What I Learned This Thanksgiving

Hello! I hope everyone out there had a beautiful and love-filled holiday! Mine was great as the boys and friends all stopped by and stroked my ego with their culinary compliments. It doesn't hurt that they eat out 99% of the time and most of those choices are decided according to a college student's budget. So when Mom lays out a spread of anything that remotely resembles a real meal, they dig in with "ummms and ahhs." It has taken years to reach this level of appreciation from them and I savor the moment.

I fried a turkey this year. My Master-Bilt electric deep fryer is a great piece of equipment and works like a dream. Preparing the turkey was easy, just got it ready the night before and let it do it's thing overnight. It was a moment of truth when Gerald and I lowered the bird into the hot oil and I was tickled to see all that hot, bubbling peanut oil cover that entire turkey. We were like a couple of kids with something new for a change. We set the timer and I went on with the rest of our dinner. Gerald kept an eye on the fryer, and one eye on football, so we wouldn't burn down the house. We did all this in the garage, as part of the beauty of the Master-Bilt is that you do use it indoors. I suggest you cover anything in close proximity of the oil, but other than that it was easy as pie.

The turkey came out 45 minutes later and I let it sit till the potatoes were mashed and we were all ready to sit down to eat. Prayers were said and we dug in. That's when the umms and ahhs started and "this is the best turkey I ever ate" was said around the table. All but for one. ME. This wasn't Thanksgiving turkey...this was a big fried chicken!!! Immediately I started thinking that my perfect roast turkey and cranberry sandwich was ruined. These leftovers were not going to work. I sat back and let the others enjoy their "turkey", and made plans to go to the grocery Friday while they still had turkeys on sale. That one I would roast.

I guess because I do fry chicken at least a couple of times a month and I do use peanut oil and I do brine it first, for me this was just a regular meal on steroids. I can certainly understand the hoopla, because everybody I shared my table with loved it. Craig, one of our boys best friends even called me on Saturday to ask if I'd fry a turkey for his Mom and then brought one over that I cooked for his family on Sunday. It looked gorgeous, too and Gerald and I cut off a piece to "test", (quality control you know) and it was great. By then I was over the Thanksgiving mindset and appreciated the fried turkey for just what it was. I did buy a 15 lb. turkey that is in the freezer and as soon as we finish this pork roast that I smoked on Sunday,(I was bound and determined to get some sandwiches out of this holiday) I roast it like always and I'll get my real turkey sandwich with a fresh batch of cranberry sauce and a big ole loaf of sour dough bread. There's alot to be said for tradition.............

So, I do like fried turkey, just not when it's the only poultry option and maybe not on Thanksgiving. I realize I'm in a minority here. But, it was great fun to try something new and if you are considering getting a turkey fryer, I highly recommend the Master-Bilt. It does a fine job and Gerald says it's easy to clean, too. (Thanks Gerald!) You can do all kinds of great meals with it low country boils, wings, etc. So let's move forward to Christmas and all those goodies. I'm working on some Christmas ideas and will be posting them soon. Please sign up and let me hear from you. I would love to be able to post some of your comments and get everyone involved. Have a great day and treat yourself well........................