Joyful Abode

Our Thanksgiving get-together was a lot of fun. We had six guests, so eight in all. It was me, the guy, five of his friends from college, and one girlfriend of a guy.

We had some interesting situations, like running out of chairs and sending one guy back to his house to get his roommate’s dining room chairs…

And like the turkey being done an HOUR earlier than we had thought. After only an hour and a half of roasting. I wasn’t even planning to check it for at least another half hour, but on a whim decided to stick it with the thermometer. Again, and again, and again… and every time it read 160 degrees Fahrenheit or slightly higher. So I went ahead and got the sides in the oven and everything turned out well.

So that I remember next year… we brined the turkey in a solution with a cup of kosher salt, 2 cups of lemon juice, and half a cup of sugar. Before baking, I injected the meat with lemon butter and brushed oil over the skin. I also put a few cups of water in the bottom of the pan so the drippings wouldn’t burn.

The turkey baked at 500 for half an hour, then we reduced the temp to 350 and shielded the breasts with tin foil. That is Alton Brown’s idea, and I’m not sure why he does it… but I’m sad the breasts didn’t get all pretty like the rest of the bird. Then after another hour of baking, the turkey was done! 160 or slightly higher in every part I poked.

We also had my mother-in-law’s sun-dried tomato artichoke heart stuffing (mmmm), green bean casserole, pumpkin crumble, cheese balls and crackers, and lots of sides brought by our guests.

Everyone is gone now… and so are the extra chairs. But we haven’t put things back to normal quite yet.

We broke out one of my new big folding tables for dinner and used our regular dining table as the buffet. Also… now you get your first real sneak peek of the dining area and kitchen. More later.

<sappiness>

I am thankful for having a husband who loves me (and washes dishes too), dear friends who may as well be sisters of mine, actual sisters of mine, a huge loving family, a house we have quickly made into our home, food in the fridge, savings for our future, having two “healthy” cars, breezy 70-degree days, and snuggles.

Oh, and for the hundreds of subscribers (I can say that if it’s 204, right?) who read Joyful Abode every time I write. I feel like I’ve made some friends by putting a part of me “out there” and I appreciate you all.

</sappiness>

Related posts:

1. Thanksgiving preparations
2. Happy Thanksgiving!
3. Pre-Thanksgiving Preparations
4. Made-From-Scratch Turkey Noodle/Dumpling Soup (With Leftover Thanksgiving Turkey)
5. Thanksgiving eve - Preparations for the big day!