Thanksgiving!
Eating turkey around Thanksgiving was a non-negotiable. Granted, I didn’t yet have a permanent kitchen or anything, but I wouldn’t let that stop me. Luckily, Jan’s wonderful roommate Elena, who is Italian, offered to help. That was all the excuse I needed. An email was sent, and my friends in the city were alerted to come over this past Sunday. And on Saturday, assured by Elena that a turkey could be bought at the supermarket, we made our way to Kaufland (literally, Buyland) to purchase Thanksgiving materials. She was correct, but the largest turkey we could find was all of 5 lbs. For twelve or so people, this would clearly not fly. Luckily, my patron saint of cooking, Mark Bittman, had created a wonderful braised turkey recipe (http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/12/dining/12mini.html) that called for multiple sets of turkey. So, with three small turkeys in hand, we purchased the necessary provisions, and returned to the apartment. The next afternoon I began the lengthy process of defrosting the three turkeys in cold water, changing the water ever hour, as recommended by the Internet. I then cut up the three turkeys and begun a successful braise. I also mashed potatoes, which is probably the most non-negotiable part of Thanksgiving. Thankfully, people brought plenty of fantastic dishes. The whole evening was wonderful, the Turkey was fantastic, and the company was better. Happy Thanksgiving!
