowls down. I had to very gently lean against the wall and slowly squat down.
We have no plans for today. No shopping. No nothing. Maybe a little walk later after we move the dining table and chairs back into the dining room.
Next year I'll also have to create a plan to put all of minions to work!
Well, Thanksgiving 2009 is now over. What a frenzy we had yesterday! It was actually a rather laid back and quiet day until about 30 minutes before the guests arrived and then all hell broke loose!
This was the first year I used the electric roaster, and I have to say that I will never go back to using the regular oven!
This was the electric roaster that when everything was sorted out, I got paid $1 to take home.
The dining room which is next to the kitchen was emptied, because the dining table was moved to the front room.
I had the roaster on a folding table in there. The turkey itself was browned for about 40 minutes in a hot oven to sear it and then plopped in the roaster.
I did have the annual thermometer disaster. For the life of me I don't know why after so many years I have not learned where to stick a meat thermometer in a turkey!
The turkey had been in the roaster for only about 1.75 when the thermometer started beeping. I knew it was impossible for a 16.5 pound turkey to cook in that short a time. The turkey came out .... probe, probe, probe, with the thermometer. Back into the roaster, ten minutes later beeping again.
Finally, 5 tries later I got the thermometer in the right place.
Ultimately, the turkey went in at 2:30 p.m. and was done at 5:30 p.m. The most remarkable thing was I never basted the turkey. Just added a little broth over it to supply liquid half way through and that was all.
There was a fair bit of experimenting, considering that this was the first year for brining and the first year for the electric roaster. It was also the first year I've every roasted a turkey unstuffed.
I think I can safely say that everyone LOVED the turkey. There have been friends who have been coming for years and thought that this was the tenderest, moistest and most flavorful.
I have to admit myself that this was the best one I've ever done. The brining added tenderness and flavor, but I think the roaster also contributed a lot, because the cooking space is small there is more vapor and steam in the cooking process.
As I said, browning is a challenge, but between searing it for the first 40 minutes and a browning concoction I painted it with, it came out looking very greeting card-esque.
On Wednesday there was a panic because we thought we might not have enough food, so I added in another dish, green beens sautéed in olive oil with garlic and lemon.
Doing this meant I had to reheat and plate all of the dishes I made in advance AND 3 dishes to finish in 30 minutes before dinner. This is the most number of dished I've had to do at the last minute.
I had to finish the mashed potatoes in ranch dressing, do the brussel sprouts in cream, garlic, basil and pecans, and also do the green beans.
Three dishes to finish at the last minute was really too much.
Prior to this everything was calm. The turkey was out of the roaster and resting. I had done the washing up from the roaster and even finished the gravy.
Then, bedlam!
Unfortunately, I never got to socialize before dinner because I was busy doing the last minute prep.
As it turns out we had more than enough food. Our upstairs neighbors were no-shows for dinner so instead of 11 we were 9. As it was we had enough food for about 14!
Next year, there will not be so many last minute dishes!
I'm so glad that I did so much videoing in advance, because during dessert, our friend Martin reminded me that I had bought a wine to go with dessert.
Kudos to our wine merchant! The wine they selected for me to pair with dessert was perfect and fantastic! I must pop in there today and complement them.
It was really a lovely evening. I think that Jackie's sister Dianne had a nice time. I was a bit concerned considering that she was the only woman among an all male dinner!
It took me until 2:00 a.m. to unwind last night and finally go to bed. I woke up today at the unheard of hour of 8:45 a.m.! The only reason I woke up was because Truman started woofing because he wanted his breakfast. I had literally passed out!
Something that also really worked out well was having the wine and cheese set out in our den prior to the guests arriving. That meant that people congregated in there, rather than in the kitchen as they usually do, crowding me in when I need to get stuff done.
This morning I ache. I've taken ibuprofen. I could hardly walk when I got out of bed! When I fed the dogs, I couldn't even bend over to put their bowls down. I had to very gently lean against the wall and slowly squat down.
We have no plans for today. No shopping. No nothing. Maybe a little walk later after we move the dining table and chairs back into the dining room.
Next year I'll also have to create a plan to put all of minions to work!
50pounds, way to go!
Next week the trial is moving to Court no 2, where I am told there is a ghostly painting on the balcony, so i will be looking out for that. Apparently some see it and some don;t and the guy next to me today said it took a while for him to see it and then some time later it was gone!!!
The barrister's wigs look lice ridded to be honest.
So nice for me to see 
Hope everyone's keeping well!
Pretty freaked out about the being tied down part, but we need the money so for now I think I need to take the work 
I so hope it all goes smoothly and you are in and out of court speedily.
