turkey!

Happy Belated Thanksgiving to all. Hope everyone is fat 'n jolly!

We went out to the dreaded Long Island on Wednesday night. Dave & I decided to do the turkey this year to ensure a juicy and yummy bird. We did not dissapoint. Boy was that bird good. We did the brine the night before and soaked it overnight. I woke up at 8am, could'nt sleep with all the pressure of making my first bird a success. Washed and stuffed it with herbs, apple, cinnamon and onion. Roasted it for a half hr on 500 degrees. It burned a tiny bit on top but it was no biggie. Continued roasting for another 2 hrs at 350 and it was done. Dave inserted the thermometer and we took it out at exactly 160 degrees. Perfect! I think the perfect bird had three things going for it:
~ fresh turkey, not frozen
~ brining and stuffing with herbs
~ taking it out at precisely the exact moment the breast hits 160 degress. KEY!

Dinner was great. David's Mom made amazing stuffing using turkey sausage. Mashed potatoes were also great. And of course my Opa's famous gravy. Thanks Mom!

The rest of the weekend was spent desperately trying to figure out what to do. I really don't know how people live in the suburbs. We cleaned the basement. Went to Marshall's. Took Gramma to see Finding Neverland. What a great movie. Johnny Depp is amazing. Such a touching story. I hope it gets the praise and audience it deserves.

Left Huntington on Saturday and headed for Islip for my cousin's annual Garbage Christmas. This is the one night a year where we exchange garbage. Got some old shoes with holes in them? Perfect! An old coffee machine that doesn't work anymore? Bring it on! Of course my cousins have been doing this for years so they really put some thought into it all. The gift of the night was from our cousin Andy to David & I. It's pretty dirty. Let's just say it included some sexy lingerie, a "Muff Mining Co." helmet and a "prostate tickler" device. Hilarious! We also received some lovely skiing outfits.(see picture) Shaina and Matthew joined in this year and it was a great evening. David gave away his beloved 5 foot long paintbrush (see picture) and various other bizarre items found in the Rotstein basement. What a goldmine that place is!



Dave & I in our ski suits and his 'Muff Mining Co' helmet, complete with goggles and flashlight!


Dagmar & Andy and their newfound treasure